South African coalition forms to counter anti-rights movements

A new civil society coalition, Vimba! We The People, has launched in South Africa to counter rising anti-rights and far-right movements across the continent. The coalition comprises organizations focused on LGBTQ+ rights, feminism, sexual and reproductive health, law, faith, labor, education, and racial justice.

The formation of the group was catalyzed by the announcement that the third Pan-African Conference on Family Values is scheduled to take place in Cape Town from May 12 to 15, 2027. While organizers describe the conference as a way to defend religious freedom and promote “biblical and indigenous values,” rights advocates express concern that such movements aim to restrict reproductive healthcare, criminalize diverse gender expressions, and limit access to sexual health education.

Vimba! aims to defend South Africa’s constitutional democracy and promote a broader definition of family that includes queer people and diverse cultural traditions. Rather than attempting to block the upcoming conference, the coalition intends to use the event as a catalyst to strengthen cooperation between progressive movements that have previously operated in isolation.