The Regional ICD (International Classification of Diseases) Conference in 2015 was a landmark summit hosted in Johannesburg, South Africa from September 27–30, 2015. Co-hosted by Iranti, GATE (Global Action for Trans Equality) and Gender Dynamix, the gathering brought together over 30 trans and intersex activists representing 12 countries across Africa.

The Conference focus and highlights centred around ICD-11 Revision Advocacy. The primary goal was to mobilise African voices and influence the WHO’s ongoing development of the ICD-11. Activists advocated for the depathologisation of trans identities. The aim of the conference was to create a collaborative space for engagement on developing an African advocacy strategy on ICD revision through discussions, expert presentations and group work. Read more.

A video featuring the stories of trans participants from the Conference was published by Iranti in November 2015.

Fondée le 3 décembre 2024, Santé Lisungi/ASBL est une association de défense des droits LGBTQIA+ en République démocratique du Congo (RDC), dont la priorité est la défense des personnes trans et intersexuées. L’objectif de leur travail est de faciliter l’accès inclusif aux soins de santé pour les personnes trans et intersexuées, ainsi que pour les autres minorités sexuelles et de genre. L’association n’est pas encore enregistrée.

Founded on 3 December 2024, Santé Lisungi/ASBL is an LGBTQIA+ advocacy organisation in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), with trans and intersex advocacy as their main priority. The focus of their work is to facilitate inclusive access to healthcare for trans and intersex people, as well as other sexual and gender minorities. The organisation has not been registered yet.

La Vision / Vision

Devenir une référence en matière de soins de santé sûrs, inclusifs et équitables pour les minorités sexuelles et de genre en République démocratique du Congo.

To become a benchmark in safe, inclusive, and equitable healthcare for sexual and gender minorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

La Mission / Mission

Contribuer à améliorer la qualité de vie des minorités sexuelles et de genre en favorisant un accès inclusif aux soins de santé.

To contribute to improving the quality of life of sexual and gender minorities by promoting inclusive access to healthcare.

Objectifs de l’organisation / Organisational Objectives

L’association poursuit notamment les objectifs ci-dessous :

• Promouvoir la santé et le bien être, l’inclusion et l’accès facile à une prise en charge médicale holistique de qualité dans un environnement inclusif et sécurisé ;
• Sensibiliser les minorités sexuelles et de genre sur la santé sexuelle et reproductive en leur donnant des bonnes informations relatives aux différentes pathologies qui touchent à leur sexualité pour un accès équitable aux soins;
• Renforcer les compétences des professionnels de santé de la structure et des alliés sur les notions de genre et prise en charge thérapeutique juste, équitable et inclusive pour mettre fin à la discrimination, stigmatisation, marginalisation, et toutes autres formes de violences basées sur l’orientation sexuelle, identité de genre, expression de genre, couleur de peau, handicap physique, état serologique, taille, age, maladie chronique dans le milieu hospitalier ;
• Aider la cible à accéder à la santé positive et universelle ;
• Développer le partenariat entre les acteurs nationaux et internationaux en vue de briser certains préjugés sociaux dans le milieu sanitaire liés à l’état sérologique, à l’orientation sexuelle, à l’identité du genre, à l’handicap physique, à la couleur de peau, à la taille, à l’âge, à la maladie chronique;
• Conscientiser les décideurs politiques sur l’importance d’avoir une approche de santé inclusive qui prend en compte les minorités sexuelles et de genre, ainsi que d’autres personnes issues de groupes minoritaires dans les différents programmes du développement de pays et plaider en faveur des actions concrètes ;
• Œuvrer en faveur d’une participation quantitative et qualitative aux manifestations et forums internationaux promouvant l’inclusion et la diversité, le genre et l’égalité des chances pour tous ; et, a long terme,
  • construire des hôpitaux propres à la structure dans toutes les provinces de la RD Congo en général et en particulier à Kinshasa au service de nos cibles;
  • assurer le suivi des malades, permettant la continuité de la prise en charge;
  • contribuer dans la réduction des violences sexuelles et basées sur le genre ainsi que de leurs conséquences.

