The Young Queer Alliance (YQA) has organised a two-day training to empower Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Queer, Intersex and Asexual (LGBTQIA+) activists on their digital and physical security. The training, held at the Gold Crest Business Hotel on 11 and 25 April 2026, was funded by The Other Foundation and brought together some 20 LGBTQIA+ Activists.
The workshop was facilitated by the President and Founder of the YQA, Fokeerbux Najeeb Ahmad, in a participatory and engaging format, enabling activists to assess their own security, understand their organisational security, and identify security risks in society and how to address them.
Globally, a lack of public space stemming from a lack of legal protection forces many LGBTQIA+ people to live secret lives. This situation creates unsafe, unwelcoming and unsecure spaces which prevent LGBTQIA+ people to flourish and live authentically in dignity and freedom. In other societies, the work of LGBTQIA+ organisations, activists and individuals being visible and creating visibility for the queer community, and advancing social protection and rights, also fuels homophobia and transphobia, creating similar unsafe situations.
In Mauritius, different statistics and research evidence that LGBTQIA+ people continue facing discrimination (6 in 10 persons), stigmatisation (7 in every 10 persons) and violence (5 in every 10 persons), at home/within their family, in society, in educational settings, in public transport/on the streets, and at the workplace. Moreover, 6 in 10 LGBTQIA+ person living with their parents face mental health issues such as anxiety or depression.
The workshop had for objectives:
- Empower volunteers and actors in the LGBTQIA+ struggle to reinforce their individual safety and security;
- Enable participants to apply concepts learnt to strengthen organisational security and safety; and
- Build community spaces to become safe and secure for the queer community to live, play, learn and love.
Day 1 of the workshop focused on digital security. The workshop then delved into what security meant in the context of online presence, understanding digital identity, exploring one’s digital footprint, and the measures that can be taken to strengthen digital identity protection.
The participants were also introduced to different types of online abuses, such as astroturfing, concern trolling, cyberbullying, dogpiling, cyberstalking, deepfakes, dog whistling, doxing, hashtag poisoning and nonconsensual intimate images (revenge porn); measures to prevent these abuses and the course of action which can be taken in case one has been a victim of such abuse. Through interactive activities, participants also had an opportunity to assess their digital status and map their digital security.
Day 2 of the workshop focused on physical safety. The importance of safer spaces, as a conscious set of decisions and actions taken to promote equality, fairness, non-violence, and to affirm the unconditional value of all peoples, for them to grow freely, thrive and express their individual identities, was explored.
Participants were exposed to inclusive language, cultural responsiveness, and clarity about their own attitudes and biases. Through interactive exercises, participants explored which information about themselves is kept physically or digitally; the places they feel safe, unsafe, or unsure about; and the contextual security issues faced by LGBTQIA+ activists, along with the measures to address them.
The contextual analysis was the fifth activity, based on identifying societal challenges and labelling their impact on operations. The last activity was the threshold of acceptable risk, in which participants were tasked with identifying risks, vulnerabilities, existing capacities, and required capacities to conduct a risk assessment.
Participants got to learn that priority threats faced by activists and their work are:
- Legal and administrative pressures from the State;
- Risks of physical violence;
- Slander or defamation;
- Psychological and physical health challenges; and
- Threats to and from their family.
The workshop concluded with participants sharing their personal reflections on what they learned and how they would apply their newfound knowledge.
Noé
Communication Volunteer YQA
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