International Considerations & Variations in Practice: An African Perspective

Abstract

Despite the socio-economic and geopolitical differences across continents, there is an accelerating awareness and recognition of the natural variations of an individual’s sexual orientation, gender identity and sexuality. However, states and governments, especially in Africa, may not offer gender-diverse individuals protection and freedom of expression. Thirty-eight of fifty-three African nations criminalize homosexuality and impose varying degrees of legislative restrictions on sexual desires and practices. They also restrict the fulfilment of human rights of individuals. On the other hand, South Africa serves as a model of one of the few African countries where human rights, gender equality and freedom of expression are legally and constitutionally protected. This chapter draws on these basic tenets of this model and presents a case study on the protection, challenges and cultural development of gender identity, specifically in the context of children and adolescents in Africa. In this chapter, we will begin by describing some common perspectives on gender and sexuality that have existed in the African continent over time. We will then discuss the influence of the international scientific and advocacy community in shaping this view in more recent years. Subsequently, the case of South Africa will be used to provide a more specific example of the experiences of gender-diverse youth outside a major European or North American country, and describe the nature and structure of available services.