The association’s objectives include:

• Promoting health and well-being, inclusion, and easy access to quality holistic medical care in an inclusive and safe environment;
• Raising awareness among sexual and gender minorities about sexual and reproductive health by providing them with accurate information on the various pathologies that affect their sexuality, ensuring equitable access to care;
• Strengthen the skills of the organisation’s healthcare professionals and allies on the concepts of gender and fair, equitable, and inclusive therapeutic care to end discrimination, stigmatisation, marginalisation, and all other forms of violence based on sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, skin colour, physical disability, HIV status, height, age, and chronic illness in the hospital setting;
• Help the target population access positive and universal healthcare;
• Develop partnerships between national and international stakeholders to break down certain social prejudices in the healthcare setting related to HIV status, sexual orientation, gender identity, physical disability, skin colour, height, age, and chronic illness;
• Raise awareness among policymakers about the importance of an inclusive health approach that takes into account sexual and gender minorities, as well as other people from minority groups, in various country development programmes and advocate for concrete actions;
• Work towards quantitative and qualitative participation in international events and forums promoting inclusion and diversity, gender, and equal opportunities for all; and, in the long term
  • build hospitals of this structure in all provinces of the DRC in general, and in Kinshasa in particular, to serve our targets;
  • ensure patient follow-up, enabling continuity of care;
  • contribute to reducing sexual and gender-based violence and its consequences.

Des domaines d’intervention / Areas of Work

• Santé
• Droits humains
• Plaidoyer
• Autonomisation
• Immigration, réfugié et demande d’Asile.

• Health
• Human Rights
• Advocacy
• Empowerment
• Immigration, Refugees, and Asylum.

Contactez / Contact

Email: santelisungi.asbl@gmail.com
+243895555561
Facebook

Fondée en mars 2024 par Crespille Pige, Crépine Tossou, Joyce D’Almeida and Sephora Zouzou, Inclusion Togo s’adresse aux hommes transgenres, aux femmes transgenres, aux personnes queer et intersexuées. La principale mission de l’organisation est d’assurer le bien-être des personnes trans, queer et intersexes dans un environnement sûr.

Founded in March 2024 by Crespille Pige, Crépine Tossou, Joyce D’Almeida and Sephora Zouzou, Inclusion Togo caters to trans men and trans women, queer and intersex people. The main work of the organisation is to ensure the well-being of trans, queer and intersex people in a safe environment.

La vision / Vision

Un Togo inclusif et équitable ou toutes les personnes transgenres, queer et intersexe en particulier les plus vulnérables (travailleuses de sexe, personnes vivant avec le VIH, sans abri) vivent dans la dignité, jouissent de leurs droits fondamentaux et participant pleinement au développement social, économique et culturel.

An inclusive and equitable Togo where all transgender, queer and intersex people, especially the most vulnerable (sex workers, people living with HIV, the homeless), live in dignity, enjoy their fundamental rights and participate fully in social, economic and cultural development.

Mission

Œuvrer pour l’inclusion, la protection et l’autonomisation des personnes transgenres, queer et intersexe vulnérables au Togo, à travers des actions communautaires et des plaidoyers.

To work towards the inclusion, protection and empowerment of vulnerable transgender, queer and intersex people in Togo, through community actions and advocacy.

Objectifs / Objectives

Renforcer la prévention, la prise en charge du VIH chez les personnes trans, queer et intersexe, en promouvant l’autonomisation financière chez les plus vulnérables.

Strengthening HIV prevention and care for trans, queer, and intersex people, while promoting financial empowerment among the most vulnerable.

Domaines de travail / Areas of work

• Renforcement des de la prévention et prise en charge chez les personnes trans, queer et intersexe dans un contexte ou la prévalence du VIH chez les personnes transgenres est de 35%.
• Renforcement de l’autonomisation financière des personnes trans, queer et intersexe.
• Renforcement de l’estime de soi des personnes trans, queer et intersexe.

• Strengthening prevention and care for trans, queer, and intersex people in a context where the HIV prevalence among transgender people is 35%.
• Strengthening the financial empowerment of trans, queer, and intersex people.
• Strengthening the self-esteem of trans, queer, and intersex people.

