LGBT rights in Burundi
| LGBT rights in Burundi | |
|---|---|
 Burundi |
|
| Same-sex sexual activity legal? | Criminalized in 2009 |
|
Penalty:
|
3 months to 2 years prison, fine |
| Family rights | |
| Recognition of relationships |
None |
|
Restrictions:
|
Constitution bans same-sex marriage[1] |
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) persons in Burundi face legal issues not experienced by non-LGBT citizens. The lower house of Burundi's parliament passed legislation criminalizing homosexual acts in November 2008.[2] The Senate of Burundi later rejected the proposed amendment,[3] but the assembly, which can override the senate, voted to restore the amendment which was then signed into law by President Pierre Nkurunziza on 22 April 2009.[4]
Contents |
[edit] Laws regarding same-sex sexual activity
Both female and male acts were previously legal in Burundi.[5] The November 2008 legislation passed by the National Assembly of Burundi criminalizes homosexual acts.
[edit] Penalties
Under the law, homosexuality carries a penalty of three months to two years imprisonment and a fine of 50,000–100,000 Burundian Francs.[2]
[edit] Recognition of same-sex relationships
There is no legal recognition of same-sex couples.[5] Constitution bans same-sex marriage.[1]
[edit] Discrimination protections
There is no protection from discrimination based on sexual orientation.[5]
[edit] Living conditions
The U.S. Department of State's 2010 Human Rights Report found that "although discrimination existed, it was not always overt or widespread. Families sometimes disowned children who refused to deny their homosexual identity, and gays and lesbians often entered opposite-sex marriages due to social pressure. The lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) rights organization Humure reported that 90 percent of the men they surveyed who engaged in male-to-male sex were married. Representatives of the LGBT community stated that after the 2009 passage of the revised penal code criminalizing same sex relations, they were subjected to more discrimination, but the number of cases remained small. The government took no steps to counter discrimination against gays and lesbians."[6]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ a b (French) "Constitution of the Republic of Burundi". http://www.chanrobles.com/burundi1.html. Retrieved 15 October 2010.
- ^ a b "Burundi urged not to criminalise homosexual acts". Pink News (UK). 4 December 2008. http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-9754.html. Retrieved 23 January 2009.
- ^ Burundi senate rejects gay bill
- ^ Burundi law makers secretly criminalize being gay
- ^ a b c Ottosson, Daniel (May 2008). "State-sponsored Homophobia: A world survey of laws prohibiting same sex activity between consenting adults". International Lesbian and Gay Association (ILGA). pp. Page 45. http://old.ilga.org/Statehomophobia/ILGA_State_Sponsored_Homophobia_2008.pdf. Retrieved 12 January 2009.
- ^ http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/160111.pdf
[edit] External links
- Burundi: Mixed Response to New Penal Code, All Africa, 9 December 2008
- Burundi outlaws homosexuals, 24 November 2008
- Burundi abolishes death penalty, (AFP) The Times, 22 November 2008 — includes criminalization of homosexuality
- International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission — Burundi information
- Burundi rejects proposal to criminalise homosexual relations, 17 February 2009
- Burundi criminalized homosexuality, 28 April 2009
