What’s your idea?

Our idea is to link gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender human rights defenders in developing countries with supporters of LGBT human rights in other parts of the world.

Using the web we will grow public awareness of the extent of sexuality rights violations at the same time as profiling the courageous work that sexuality rights activists are undertaking to defend human rights.

By linking sexuality rights activists in developing countries with supporters elsewhere we will mobilize practical and political support for their work and enhance their personal safety.

What is the social need or challenge your idea could address?

Sixty years after the international community agreed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the promise of freedom and equality for millions of same sex attracted people and other sexual minorities remains a distant hope.

In over 80 countries the criminalization of homosexuality renders gay, lesbian and bisexual people invisible and in 12 countries homosexuality is punishable by death.

In all of these places LGBT activists and their allies are beginning to challenge these laws and claim their rights.

However, LGBT activists in the global south face a range of serious challenges: they often undertake this work at significant personal risk to their safety, hostile governments and opinion leaders contribute to a sense of isolation and a lack of funding impedes their ability to undertake their work.

Increasing the awareness and understanding of supporters of LGBT rights of the situation in the global south in general and of the specific work of individual activists in particular, could play a vital part in overcoming these challenges.

Using the web we will profile individual LGBT human rights defenders and provide them with a platform to speak to and engage with international supporters.

Mobile phone technology will allow activists to provide real time updates to their profile, including in times when their personal safety might be at risk.

The site will also allow supporters to send messages and information to individual activists, improving their sense of international support for their work.

The site will also include e-based ‘take action’ opportunities that allow supporters to demonstrate their concern in response to specific issues. Actions might include emailing a government official in response to a specific human rights violation or signing an online petition as part of a broader campaign.

The site will also allow supporters to donate funds in support of the work of individual activists.

The site will aggregate news and other information on a country by country basis, providing a rich source of information on the context and situation for sexuality rights in a given place.

Links with existing social networking sites will increase the reach of the site and help ensure the creation of a viable and ultimately sustainable online community.

What’s really new about the idea?

This idea seeks to exploit the opportunity on the web to build a ‘conventional’ community of interest – in this case supporters of LGBT rights – but to link that community with individual activists.

The site provides an online platform to mobilize interest in and support for both a cause and individual champions of that cause in a way that hasn’t been seen thus far.

The idea also seeks to use technology to enhance international awareness of individual activists, helping to realize the promise of e-communications to improve the safety and security of human rights defenders.

What inspired you to come up with your idea in the first place?

I’ve been working in developing countries for the last fifteen years, largely focused on supporting community based HIV/AIDS programs.

I’ve recently seen the emergence of LGBT activists in many of these countries and have been impressed by their work. In discussions with them, they’ve identified the importance that outside support and solidarity has played in their work to date, and agree that web based communications has an important part to play in growing greater awareness of and support for their work.

From 1-5, what stage of development would you say your idea was in?

The idea is at about stage 2.5. We have a good sense of the concept, the various functionalities and how it will work, including crucially how it will be supported in the real world, but haven’t taken any of the ideas to development yet.

What can we do for you?

Both a geek and a funder are our priorities at the moment. We’ve got some excellent mentors but are always happy to be offered more advice and support.

If Social Innovation Camp is able to help push your idea forward, do you have the time or desire to take ownership of it?

Yes, absolutely.

Idea submitted by Joseph O’Reilly

Joseph is the Head of Policy and Programs at Book Aid International. He is also the founder of Free & Equal, a new organization dedicated to supporting sexuality rights defenders in the global South, and chair of Interact Worldwide, an international non-government organization that supports HIV/AIDS and sexual health programs in Africa, Asia and Latin America. He blogs at www.josephoreilly.com/