Globally and in 32 years post-independent Namibia, the LGBTQI+ community has been incessantly fighting for basic human rights: dignity and respect. The aforementioned two fundamentally underpin their safety, love, acceptance, and freedom of being in every other space.
June 30th, 2022 marked a historic and momentous day the LGBTQI+ flag was for the first time at the United Nations (UN) House, Namibia. This act bespeaks the UN’s commitment to creating #SafeSpaces free of discrimination and stigmatization.
This act bespeaks the UN’s commitment to creating #SafeSpaces free of discrimination and stigmatization.
Alka Bhatia, the United Nations Development Plan (UNDP) Resident Representative highlighted the UNDP’s role in developing the capacity of civil society organizations with interventions focused on the most vulnerable groups including the LGBTQI+ community. “Inclusive Governance Initiative is one of the regional projects that support countries including Namibia to include sexual and gender minorities in national efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s) and promote human rights”
Adriano Visagie, who collaboratively worked with three other partners to create this beautiful queer story, shed more light on the process, its significance, and meaning.
Photo: Adriano Visagie at the UN House.
The Journey
The event became a success, birthed from the work of the phenomenal four-member teams -The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Positive Vibes Trust and The United Nations Information Centre, and Adriano Visagie. According to Visagie, it has been an immense yet rewarding journey. Moreover, solidarity and allyship to the LGBTQI+ community have been central to the team’s work and led to the birth of #SafeSpaceNam and #SafeSpaces.
“The inclusive Governance Initiative is one of the regional projects that support countries including Namibia to include sexual and gender minorities in national efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s) and promote human rights”
Alka Bhatia, the UNDP Resident Representative
#SafeSpace Pledge
“The idea around #SafeSpaces and the pledge thereof is to commit to providing support and understanding for people of all gender identities and sexual orientation. In #SafeSpaces we express love and be free”- Visagie elucidated. Anyone in support of and committed to creating #SafeSpaces for the LGBTQI+ community, can make the pledge.
Anyone in support of and committed to creating #SafeSpaces for the LGBTQI+ community, can make the pledge.
Adriano Visagie
Visagie has further brought to the fore the teams’ idea to to grow and disseminate #SafeSpaces pledges across the country, for as many Namibians as possible to make the pledge to creating and being #SafeSpaces.
Making the pledge ranges from an individualized to collective act – various organizations, churches, even local and most loved entertainment outlets. Furthermore, #SafeSpaces pledge significantly reinforces the wholistic attitude and approach towards upholding Human Rights and eases the process of accountability of individuals, legislators etc., to this commitment.
The Celebration Continues
As from June 30th, the LGBTQI+ flag stays hoisted at the UN offices. Visagie affirmed it shall visually serve as reminder to all that the UN House in Namibia is a #SafeSpace, promoting inclusion and diversity.
The LGBTQI+ flag shall visually serve as reminder to all that the UN House in Namibia is a #SafeSpace, promoting inclusion and diversity.
Adriano Visagie
LGBTQI+ folks long for spaces that allow them to safely be, without fear of discrimination or any form of partisanship for simply being. In support of their safety, dignity and freedom make the #SafeSpace pledge today!
