About Us - Visual Echoes for Human Rights Advocacy (VEHRA)

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Visual Echoes for Human Rights Advocacy (VEHRA)

Is a registered youth-led LGBT organization founded in 2017 to advocate for the rights and freedoms of sexual minority groups in Uganda through sport, art and economic empowerment.

Vision

A nation of fairness and social justice where Human Rights are enjoyed by all.

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Mission

To promote and advance LGBT rights through sport, art and economic empowerment.

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Overall Goal

A Uganda and a World where human rights are enjoyed by all sexual minority persons.

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Visual Echoes for Human Rights Advocacy (VEHRA)

The organization was founded by Steven Muleme in the awake of gross violation of rights and freedoms of LGBT persons in the country as a result of social stigma and discrimination associated with the LGBT community and as well as the passing of the Anti-Homosexuality bill into law by the parliament of Uganda.

With a population of 500,000 people, the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) persons in Uganda face many legal challenges and human rights abuses not experienced by non-LGBT residents. Both male and female homosexual activity is illegal under the penal code “carnal knowledge against the order of nature between two males and females carries a potential penalty of life imprisonment”.

LGBT people continue to face major discrimination in Uganda, actively encouraged by religious and political leaders. Violence and brutal attacks against LGBT people are common often performed by state officials with households’ same-sex couples not being eligible for the same legal protections available to opposite-sex couples. This has created a sense of fear for the LGBT community members about their safety and enjoyment of basic human rights.

Our Objectives

To build alliances with other likeminded organizations in advocating for the rights of sexual minority groups in Uganda.

To build a spirit of togetherness in advocating for the rights and freedoms of Sexual minorities in Uganda.

To develop the mental and physical talents of Sexual Minority groups through sport, art and economic empowerment in Uganda.

To promote LGBT skills in both sport and art.

Why advocacy through Sports, Visual Art and Culture?

Sport is one of the best ambassadors to promote human rights and inclusion of all. Through sport, people learn values that cut across sexuality, gender, nationality, age or even physical energy. Sport is closely related to human rights that are; the right to health and wellbeing, right to education, right to culture as well as the right to political participation. Sport is envisioned to be practiced without any kind of discrimination such as race, color, sex, sexual orientation, language, religion or political affiliation or other statuses. Through the experience of participating in sport, art and culture, sports men and artists develop the skills to advocate for human rights peace and inclusion. The lessons learned and the values attached are essential for sport and visual art are all applicable when speaking up as advocates and allies for social justice. In many cases, sports men and artists choose to be leaders in the social justice movement. The voices and the platforms of sport and professional artists are essential and necessary for addressing homophobia, sexism and all forms of discrimination and prejudice.

Through this program, the organization organizes sports activities, trains and builds the capacity of LGBTIQ people in voicing out their concerns about the human rights abuses of LGBTIQ in the country to bring about social justice and inclusion of all persons in the enjoyment of the basic human rights. The program also helps in discovering and building the talents and skills of sexual minorities in sport, art and economic empowerment.