3. Introduction The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, (UDHR) is explicit on the right of every person to life, privacy, health and equality before the law, inclusive of the right to freedom of expression and freedom from discrimination, violence and torture. The declaration extends these rights to every individual regardless of race, colour, creed, sexual orientation or gender identity. That said, LGBTI people continue to experience violations of these rights enshrined in the declaration. Homophobia in Zimbabwe is commonplace, mostly being fomented by high profile religious and political voices which have essentially led with the message that same-sex intimate relations are alien to the local culture and should not be permitted. The Other Foundation notes1 in their country report on the status of LGBTI people in Zimbabwe that over the last 25 years, the state has attempted to eradicate LGBTI organisations and movements through state sponsored homophobia. This resulted in wanton attacks on known and suspected members of the LGBTI community. However, the efforts for achieving equality have been sustained over time and through multiple channels, where some measure of success has been recorded. During the 34th session of the United Nation’s Human Rights Council, the International Gays and Lesbians Association called for the decriminalisation of all sexual acts between consenting adults, regardless of their gender and align the Criminal Code with the new Constitution2 This report is a synthesis of trends in LGBTI human rights violations in Zimbabwe for the period 2012 to 2017. An in-depth analysis was carried out on four reports covering reported and other known cases or instances of human rights violations on LGBTI people in Zimbabwe. 1 2 Ref: 34th session of the Human Rights Council – Item 6 – UPR Outcome Zimbabwe Statement by An analysis of the state of human rights violations against LGBTI persons in Zimbabwe (2011-2017) 4