The international and African LGBT human rights community is mourning the passing of a renowned human rights advocate, Joel Gustave Nana, who passed away yesterday in Cameroon, after a brief illness.
Nana was the Chief Executive Officer of Partners for Rights and Development (Paridev), a boutique consulting firm on human rights, development and health in Africa. From 2009 until 2014, he was the Executive Director of AMSHeR, where he oversaw the establishment of the Coalition as a critical community voice on human rights, sexual orientation and gender identity, and HIV health access for Men who have sex with Men (MSM) in Africa. AMSHeR Board notes: "He will be remembered for his tenacious and courageous stand on the importance of MSM and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) communities being the frontline faces and voices of the fight against their oppression. Joel Nana was a fierce and passionate advocate who led pioneering work on these issues in his native Cameroun and across Africa.
African Human Rights Coalition extends condolences to his family, friends and the human rights community mourning his sad loss. May his memory be a blessing.