By Melanie Nathan, March 03, 2024
I personally interviewed Carlos Fernandes by telephone in August of 2019, as the director of the only LGBT organization in Angola, Associação Íris Angola. I used an Angolan Portuguese translator, Mari T’Simiens, who is a Program Director and Angolan Ambassador for AHRC to assist in the interview. The interview was conducted to assist with country conditions reporting for my expert testimony on behalf of an Angolan Asylum seekers in the United States, Mr. Fernandes informed me that the Parliamentary vote on the new Penal Code has not changed the anti-homosexuality environment in Angola in any way. Mr. Fernandes confirmed that he did not think, even with presidential signature and publication that it would improve conditions for LGBT people in Angola for many years, if not decades to come. He stated in this interview that he feared that once the law is published anti-homosexuality violence will increase as a backlash reaction to the law reform. He noted that he thought the Parliament not including homosexuality in the new Penal Code was done because Angola wanted to please Western Countries to obtain financial aid, which was at risk, and asserts this an international political move. He informed me that the government is trying to determine how to deal with the populace on the Penal Code not including homosexuality as this, once formally published as law (gazette) will not be popular among the majority of Angolans.
In my opinion I concur with Mr. Fernandes’s opinions and observations.
In addition, Mr. Fernandes confirmed that his organization continues to receive daily reports of ostracization, persecution and physical abuse and attacks of LGBTI individuals.
Upon a recent discussion with LGBT community from Angola it is apparent that Mr. Fernandez view in 2019 holds true.
There has been no attempt by the Angolan government to educate people toward acceptance of homosexuality. In case reporting to AHRC we have not observed any improvement in the anti-LGBT climate. It is apparent that LGBTI people are still viewed and considered criminals, with similar ostracization and violence evident from the reporting.
By MELANIE NATHAN, ED African Human Rights Coalition, commissionermnathan@gmail.com | nathan@africanHRC.org EXPERT WITNESS FOR LGBT ASYLUM SEEKERS FROM ANGOLA, UGANDA, GHANA, KENYA, ZIMBABWE, SENEGAL – and other African Countries
Shock as Angola's LGBT Community Attacked at Burial of Murdered Leader Carlos Fernandes
by Melanie Nathan, March 03, 2024,
African Human Rights Coalition calls on Angola to follow the 2019 decriminalization of homosexuality with awareness and capacity building programs to rid the country of homophobia, noting that decriminalization is not enough to rid a country of deep rooted homophobia that brings violence and death such as in the case of leader Carlos Fernandes. We also call on the Angolan Government to investigate the killing, an assassination and to bring those responsible to justice. Read more: https://www.africanhrc.org/single-post/shock-as-angola-s-lgbt-community-attacked-at-burial-of-murdered-leader-carlos-fernandes