INITIATIVE FOR EMBRACING HUMANITY IN AFRICA

ABOUT IEHA

_
We work within a human rights framework raising issues on gender identities and sexuality through the strategic use of advocacy, awareness creation, multimedia storytelling, research and activism. We work to ensure that everyone human being has the same rights, opportunities and obligations regardless of sexuality and gender identity.

In late 2020, our founder and Executive Director, Achomba.H Achomba (a documentary filmmaker/photo journalist) and his crew were making a documentary about the clandestine live of intersex people, lesbians and gays in Cameroon. Half way into the production Achomba put the film project on hold…’’I realized that there was a big problem. The people I was busy trying to make a documentary about were pained and suffering in silence because they could not speak up for themselves…not in a country where laws against them are ruthless and society, insanely unsympathetic.  I decided that standing up for them, being their voice and fighting for the visibility of all other social minority groups was something I was doing to do despite all the very real dangers and risks I was obviously going to face”. After several hurdles including three registration rejections and verbal threats, IEHA was finally officially registered and then the battle begun.

IEHA

WHO WE  ARE;

_
We are principally a rights defense organization focusing on the creation and provision of resources, giving a united voice to common challenges, identifying opportunities, responding to threats and fortifying our platform for advancing the rights of the LGBTIQ community.
IEHA

WHAT WE DO;

_
The bedrock around which IEHA was founded was the idea of protecting and rebuilding lives of social minority groups, especially the most vulnerable ones who have become targets of discrimination and exclusion. Our safe homes/Shelters have thus become our mainstay. Secondly, we run a functioning media department that caters for documentation in the form storytelling through documentaries, interviews, articles and short stories.
IEHA

OUR MISSION

_
To contribute towards the advancement of rights and the equality of social minority groups in Africa, especially the rights pertaining to sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, and sex characteristics. .
IEHA

OUR VISION

_
We envision a world where freedoms and dignity are attained for all; a world where social justice is an achievable reality for Intersex people, LGBTQ persons, Sex workers, African women and girls. Our push is for the growth of a non-judgmental, non-discriminatory society where organizations such as IEHA are a choice and not a necessity…a society where empathy towards fellow humans comes naturally, as you would expect.
IEHA

OUR AIMS

_

• Eradicating, lobbying and advocating against harmful stereotypes, stigma, and degrading judgmental behaviors towards LGBTIQ people and sex workers and MSM.
• Providing relevant, defined services in a responsive and flexible manner to HIV/AIDS infected persons and affected persons.
• Building the confidence and visibility of LGBTIQ communities.
• Striving to achieve a better understanding of LGBTIQ communities for ourselves and others.
• Establishing and utilizing both functional and developmental partnerships
• Documentation/Storytelling