DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — Senegal has recently initiated a severe crackdown on LGBTQ+ individuals, marked by arrests and violations of their rights, prompting growing fear and stigma within the gay community, according to a Human Rights Watch report released on Monday.
The government's punitive measures followed the enactment of a law that escalates penalties for homosexuality, compelling individuals to go into hiding and discouraging them from seeking HIV testing and treatment. The report highlights the adverse effects of such legal actions on the well-being of LGBTQ+ individuals in the country.
Although there is no official count of arrests made under the new legislation, the African Forum for the Defense of Human Rights, a rights organization based in Dakar, reported that at least 212 people were detained between February and July of this year. The HIV Justice Network suggested that the number of arrests could exceed 300 during the same timeframe. Notably, 82 individuals faced charges of "voluntary HIV transmission," although these cases were dismissed by a court in August.
“LGBT people are being forced to curb their normal activities and to keep from exercising their rights for fear of arrest and increased stigma,” stated Larissa Kojoué, an LGBTQ+ rights researcher at Human Rights Watch. Kojoué called upon the Senegalese government to cease the crackdown, warning that it threatens the rights of all citizens.
The newly passed law, which garnered nearly unanimous support in parliament earlier this year, doubles the prison sentences for individuals convicted of homosexuality to a range of five to ten years. This legislation categorizes homosexuality alongside necrophilia and bestiality, classifying it as an offense termed "acts against nature.” Moreover, it criminalizes the promotion or financing of homosexuality, illustrating an attempt to suppress organizations that advocate for the rights of sexual and gender minorities.
Since 1965, same-sex sexual conduct has been illegal in Senegal; however, hostility toward LGBTQ+ individuals has escalated significantly in recent years. The report indicates that legislative and societal backlash has intensified, contributing to an environment of fear and discrimination against the LGBTQ+ community.
Across Africa, laws criminalizing homosexuality are prevalent, with over 30 of the 54 countries on the continent imposing penalties for same-sex sexual acts. Senegal has aligned itself with nations such as Kenya, Sierra Leone, and Tanzania, where penalties can reach ten or more years in prison. In countries like Somalia, Uganda, and Mauritania, being accused of homosexuality can result in the death penalty.
This situation in Senegal reflects a broader trend of LGBTQ+ oppression in several African nations, as public sentiment and governmental policies increasingly turn against sexual and gender minorities. The crackdown has led to international condemnation and raised urgent questions about human rights in the region, highlighting a critical need for advocacy and legal reform to protect the rights and freedoms of all individuals, regardless of their sexual orientation.