Contacter / Contact

Email: inclusiontogo68@gmail.com
00228 90830769
Facebook

Founded in Nigeria on 13 January 2022 by Mx Rihanna Savage, Nuchi Nweneka, Mathew and Peyton Ageless, Harmony Caregivers Foundation (HCF) is a trans-led feminist organisation in South-West Nigeria working to advance the rights, health, safety, and socioeconomic wellbeing of marginalised communities, particularly transgender, intersex, gender-diverse persons, women, and young people. HCF focuses on policy reforms, advocacy, human rights and sexual and reproductive heath service delivery for trans, intersex and gender diverse people in Nigeria. HCF is a safe haven and a voice for the voiceless, turning vulnerability into strength and isolation into community. The organisation was registered in 2023.

Vision

To have a society where indigent, vulnerable and marginalised persons thrive in a positive and in an inclusive environment with their health, rights and well-being respected and protected.

Mission

To create an enabling environment where all marginalised persons regardless of behaviours can be free of discrimination, stigma, molestation, harassment, rape and gender dysphoria through strong and visible activism, advocacy, sensitisation, awareness campaigns, empowerment, mental, sexual and reproductive heath service delivery, seminars and capacity building workshops, for all to grow and thrive.

Goals/Objectives

• Protect trans individuals from gender-based violence and discrimination.
• Provide mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) tailored to their unique experiences.
• Empower trans persons through skills training, economic opportunities, and leadership development.
• Amplify trans voices and advocate for legal recognition and human rights.

Focus areas

• Gender-based violence (GBV/SGBV) prevention and response
• Case management, referrals, psychosocial support, survivor-centered services, and advocacy to address violence affecting trans, intersex, and gender-diverse persons.
• Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR)
• Access to inclusive SRHR information and services, HIV prevention, reproductive health education, and rights-based advocacy through initiatives such as IGE-SRH.
• Mental health and ssychosocial support (MHPSS)
• Trauma-informed counselling, peer support groups, safe spaces, and mental wellbeing interventions for marginalised populations.
• Advocacy, human rights, and policy reform
• Community mobilisation, stakeholder engagement, strategic advocacy, and policy reform efforts to promote equality, dignity, and protection of LGBTQIA+ persons.
• Economic empowerment and livelihoods
• Skills acquisition, entrepreneurship support, social enterprise development, and economic inclusion programmes for vulnerable populations.

Trans and intersex-focused projects

Through these programmes, HCF works to reduce violence, improve health outcomes, strengthen community resilience, and promote the full inclusion and dignity of transgender, intersex, and gender-diverse persons in Nigeria:

• A member of the QuestPro Women Foundation Initiative: a Pan African organisation focused on the protection and preservation of human rights of all persons. Harmony Caregivers Foundation has worked with QuestPro women Foundation since 2025 to provide GBV/SGBV, MHPSS, Storytelling and Legal Services for marginalised women in all diversities (Trans, Intersex and Gender-diverse persons included). These communities lacked this services and it has greatly affected the inclusion, development, growth and participation of the community and the general society at large.
• Supports transgender, intersex, and gender-diverse persons affected by GBV/SGBV through case management, legal referrals, MHPSS, emergency support, and community-led advocacy. IGE-SRH Project
• Strengthen access to inclusive SRHR information and services for trans, intersex, and gender-diverse persons while advancing advocacy and policy reforms that address barriers to healthcare and human rights.
• Community safe space and leadership programmes
• Provide mentorship, leadership development, rights awareness, and peer-led support for transgender, intersex, and gender-diverse community members.
• Safety and security for trans, intersex and gender-diverse persons in Nigeria
• Mapping of hotspot or dangerous areas where trans, intersex and gender-diverse persons are commonly kitoed (harrassed, kidnapped, harmed) and how to mitigate this danger and apprehend the culprits.

