Background

The African LGBTI conference held from May 5-8, 2007 in Johannesburg under the auspices of ILGA has elected a Steering Committee to manage the affairs of the yet un-named All-Africa LGBTI Movement that will be the Africa chapter of ILGA. Since the conference did not finalize a constitution for the All-Africa LGBTI Movement, these TOR are designed to clarify the authority and the tasks that the Africa LGBTI conference expects this steering committee to fulfill and undertake. These TOR are divided into General Duties and Specific Tasks.

General Duties of the Steering Committee

1. Manage the activities of the All-Africa LGBTI movement and Africa Chapter of ILGA until the next Africa-wide LGBTI/ILGA conference.
2. Represent the African LGBTI community, and speak on its behalf, in all relevant Africa-wide and sub-regional fora and organizations, such as the African Union, African Commission for Peoples’ and Human Rights, etc.
3. Speak out on behalf of the human rights of the African LGBTI community in general, as well as in particular cases of human rights violations that may occur.
4. Participate in, and contribute to the global ILGA activities such as ensuring the participation of the two African Board members of ILGA elected by the present conference in ILGA Board meetings, participate in ILGA’s LGBTI work in the UN, recommend new ILGA members to the ILGA Board for final approval at the World Conference, etc.
5. Disseminate all relevant documents (such as the ILGA constitution, the existing draft constitutions, the proposed constitution, meeting reports and minutes, the organizational manual of GALZ, and other useful information) to existing and prospective ILGA member organizations in Africa in both French and English, and if possible in Portuguese and Arabic. In this information dissemination the Steering Committee will seek the support of BTM.
6. Strive to bridge the gap among the Anglophone, francophone and lusophone LGBTI communities.
7. Build alliances with like-minded LGBTI and mainstream organizations such as human rights groups, feminist organizations, trade unions and HIV/AIDS organizations, and collaborate with them on issues of common interest.
8. Within its means and capacities, provide support to existing and prospective ILGA members.
9. Report at least every four months to the existing and prospective African members of the African ILGA chapter/LGBTI movement using the website and e-mail.

Specific Tasks of the Steering Committee

1. Review, analyze, summarize, and draw lessons from past and ongoing attempts to organize the LGBTI movement in Africa, such as the ILGA 1999 conference, CAL, and the AARI. In this process
   
   1. review the aspirations and expectations of LGBTI people for the All-Africa movement that were collected during these processes;
   2. draw on the knowledge and experience of individuals and organizations who have played an important role in these past and ongoing efforts such as the Rainbow Project, GALZ, BTM, ILGA, CAL, and any other relevant African LGBTI organization.
   3. disseminate these aspirations and lessons in French and English, and if possible in Portuguese and Arabic, and incorporate them into their ongoing work.
2. Within six months, draft a constitution for the All-Africa LGBTI movement in French and English
   
   1. that will be consistent with the ILGA constitution, and the resolutions of the current conference;
   2. that incorporates lessons learned from past and current attempts to organize at the All-Africa level;
   3. that incorporates relevant and useful elements from the draft constitutions of CAL and AARI.
3. In collaboration with ILGA, organize and raise the funds for the next All-Africa LGBTI/ILGA conference.
4. Submit the draft constitution for discussion, amendments and ratification to the next All-Africa LGBTI/ILGA meeting.
5. After the interim committee has approved the draft constitution, and after the World Board of ILGA has agreed that it conforms to the ILGA constitution, and until it can be amended and ratified at the next All-Africa LGBTI/ILGA meeting, the executive committee will operate according to the provision of the draft constitution.
6. Use the draft constitution to obtain registration of the All-Africa movement in South Africa, where the organization will be located until the general assembly of the All-Africa movement decides otherwise.
7. In collaboration with knowlegable organizations, map the LGBTI movement in Africa.
8. Recruit new members.
9. Engage in fund-raising for the organization and manage these financial resources.
10. Set up an account and the associated financial management arrangements.
11. If possible, set up a secretariat for the organization and hire a secretary who preferably should be bilingual or tri-lingual.
12. Undertake any other tasks or activities that may become necessary and that are consistent with the values, objectives and aspirations of ILGA and the prospective All-Africa LGBTI movement.