Dignity Equality Freedom

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Read the top posts and media from Iranti.

Forum for the empowerment of women, in partnership with Iranti, launch an accountability Symposium

By Mogau Makitla The Forum for the Empowerment of Women (FEW) has officially commenced its five-day accountability symposium under the theme “Building Trust. Ensuring Justice.” The symposium seeks to bring together key stakeholders within the Lesbian, Bisexual, Queer, Trans and Intersex (LBQTI) advocacy sector to foster coordinated efforts that emphasize sustainability and accountability in advocacy work. Roche...

IRANTI ATTENDS THE 45TH ORDINARY SESSION OF THE AFRICAN COMMITTEE OF EXPERTS ON THE RIGHTS AND WELFARE OF THE CHILD

The Centre for Human Rights hosted a side event during the 45th session of the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child which was held in Maseru, Lesotho. Our Intersex Officer, Peace Maquba joined the discussion as they shared an evidence-based analysis on the challenges faced by intersex children in...

Reflections From the Global South: How the Trump Administration Impacts Trans & Intersex People

By Bonke Sonjani and Mogau Makitla In commemoration of National Human Rights Day- which took place on the 21st of March 2025, Iranti hosted a panel discussion on How the Trump Administration Affects Trans and Intersex People. We were joined by civil society organisations such as Forum for the Empowerment of Women (FEW), Parents, Families...

Press Statement: Statement on the untimely passing of Imam Muhsin Hendricks

18 February 2025 We are deeply saddened by the tragic passing of Imam Muhsin Hendricks, who was brutally murdered on Saturday, 15 February, in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. The targeted attack on the faith-based leader, highlights growing concerns about violent crimes and the safety of civilians in South Africa. Imam Muhsin Hendricks dedicated his...

US Foreign Aid Halt: Devastating Impact on South Africa’s Healthcare & LGBTQI+ Services

Press Statement: 90-Day Halt on US Foreign Aid 29 January 2025 For immediate release We are devastated by the decision made by newly elected President of the United States of America, Donald Trump, to put in place an executive order calling for an immediate 90-day halt on foreign aid. This directly impacts initiatives such as...

ILGA World Pre-Conferences: Voices of Unity: Bridging Movements & Celebrating Queer Culture

ILGA Word, alongside Iranti and Gender DynamiX, are hosting the 2024 ILGA World Conference in Cape Town, South Africa. The ILGA World Pre-Conferences have brought together global advocates to discuss intersectionality, solidarity, and empowerment within LGBTQI movements. From the Women’s, Intersex, Trans and Lesbian Pre-Conferences to a vibrant drag show celebrating queer culture, these events...

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ABOUT US

Dignity, Equality and Freedom. “ Iranti is a Johannesburg based human rights organisation that advocates for the advancement of the rights of LBQTI persons in Africa. Iranti works within a human rights framework raising issues on gender identities, and sexuality, through the strategic use of multimedia storytelling, research and activism.”

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OUR WORK

What we do and why

RESEARCH & ARCHIVE

Iranti means “memory” in Yoruba and as such we are committed to telling the stories of lesbian, transgender and intersex persons in our region. These stories and our history as a community do not exist in a vacuum, and we understand the need for evidence-based research, data analysis and documentation. One of Iranti’s key strategic...

DOCUMENTATION

Iranti is a media-advocacy organisation, and we pride ourselves in our ability to document LGBTI+ activities and milestones, and tell LGBTI+ stories, through the tactical use of multimedia storytelling. We believe that participation of lesbians, gender non-conforming, trans and intersex persons in owning their stories is essential to the creation of a just and equitable...

ADVOCACY

Iranti’s work, from media production to research, is all done in the service of lesbian, transgender and intersex advocacy and activism. We envision a just world where everyone lives with dignity, respect and equality and where different sexual orientations and gender identities are celebrated, but this cannot happen without meaningful, impactful and targeted advocacy. The...

MOVEMENT BUILDING

We believe that we as a community are stronger together, and that it is in our best interests as an organisation, and in the interests of the LGBTI+ community in Africa, to collaborate, share skills and exchange knowledge whenever possible. Therefore, one of our strategic outcomes sees us working toward stronger organisations and movements of...

COMBATING STIGMA

One of Iranti’s four strategic objectives is to increase visibility of, and seek immediate redress for, human rights violations of lesbians, gender non-conforming, trans and intersex persons. This outcome area includes impactful media reporting and advocacy, real time reporting of those violations and other critical moments and opportunities for shifting public opinion, actions and changing...

While Iranti and our allies across the continent have made great strides in advocating for LGBTI equality in recent years, many in our community face ongoing hostility, violence, prejudice and criminalisation. These numbers do not represent the whole picture, but are a snapshot of the situation in the region.

Known cases of violence against LGBTI persons in South Africa alone.

Confirmed convictions against perpetrators of anti-LGBTI violence in South Africa

African countries that still criminalise homosexuality

Southern African countries that allow transgender people to change their gender marker tic

A FEW OF OUR FUNDING PARTNERS

It takes many hands to make it work!

Heinrich Böll Foundation

The Baring Foundation

OSISA

RFSL

COC Nederland

Astraea

The Other Foundation

Arcus Foundation

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