Contact

Email: Harmonycaregiversfoundation@gmail.com
+2347051690993 / +2348159361075
Instagram
YouTube

A 26-year-old man died on the 28th of August 2021 due to complications from an illegal gender reassignment surgery. Ezz Eddin underwent a hysterectomy at a private hospital in Dokki, Giza, where he had chosen to have the surgery, even though the hospital was unauthorised to perform gender reassignment surgery. As the hospital performed the surgery illegally, they discharged Ezz the same day instead of keeping him for observation. After discharge, Ezz fell ill, returned to the hospital for a follow-up, fell into a coma and died.

Lawyer Nesma al-Khatib, who was in contact with Ezz Eddin before his death, told Mada Masr that his family has not pressed any legal charges in relation to his death because they did not support Ezz Eddin’s transition. Doctors Syndicate council member Ibrahim al-Zayat also said that it would be impossible to file a lawsuit to seek justice for Ezz Eddin’s death since there is no proof that the doctor performed the procedure to begin with.

People wishing to have sex reassignment surgery in Egypt have to go through long, complex procedures. They must first apply to the Sex Reassignment Committee at the national Doctors Syndicate, which subjects applicants of the procedure to a series of physical tests. Each case is then reviewed by urologists and gynecologists, and is finally referred to a psychotherapist. The mental assessment process generally takes no less than two years during which time psychologists assess the case and have a say in whether it is “necessary” or not to refer the applicant for surgery. A seven-member committee made up of doctors and one representative from the religious institution of Al-Azhar will make a final decision about whether or not to approve the candidate’s application for surgery.

If approved, the applicant can have surgery at the state’s expense at a public hospital such as Al-Hussein University Hospital, Demerdash or Qasr al-Aini, or at a private hospital, and will be able to acquire the documentation needed to alter the sex recorded in their official documents.

Zayat told Mada Masr that, in practice, the Doctors Syndicate’s committee has not met for years because the Al-Azhar representative refuses to attend, putting thousands of applicants in limbo on a waiting list.

“Ezz Eddin and others [like him] are victims of the lack of safe options to exercise their right to transition. There are people who don’t die, but may suffer permanent disabilities as a result of undergoing the procedures in untrustworthy places,” Khatib said.

Source: https://www.madamasr.com/en/2021/08/31/news/u/deterred-from-official-healthcare-26-yr-old-dies-after-sex-reassignment-surgery/

Founded in Kampala, Uganda as a grassroots coalition by John Grace and others on the 1st of August 2020, Uganda Minority Shelters Consortium (UMSC) specifically prioritises and centres trans and gender diverse (TGD) youth who have been disproportionately targeted and driven underground by recent legislation (e.g. Anti-Homosexuality Act). While UMSC’s work is deeply rooted in TGD survival, their mandate encompasses the broader LGBTQ+ community, including LGBT+ sex workers, LGBT+ HRDs and LGBT+ PLHIV (people living with HIV). The organisation also focuses on LGBT+ individuals with intersecting vulnerabilities, such as displaced TGD youth and those living with disabilities. UMSC operates as a coalition of over 25 decentralised grassroots safe spaces and community-based protection organisations. Because TGD individuals are often the most visibly targeted within the broader LGBTQ+ umbrella, UMSC’s main work involves providing highly secure emergency housing, physical protection, and trauma-informed psychosocial care. The organisation utilises Peer Health Navigators to bypass hostile public clinics—where TGD persons frequently face intentional misgendering and abuse—to safely link them to life-saving HIV/AIDS services. The organisation is officially registered and holds formal national-level public health legitimacy, as it is officially accredited by the Uganda AIDS Commission (UAC).

Vision

A Uganda where marginalised communities, centring trans and gender-diverse youth, achieve true independence and self-determination. A future where TGD individuals are completely empowered to live with absolute bodily autonomy, build self-sustaining livelihoods, and access healthcare entirely on their own terms—free from systemic violence, arbitrary eviction, and reliance on hostile institutions.

Mission

To cultivate the absolute independence, resilience, and self-determination of marginalised communities—centring LGB, trans and gender-diverse (TGD) youth, sex workers, and individuals living with HIV—by building a self-sustaining, decentralised network of safe spaces across Uganda. UMSC is committed to breaking cycles of reliance on hostile institutions by empowering vulnerable populations with independent, stigma-free HIV/AIDS service linkages, trauma-informed psychosocial support, and the tools required to defend their own human rights and bodily autonomy.

