L’union féministe libre

Location: Morocco

Focus: Empowering women and LGBTQI people

Website: https://unionfemlibre.org

L’Union Féministe Libre continue to be Morocco’s only legally registered LGBTQI organisation and the first to openly defend the rights of women amd LGBTQI people and to oppose gender-based and sexual violence. They have 300 members from 10 cities, including a network of lawyers. 

Same-sex relations are illegal in Morocco and carry a three-year jail sentence. LGBTQI visibility and activism have increased recently, leading to a backlash branding the community a threat to “traditional values”. Hate speech by public officials and religious leaders perpetuates misinformation, while increased targeting by the police results in blackmail, intimidation and imprisonment. Public opinion is largely negative. Since April 2020, online harassment and outing have intensified, with fake accounts on dating sites exposing gay and bisexual men.

During the pandemic, the Union experienced a rise in emergency calls from those seeking safety from dangerous domestic situations. In response, they are establishing a shelter for survivors that will also provide space to run workshops and activities, which GiveOut’s grant will support. This will also allow the Union to collect high quality testimonies and evidence from survivors to help challenge gender-based violence and seek justice for survivors. 

GiveOut is a charity registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales (Registered Charity Number 1176434).