Carla Sutherland, PhD Head of Programmes, the Other Foundation Reframing Global Human Rights Debates for Local Contexts: Using social attitudes surveys to strengthen SOGI advocacy in South Africa Carla Sutherland, PhD Head of Programmes, the Other Foundation

a global context major differences in how SOGI is treated around the world increasing activism at the global, regional and national levels increasing resources going to the sector a number of important victories: including constitutional protections and marriage major backlashes: hardening of attitudes and introduction of laws and regulations

Displacement Process donors fund INGOs Multilateral Agencies Apply Pressure on African Governments Voices, Identities and of African LGBTI people become ‘displaced’ in this Global power politics African governments resist pressure and react with a backlash Gather Evidence & Lobby Northern Governments International NGOs define the problem in Northern Advocacy Terms Nascent civil society groups, with limited support, tackling deep social prejudices, social policing, and violence Alliances with national social justice organizations by-passed

Inclusion Strategy Lobbying Governments in multi-lateral Governments Direct engagement with policy makers in Africa Build alliances with INGOs and work on informing and shaping advocacy strategies Authentic Voice and Agency of African LGBTI people creates lasting change Build alliances with research institutions, social justice and human rights organizations in Africa Build African philanthropy engage with wider social justice organizations to seek common ground Redefine problems to reflect realities in region: shift away from individual rights to social justice and transformation

What does this mean in practice? Everyone has freedom to live a safe and dignified life, have a family, and make their contribution to society changed laws and policies changed beliefs, attitudes and practices more informed and empathetic public officials, with winnable solutions more informed and empathetic public, especially key stakeholders: media, religion, employees, tradition and culture leaders Engage in dialogue with key public officials and policy makers Engage in outreach, particularly with key constituencies develop an evidence base develop grounded strategies the vast majority of people don’t regard this as a problem influential allies Stigmatized Minority, prevented by both laws and social norms from living a safe and dignified lives, with family of choice, and ability to make contribution to society

The SA Social Attitudes Survey: What and Why? Nationally Representative annual survey 3,000 interviews eight languages 250 questions Core set of demographic, and attitudinal variables Rotating modules on specific themes Provide attitudinal evidence to inform policy and academic debate Why? Long-term account of speed and direction of changes in public values Tool for monitoring evolving social, economic and political values Anticipatory mechanism to inform decision- and policy-making processes The SA Social Attitudes Survey: What and Why?

The SOGI Module 32 question module was developed for inclusion in 2015 SASAS survey Designed by technical team drawn from range of Southern African institutions Regarded as experimental for further refinement, with intention to use it beyond South Africa Purpose to develop empirical data base to strengthen advocacy

Framework Informing Research Hypothesized Factors Influencing Attitudes (alongside broader demographic issues like age, sex, class etc) Hypothesized Attitudes Impacting Behavior and Policy Hypothesized link between attitudes and “outcomes” personal experience of SOGI Behaviors (incl experiencing violence, stigma, rejection) contact / awareness in family and community of “non-conforming” SOGI Gender (including identify and expression) Same-Sex Orientation (in particular) Policy Frame for Protection and Policing understanding / knowledge of SOGI Sexuality (in general) moral frame and sources, especially religion, tradition, culture

A Multi-Pronged Approach Credible Empirical Evidence Analyzing and Presenting Evidence BUILDING THE FIELD SHIFTING PUBLIC OPINION Embargo on Data to allow (black) South African researchers to write seminal articles for international publications INFLUENCING POLICY Particularly by South African Institutions Strengthening advocacy efforts through engagement with key LGBTI organizations and allies Making research accessible and building capacity to use it effectively High level policy briefs in partnership with National Gay and Lesbian Task Team Cohort of PhD students to build field and integrate into curriculum ‘Bridging’ convening / workshop Grant / Contracts to support work Leveraging access to high level Ministries Feeding into global advocacy through UPR partnering with HSRC identifying participants from key constituencies funded initial planning meeting driving forward the process purchased SOGI module (subsidized by HSRC) International Symposium Funding for PhDs (SA gov or multi-lateral) Feeding into global advocacy Strategy workshops RFP grant making

Anticipated Outputs Public data set: (HSRC) Scholarly publications: Technical team and beyond Government briefing papers: (Other Foundation and civil society) Civil Society strategy papers: (Other Foundation and civil society) Cohort of PhD students: (partner universities)