Goals/Objectives

• To facilitate the transition of displaced and unhoused LGB, trans and gender-diverse (TGD) youth from precarious survival to enduring independence by maintaining protected, decentralised shelter networks that provide the essential foundation for reclaiming their autonomous livelihoods.
• To develop community-led, stigma-free health linkage infrastructures that empower LGB, TGD individuals overcoming homelessness to oversee their HIV/AIDS care and holistic health with absolute self-determination, effectively ending dependency on hostile or exclusionary public health systems.
• To expand localised, peer-driven psychosocial frameworks—such as our Resilience Circles—designed to dismantle the trauma of displacement and internalised shame, providing our community members with the mental fortitude necessary to achieve total structural and personal independence.

Focus areas

• UMSC’s core thematic areas are Emergency Housing and Transitional Shelter, HIV/AIDS Health Autonomy, Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS), and Structural Independence.
• For trans and gender-diverse (TGD) community members specifically, their projects are meticulously designed to disrupt the pipeline from AHA-related eviction to chronic homelessness. The organisation operates specialised safe spaces that provide immediate physical sanctuary for displaced TGD youth. From this secure foundation, they run trauma-informed “Resilience Circles” tailored to help TGD individuals process the acute trauma of homelessness and systemic violence, rebuilding their mental resilience.
• Furthermore, to ensure TGD members can safely transition to full independence, UMSC’s Peer Health Navigators facilitates secure, peer-led health linkages. The organisation bypasses hostile public clinics—where TGD persons frequently face intentional misgendering, blackmail, and service denial—by physically escorting them to trusted, non-hostile care centres or distributing underground HIV self-testing kits. 
• Their ultimate project focus is equipping formerly unhoused TGD youth with the physical safety, mental resilience, and health autonomy they need to permanently exit crisis survival and rebuild self-sustaining, independent lives.

Contact

Website
Email: minorityshelters@gmail.com  / umsc@minorityshelter.org 
Facebook
Instagram
X (Twitter)

Watch our interview with co-founder, John Grace, 14 August 2026

UMSC documentaries

UMSC in the media

• PlanetRomeo Foundation: https://www.planetromeofoundation.org/umsc; 
• Global Press Journal’s feature “Shelters in Uganda Unite to Safely House LGBTQ People” https://globalpressjournal.com/africa/uganda/network-hope-shelters-uganda-unite-safely-house-lgbtq-people; 
• 76Crimes’ article “Five homeless shelters welcome LGBTQ Ugandans” https://76crimes.com/2020/10/23/five-homeless-shelters-welcome-lgbtq-ugandans; 
• GoFundMe campaign story “Donate To Uganda’s LGBT Shelters” https://www.gofundme.com/f/minorityshelters; 
• New York Times piece https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/04/world/africa/usaid-africa-uganda-lgbtq.html; 
• LGBTQ groups question US health agreements with African countries — Washington Blade, February 2026
• LGBTQ Ugandans targeted ahead of country’s elections — Washington Blade, January 2026
• Mpox outbreak in Africa declared global health emergency — Washington Blade, August 2024
• Ugandan Constitutional Court to consider challenge to Anti-Homosexuality Act — Washington Blade, December 2023
• Uganda Minority Shelters Consortium — Official Website
• How Police and Criminals Use Uganda’s Antigay Law to Find Blackmail Targets — Wall Street Journal

Founded on 17 March 2017 by Bukenya Musa, Equal Shiners Initiative Uganda works with LGBTQIA+ individuals, with a specific focus on trans, intersex, sex workers and other vulnerable community members, particularly those affected by stigma, discrimination, homelessness, and HIV/AIDS. The organisation provides community support, awareness, advocacy, and access to essential services. Their organisational approach is

• Community-led and peer-driven advocacy and programming
• Rights-based, gender-affirming, and sex-worker-inclusive approaches
• Evidence-informed advocacy grounded in lived experience
• Strong referral, coalition, and partnership systems
• Accountability to the communities served

The organisation was registered as an NGO in 2017. The NGO was formerly a CBO named Kuchu Shiners.

