Gay rights in Mozambique.

Gays and lesbians in Mozambique may soon have their rights championed by an official movement, state news agency AIM reports. The demand for organised representation came during the first ever seminar on homosexual rights in Mozambique organised by the national human rights league (LDH) in Maputo in October. Participants also called for information on sexuality to be included in the school syllabus and for books on the subject to be made available in bookshops and libraries, as well as criticising media censorship of gay issues.

In Mozambique, as in much of Africa, homosexuality is still widely considered a taboo. LDH leader Alice Mabota told participants at the seminar that it had been difficult even for her to take up the issue until as late as 2004, although she said now she is committed. The role of the League is to promote human rights, and so the doors of the LDH are open to promote your rights when they are denied, she said. She also promised to help register the association by lobbying the competent authorities if they showed resistance.