A new civil society coalition has launched in South Africa in response to growing concern about anti-LGBTQ+, anti-abortion and far-right movements across the continent.
Called Vimba! We The People, the coalition brings together organisations working across LGBTQ+ rights, feminism, sexual and reproductive health, law, faith, labour, education and racial justice.
Its launch has been partly prompted by plans to hold the third Pan-African Conference on Family Values in Cape Town in May 2027.
‘Family Values’ Conference Sparks Concern
The Pan-African Conference on Family Values is scheduled to run in Cape Town from 12 to 15 May 2027.
Organisers describe the gathering as an opportunity for Christian leaders, politicians, professionals and family advocates to strengthen families, defend religious freedom and promote what they call Africa’s “biblical and indigenous values”.
LGBTQ+ and reproductive-rights organisations are concerned that similar “family values” campaigns have also been used to oppose abortion rights, comprehensive sexuality education and legal protections for LGBTQ+ people.
Some activists have called for the conference to be prevented from taking place in South Africa.
Vimba!, however, says it also sees the event as an opportunity to strengthen cooperation between progressive movements that have often worked separately.
“We will seize this opportunity to grow our collective strength,” the coalition said.
Coalition Wants To Reclaim ‘Family Values’
Vimba! argues that ideas such as “traditional African values”, family and sovereignty are increasingly being used to justify restrictions on LGBTQ+ rights, reproductive healthcare and gender equality.
The coalition says it wants to challenge that framing and promote a broader understanding of family that includes queer people, diverse relationships and different cultural and faith traditions.
It also points to growing international funding for conservative movements operating across Africa.
Research has found that US Christian Right organisations have significantly increased their spending on the continent in recent years, supporting campaigns around abortion, sexuality, religion and family policy.
Vimba! argues that this outside influence raises uncomfortable questions when foreign groups simultaneously present LGBTQ+ equality and reproductive rights as supposedly un-African ideas.
Protecting South Africa’s Constitutional Rights
South Africa has some of the strongest constitutional protections for LGBTQ+ people on the continent, including explicit protection from discrimination based on sexual orientation.
Vimba! says those protections should not be taken for granted.
The coalition argues that attacks on LGBTQ+ rights, abortion access and sexuality education are connected to broader questions about bodily autonomy, dignity, equality and democracy.
It has also pointed to South Africa’s commitments under regional agreements such as the Maputo Protocol, which protects the rights of women and girls across Africa.
“Vimba! is a rallying call,” the coalition said, urging communities and government to recognise what it sees as a growing threat to constitutional rights.
What Happens Next?
The coalition has brought together an extensive range of organisations, including Access Chapter 2, Gender DynamiX, Iranti, Pan Africa ILGA, Triangle Project, Southern Africa Litigation Centre and Women’s Legal Centre.
However, it has not yet announced a detailed programme of campaigns, protests or advocacy initiatives.
Its immediate focus appears to be movement-building ahead of the 2027 conference and encouraging organisations from different sectors to work together.
Whether Vimba! develops into a sustained national movement will depend on what practical action follows.
For now, its message is clear: rights won through decades of activism should not be assumed to be permanent.
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Social Handles: @PanAfricaILGA, @GenderDynamiX, @accesschapter2
