The Fight for the human rights of LGBTI persons and Health Equity

For over two decades, Lesbians, Gays and Bisexuals of Botswana (LEGABIBO) has stood as a beacon of hope and resilience for Botswana’s LGBTQIA+ community. As one of the leading voices in the fight for human rights, equitable healthcare access, and community empowerment, LEGABIBO has tirelessly worked to bridge gaps for individuals who face systemic stigma and discrimination based on their sexual orientation, gender identity, and expression.

While LEGABIBO does not provide clinical services, our impact has been profound. From securing landmark legal victories to driving policy change and supporting marginalised communities, we have helped transform the landscape for LGBTQIA+ rights in Botswana. One of our proudest moments came in 2019, when Botswana’s High Court decriminalised same-sex relations—a monumental step forward that reaffirmed the dignity and rights of LGBTQIA+ people in Botswana.

However, the progress we have fought so hard to achieve is now under serious threat.

The Funding Freeze Jeopardizing Decades of Progress

The recent funding freeze triggered by stop orders from the US administration has placed LEGABIBO and the communities we serve in an unprecedented crisis. This sudden withdrawal of critical resources threatens to undo years of hard-earned progress, leaving the most vulnerable in jeopardy.

LEGABIBO has been a key recipient of programmatic funding from PEPFAR (President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief), enabling us to conduct vital advocacy, community engagement, research, and awareness-raising around sexual orientation and gender identity. This support has been the lifeblood of our operations—supporting training and sensitisation of law enforcement, healthcare workers, and policymakers, while also ensuring grassroots movements thrive.

Now, facing an income cut exceeding 75%, LEGABIBO is being forced into heartbreaking decisions. The impacts are already being felt, and the consequences are stark:

• Policy advocacy efforts are grinding to a halt, weakening protections for LGBTQIA+ persons.
• Training and sensitisation programs have stalled, risking increased discrimination and human rights violations.
• Grassroots movement-building is dwindling, silencing marginalised voices and shrinking safe spaces.
• Four out of five national Drop-In Centres have shut their doors, cutting off essential healthcare and psychosocial support.
• Staff layoffs are underway, gutting our operational capacity and devastating our team of dedicated advocates. 
• Unemployment is rising, worsening mental health struggles in a country already battling high joblessness and growing suicide rates.
• HIV infections are likely to rise, reversing crucial progress made in combating the epidemic.

A Lifeline Now Closing

Among the most devastating casualties of this funding crisis are LEGABIBO’s Drop-In Centres. For many LGBTQIA+ people living in Botswana, these centres represent more than just a service- they are lifelines. They provide stigma-free healthcare and their closure means:

• HIV-positive individuals risk treatment interruptions, increasing both their viral load and the risk of transmission.
• HIV prevention programs like PrEP access are at risk, leaving the community more vulnerable to new infections.
• Mental health services vanish, leaving a gaping hole in a fragile landscape where support is already scarce. 

This is not just a funding crisis—it is a human rights emergency. Without urgent intervention, Botswana risks sliding backward, losing decades of progress in the fight for equality, dignity, and public health.

The loss of these services and advocacy efforts will not only harm LGBTQIA+ people but also compounds national challenges. Rising unemployment, deteriorating mental health, and increasing HIV infections will strain Botswana’s social and economic fabric at a time when resilience is most needed. 

The livelihoods of activists and advocates- people who have dedicated their lives to this cause- are now on the line. Their voices, which have carried the movement forward, risk being silenced. The momentum we’ve built is fragile and at risk of collapsing without support. 

We are calling on allies, partners, and the global community to recognise the gravity of this moment. The need is urgent. The stakes are high. Without immediate support, Botswana faces a regression that will reverberate far beyond our borders.

About LEGABIBO

In 65 countries around the world, LGBTI+ people are criminalised because of who they are and who they love. In half of those countries, homophobic laws originally passed during Britain’s colonial rule have yet to be repealed.

The Lesbians, Gays and Bisexuals of Botswana (LEGABIBO) is the foremost organisation in Botswana dedicated to advancing the rights and well-being of LGBTIQ+ persons. The organisation’s mandate is focused on issues pertaining to sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression. Central to LEGABIBO’s work is advocacy aimed at ensuring that the human rights of LGBTIQ+ individuals are respected, protected, promoted, defended, and fully realised within Botswana’s legal, social, and political frameworks.

Nozizwe is a queer feminist dedicated to advancing social justice, equity, and human rights, with a focus on the holistic empowerment of marginalised communities across Africa. A socio-legal researcher, human rights activist, lawyer, movement builder, and advocacy strategist, she holds an LLM in Human Rights and Democratisation in Africa from the University of Pretoria’s Centre for Human Rights, an LLB from the University of Botswana, and a Project Management certification from the University of Cape Town.

With extensive experience working alongside grassroots, regional, and international organisations, Nozizwe has consistently championed the human rights of LGBTI+ persons, civil society strengthening, and capacity building. She views research and knowledge production as vital advocacy tools, shaping intentional, inclusive strategies that resonate with diverse communities. Rooted in the principles of intersectionality and Ubuntu, her approach embodies a deep respect for the African ethos of humanity and community. Nozizwe is currently the Chief Executive Officer of the Lesbians, Gays and Bisexuals of Botswana (LEGABIBO).