Since 2016, galck+ has been at the forefront of LGBTQ+ advocacy in Kenya. In line with our vision, all our programmes work to safeguard the rights of LGBTQ+ individuals. We understand the challenges they face in a society that often misinterprets the law, culture, and religion to justify discrimination and violence.
Emergency Security Response Mechanism (ESR)
In 2016, we established an Emergency Security Response Mechanism (ESR) due to the lack of proper state safeguards for LGBTQ+ individuals, despite constitutional protections. The ESR provides a safety net for member organisation constituents and unaffiliated LGBTQ+ individuals who would otherwise have limited access to support from existing systems.
We work with dedicated individuals called Security Respondents from up to 25 counties. These individuals are trusted members of the community who actively respond to incidents, coordinate post-incident actions, and work towards creating safer environments for LGBTQ+ individuals.
The Power of Data
We deeply understand the power data has in societies that misinterpret the law, culture, and religion to justify the violence against LGBTQ+ people. To ease data and information management, we designed a web-based platform to collect, analyse and visualise data to track security incidents. This platform has boosted the effectiveness of the Emergency Security Response mechanism.
Through this platform, the security response persons log in all reported cases of discrimination, harassment, and violence against LGBTQ+ persons to track incidences from various regions in the country.
In 2022, we logged 904 cases of discrimination, harassment, and violence against LGBTQ+ persons. This was tied to the tensions arising from the upcoming elections, which have historically led to violence against marginalised communities.
Continuing the Fight
But our work doesn't stop there. This data empowers us to engage in evidence-based advocacy. It enables us to strategise around legislation, policy, programming, and fundraising. By supporting galck+, you're not only standing up for LGBTQ+ rights, but you're also investing in the power of data to create a more inclusive and accepting society.
