About Us
About Us
Out-Right Namibia (ORN) was established by member mandate in October 2010 and was fully registered on 21st October 2017 as a Trust with the Master of the High Court in Windhoek. Governed by a Board of Trustees, ORN operates two independent and autonomous wings of the organisation i.e., the Secretariat with its head office in Windhoek and membership representative structures with elected officials in all 14 regions of Namibia that convenes nationally under the National Executive Committee (NEC).
Our Mission
ORN works diligently towards the attainment of the full constitutional equality and equity of sexual and gender diverse people in Namibia; through strategic advocacy, lobbying, evidence-based interventions and movement building.
Core Values
To guide organisational behaviour in the execution of the Strategic Plans, we will strive to uphold the following core values to direct the work of the organisation
List Of Core Values:
Inclusiveness | Innovation | Participation | Passion | Empowerment | Integrity
Our Vision
To be a united movement of sexual and gender diverse people that champions the attainment of legal and social justice in a free, safe, and healthy environment.
Organisational Overview Out-Right Namibia (ORN)
Namibian leading LGBTIQ+ human rights-based organisation
Out-Right Namibia (ORN) is a Namibian leading LGBTIQ+ human rights-based organisation that was formed in March 2010 by self-identified LGBTIQ+ activists and officially registered on 21 October 2017 as a Trust with the Masters of the High Court in Windhoek. Governed by a Board of Trustees, ORN operates two independent wings of the organisation, the secretariat with a head office in Windhoek and membership representative structures with elected officials in all 14 regions of Namibia.
Day-to-day lived realities of LGBTIQ+ persons have not significantly changed for most LGBTIQ+ persons in the past years since independence. For people who are known by others to be lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender, intersex, and Queer plus (LGBTIQ+), that day-to-day reality includes familial and social disapproval, threats of violence, challenges in finding and maintaining employment, poor access to health services, bullying and other ostracization in schools (for those still in school), challenges finding secure and private housing, and challenges in establishing and building relationships and a network of supportive friends.
Continuous Support of the LGBTIQ+ Community
ORN is mindful of the fact that more work needs to be done to properly establish the organization and this will take some time and that donors and partners would have to be mobilized to support the work of the LGBTIQ+ movement in Namibia. It is also important to note that resources, infrastructure and financial management capacity would take a while to be fully established.
Goals and Tasks
ORN’s original aims and objectives at formation of the trust are:
To generally advance, develop and further the rights, interests and expectations of the LGBTIQ+ community in Namibia. The trust further aims to integrate a legal, ethical and human rights dimension into the response to sexual reproduction and human rights of the Namibian LGBTI persons without discrimination”.
The following are the agreed thematic contexts which define the specific aims, objectives and
environment where ORN will operate in the new strategic period:
a. Providing all LGBTIQ+ communities with a safe space and be the voice of the community.
b. Advocating for the decriminalization of sodomy laws through reform of existing discriminatory and punitive laws and provide protection and equality to the LGBTIQ+ community.
c. Advocating for the provision of access to inclusive and affordable legal services for the LGBTIQ+ community.
d. Through advocacy and movement building lobby and mobilise the LGBTIQ+ community to rally behind the decriminalization agenda for an inclusive non-discriminatory Namibia.
e. Community mobilization and sensitization on stigma and discrimination against LGBTIQ+ issues
f. Liaise with the government, local and international agencies and bring issues affecting the LGBTIQ+ community to the fore.
g. To be the leading LGBTIQ+ organization through inclusive and innovative programming
h. Advocate for SRHR for the LGBTIQ+ community at health facilities and educational institutions
i. Collaboration and engagement with other organisations to work towards a tolerant and inclusive society without prejudice.
j. Equitable, accessible, affordable and no-discriminatory health services provisions to the LGBTIQ+ community
k. Justice, equality and non-discriminatory legal and safety provision to the LGBTIQ+ community