Relaunching the Utunzi Rainbow Security Network platfrom.

For a while now Nyanza, Rift Valley and Western Kenya LGBTI Network – NYARWEK and National Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission – NGLHRC have been running emergency response projects for LGBTIQ communities within their respective jurisdictions.

NYARWEK’s Security and Protection program utilizes a cluster – based system designed to receive, validate and respond to security reports in a rapid manner while NGLHRC has been running a security response mechanism that includes a legal aid, supporting internal relocation; fact finding/urgent action missions across the country. Hivos has always been concerned about the monitoring and documentation of human rights violations on the basis of sexual and gender identities and expressions.

In 2013, Hivos supported the creation of a platform that would allow access and reporting for persons in need of the services provided by organizations such as NYARWEK and NGLHRC. Lessons from the first phase of the project have resulted in this:

; a collaboration between NYARWEK,NGLHRC and Hivos East Africa. The platform allows individuals and organisations to report and document violations against lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans*, intersex and queer (LGBTIQ) individuals; respond (directly or through referral) to emergency security situations; track violations; and share information.

The platform receives violation reports and requests for assistance from LGBTIQ at risk in Kenya through SMS (Safaricom short-code 22069); email (report@utunzi.com); Twitter(@UtunziNetwork); Facebook (Utunzi: Rainbow Security Network) or through direct entry on the website via our reports page.

Confidentiality is key to all cases reported on the Utunzi which maintains an anonymized searchable database of recorded violations.

Yours faithfully,

NYARWEK, NGLHRC and Hivos East Africa

What happens when I make a report?

If you choose to make an anonymous report then this will simply be logged in the Utunzi database and saved as ‘unverified’. However, if you leave your mobile number or other means of contacting you, a responder in your local area will contact you to assess the situation and assist you, if possible. Only the responder(s) handling your case will have access to you personal information and will not share this with any other person or organisation without your consent.

How does Utunzi Work?

The Utunzi platform receives violation reports and requests for assistance from LGBTI at risk in Kenya through SMS (Safaricom short-code 22069); email (report@utunzi.com);Twitter(@UtunziNetwork); Facebook (Utunzi: Rainbow Security Network) or through direct entry on the website via our reports page.

Reports can be made anonymously or if an individual is requesting assistance can be made with a mobile number, email address, Twitter or Facebook account. Reports and requests for assistance are then received by the Utunzi team and responded to directly or through referrals to organizations on the ground. Responders are selected on the basis of geographic location, their expertise and capacity.

Utunzi will respond to reported cases of Human Rights violations and abuses on the basis of individuals’ perceived and/or actual sexual orientation, gender identity and expressions.

NB: Confidentiality is key to all cases reported on the Utunzi platform.

What is Utunzi?

Utunzi: Rainbow Security Network is a collaboration between three organizations: Hivos East Africa; Nyanza, Rift Valley, Western LGBTI Network (NYARWEK); and National Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (NGLHRC). Utunzi, meaning ‘care’ in Kiswahili, is a platform that allows individuals and organisations to report and document violations against lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans*, intersex and queer (LGBTIQ) individuals; respond to emergency security situations; track violations; and share information. Utunzi also provides information on LGBTI concerns in Kenya and maintains a searchable database of recorded violations.