LocationsMTN Bushfire and UNDP Unite for Inclusive Pride
June 25, 2024
Festivalgoers joined Key Populations to call for inclusivity at the MTN Bushfire Festival.
As Pride Month, June began with a powerful statement as key and vulnerable populations proudly wore colourful attire and asserted their presence at the annual MTN Bushfire Festival. Together, they championed equality, joined by festivalgoers who also celebrated and supported lesbians, gays, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex (LGBTQI) individuals, and other Key Populations.
UN AIDS classifies the LGBTQI community and injecting drug users as Key Populations (KPs) because they engage in behaviour that makes them vulnerable to HIV and AIDS. Despite their vulnerability to HIV and AIDS, many countries still outlaw the behaviour of KPs such as drug use or same-sex relationships making it difficult to access essential services such and health and legal aid. As a result, no country, including Eswatini, is on track to meet the global 10-10-10 targets by 2025, a global call for action to remove discriminatory laws and policies by 2030.
Members of the LGBTQI community are part of Key Populations
Building on the partnership between MTN Bushfire and the United Nations in Eswatini, UNDP and other UN agencies collaborated with civil society organizations working with key populations (KPs) to advocate and engage with their allies and fellow festival attendees on KP issues. Through the generosity of the Government of the Netherlands under the #WeBelongAfrica project, UNDP is supporting countries like Eswatini to reduce inequalities and social exclusion that contribute to HIV and poor health outcomes, as well as promoting effective and inclusive governance for health. While not its primary focus, the project will also look for opportunities to integrate attention to the perspectives, needs, and rights of young people who use drugs and individuals under 18 in juvenile detention or incarcerated.
UNDP supports Eswatini to eliminate discriminatory laws and practices against Populations.
As part of the MTN Bushfire and UN partnership, a dedicated space for live dialogues was created ahead of the festival held from May 31 to June 02. One of the live dialogues focused on HIV/AIDS, human trafficking and Inclusion where UNDP, UNAIDS and IOM collaborated with the National Emergency Response Council on HIV/AIDS (NERCHA), Health Plus for Men, and local artists to raise the voice of KPs Issues. The dialogue occurred at the House on Fire in Malkerns and was attended by KPs and the University of Eswatini students. The dialogue covered frameworks in place for HIV prevention and services specifically for KPs in Eswatini. The discussions further touched on human rights issues for key Populations where the KP CSOs raised concerns about stigma and discrimination as well as limited access to mainstream health services due to the persona prejudices with health care workers and other public servants at service points. Strategies for removing barriers to HIV services for KPs to ensure Eswatini achieves the 10 10 10 targets by 2025 were also discussed.
The pride parade at the MTN Bushfire festival led to the KP stall where people received more information.
MTN Bushfire established the Bring Your Fire Zone. This vibrant festival space harnesses its creative platforms to tackle pressing social issues such as environmental sustainability and the fight against discrimination based on race, gender, identity, sexuality, and religion. This initiative involved UN agencies and their partners, including UNDP, which supported its collaborating CSOs in amplifying the voices of marginalised groups. Notably, the CSOs led the Pride Parade (Unity Parade) on June 01, rallying festival attendees to our stall where they engaged in learning about these critical issues and explored opportunities for active participation. Our highlight was the visit by His Excellency the Right Honourable Prime Minister, Russel Mmiso Dlamini, who was interested to know about key Populations and LGBTI issues. He further invited the KP/LGBTI CSOs for a private meeting in his offices in Mbabane for further discussion. While the meeting with the Prime Minister is pending, we anticipate this engagement will further Eswatini's efforts to eliminate discriminatory laws, policies, and practices, thereby enhancing the quality of life for KPs.