Vision

A safe, inclusive and equal society where everyone is respected and empowered.

Mission

To support and empower LGBTQIA+ communities through advocacy, education and inclusive programs.

Goals/Objectives

• Promote equality and human rights.
• Provide safe spaces and support services.
• Raise awareness and reduce stigma.
• Empower community members.

Areas of Work

The organisation’s work focuses on human rights advocacy, mental health support, community empowerment and programmes specifically supporting trans and intersex individuals. Advocacy, human rights and policy engagement is the central pillar of the organisation’s work, addressing structural inequalities, criminalization, violence, and exclusion faced by trans women sex workers by amplifying community voices and engaging duty bearers, policymakers, institutions,
and the public.

Key advocacy interventions

• Documentation and reporting of human rights violations affecting trans women sex workers
• Community-led advocacy campaigns addressing criminalization, police violence, stigma,and discrimination.
• Engagement with policymakers, local authorities, health institutions, and human rights bodies.
• Coalition-building and participation in national and regional advocacy networks
• Strategic communications, storytelling, and media engagement grounded in lived experience
• Advocacy for trans-affirming, sex-worker-inclusive health, legal, and policy frameworks

HIV, sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR)

Equal Shiners Uganda strengthens access to HIV and SRHR services through peerled outreach, referrals, and follow-up systems that ensure trans women sex workers access respectful, confidential, and affirming care. Services include:

• HIV testing and counselling referrals
• PrEP screening, initiation, refills, and adherence support
• PEP administration referrals
• STI screening and treatment referrals
• Psychosocial and adherence support
• Client follow-ups and continuity of care

Community outreach, prevention and empowerment

The organisation conducts peer-led outreach and empowerment initiatives that prioritize harm reduction, informed decision-making, safety, and dignity. Activities include:

• Distribution of condoms and lubricants
• Distribution of HIV self-testing kits
• Health education, HIV prevention, and SRHR sensitization
• Rights awareness and community dialogues
• Peer-to-peer mobilisation and support

Humanitarian and economic support

The organisation has a well-established shelter space to provide accommodation to the homeless or wrongly evicted trans women. It comes with home care and security. All the shelter occupants are enrolled in economic skilling activities like poultry to prepare them to survive economically once they have exited the organisation.

Legal support and crisis response

Equal Shiners Uganda responds to rights violations and emergencies affecting trans women sex workers through referrals, accompaniment, and partnerships with legal and human rights institutions. Interventions include:

• Legal aid referrals and case follow-up
• Support during arrests, harassment, extortion, and violence
• Emergency response and documentation of abuse cases

Specific trans and intersex programmes

The organisation’s trans and intersex focused programmes are designed and led with direct involvement from trans women and intersex individuals to ensure they are inclusive, safe, and responsive to their needs. Equal Shiners use a peer-to-peer approach, community outreach, and safe spaces to build trust and ensure meaningful participation.

• Health Awareness and Access to Services: They conduct community outreaches and sensitisation sessions on HIV prevention, sexual and reproductive health, and mental health. The organisation also link trans and intersex individuals to friendly health facilities for testing, treatment, and counseling services.
• Safe Shelter and Emergency Support: Equal Shiners provides temporary shelter and emergency assistance to trans women and intersex individuals who are homeless, displaced, or facing violence and family rejection.
• Advocacy and Human Rights Awareness: The organisation engages in advocacy to promote the rights, dignity, and inclusion of trans and intersex people. This includes community dialogues, awareness campaigns, and working with local stakeholders to reduce stigma and discrimination.
• Psychosocial Support: They offer peer support groups and counseling to address trauma, mental health challenges, and social isolation experienced by our beneficiaries.
• Economic Empowerment: The organisation supports skills development and small income-generating activities to help individuals achieve independence and improve their livelihoods.

Contact

Email: info.equalshiners@gmail.com / kuchushiners@gmail.com
+256782156969
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