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LGBT rights in Cameroon

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LGBTQ rights in Cameroon Cameroon
Cameroon
StatusIllegal since 1972[1][2]
PenaltyUp to death. 5 years imprisonment and fine[1] or vigilante executions[3]
Gender identity–

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) persons in Cameroon face legal challenges not experienced by non-LGBT residents. Both male and female same-sex sexual activity is illegal in Cameroon.[1]

Law regarding same-sex sexual activity

Same-sex sexual acts are banned by section 347-1 of the penal code with a penalty of 5 years imprisonment and a fine of 20,000 to 200,000 francs.[1]

In May 2005, 11 men were arrested at a nightclub on suspicion of sodomy, and the government threatened to conduct medical examinations to "prove" their homosexual activity. As of February 2006, nearly all were still being detained, with trials scheduled in March 2006.[4]

The Advocate estimates that in 2011, at least a dozen men were arrested under Section 347.[5] One of these, Jean-Claude Roger Mbede, was arrested by security forces for sending SMS messages to male acquaintance and sentenced to three years' imprisonment at Kondengui Central Prison.[6] The sentence was protested by international human rights organizations including Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International,[6] the latter of which named him a prisoner of conscience.[7] On 24 November 2011, three young men were sentenced to five years' imprisonment for having oral sex in a parked car.[8]

In November 2011, a Cameroonian court convicted two young men who had been arrested for homosexuality outside a nightclub based solely on their appearance and behavior to five years' imprisonment. The presiding judge stated that the way they spoke and their having worn women's clothing and ordered a cream-based liquor was sufficient evidence for homosexuality. An appeals court later overturned the verdict.[9][10]

UK asylum cases

A gay Cameroonian man was granted the right to claim asylum in the United Kingdom due to his sexuality in early July 2010. Cameroon's Minister of Communication, Issa Tchiroma Bakary, responded to the court's action by acknowledging that homosexuality was definitely illegal in Cameroon, but also arguing that homosexuals were not prosecuted for their private activities. He dismissed the asylum-seeker's claims, saying that the man had nothing to fear from the law: "Do you think he is the only gay person in Cameroon?"[11]

In August 2011, a gay Cameroonian man was granted temporary immigration bail from the UK Border Agency after Air France refused to carry him to Yaoundé.[12] In May 2012, the UK Border Agency sought to return asylum-seeker Ediage Valerie Ekwedde, finding "no credible evidence" that he was gay, but was forced to keep Ekwedde in custody after he threatened to "make a fuss" on the Air France flight returning him to Cameroon.[8]

Living conditions

Cameroon is a conservative society in which homosexuality is frowned upon. In 2006, a number of tabloids published the names of at least 50 very prominent people they claimed were homosexual. They condemned them for deviant behaviour. The stories boosted newspaper circulation, but were criticized by the state communication council for invading people's privacy. The campaign provoked a national debate about gay rights and privacy.[13]

A Cameroon court jailed Jean Pierre Amougou Belinga for four months for defaming Gregoire Owona, a government minister named in the list of 50 presumed homosexuals in Cameroon.[14]

The U.S. Department of State's 2010 Human Rights Report found that "homosexual persons generally kept a low profile because of the pervasive societal stigma, discrimination, and harassment as well as the possibility of imprisonment. Gays and lesbians suffered from harassment and extortion by law enforcement officials. False allegations of homosexuality were used to harass enemies or to extort money."[15] In 2012, the first association for lesbian and queer women, World Queens, was founded.[16]

A 2013 news story revealed that Cameroonian authorities allow vigilante executions [3]

Summary table

Same-sex sexual activity legal No Up to death. (Penalty: Fine and 5 years imprisonment or vigilante execution)
Equal age of consent No
Anti-discrimination laws in employment only No
Anti-discrimination laws in the provision of goods and services No
Anti-discrimination laws in all other areas (Incl. indirect discrimination, hate speech) No
Same-sex marriages No
Recognition of same-sex couples No
Step-child adoption by same-sex couples No
Joint adoption by same-sex couples No
Gays and lesbians allowed to serve openly in the military No
Right to change legal gender No
Access to IVF for lesbians No
Commercial surrogacy for gay male couples No
MSMs allowed to donate blood No

See also

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d Ottosson, Daniel (May 2008). "State-sponsored Homophobia: A world survey of laws prohibiting same sex activity between consenting adults" (PDF). International Lesbian and Gay Association (ILGA). pp. Page 11. Retrieved 5 May 2009.
  2. ^ Where is it illegal to be gay?
  3. ^ a b http://www.glaad.org/blog/cameroonian-lgbti-activist-found-tortured-death-home
  4. ^ "Cameroon jails two men for gay sex" PlanetOut Network. 28 February 2006. Accessed 1 March 2006.
  5. ^ "A Lone Activist Crusades for Change in Cameroon". The Advocate. 28 November 2011. Retrieved 25 December 2011. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  6. ^ a b David Smith (9 June 2011). "Campaign to free Cameroon man jailed for homosexuality". London: The Guardian. Retrieved 25 December 2011. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  7. ^ "Prisoner of Conscience, Imprisoned for Homosexuality". Amnesty International. 2011. Retrieved 25 December 2011.
  8. ^ a b "Cameroon jails men over gay sex". The Guardian. 24 November 2011. Retrieved 26 December 2011. Cite error: The named reference "BBC" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  9. ^ "Cameroon court acquits 2 men imprisoned for 'looking gay' - CNN.com". CNN. 10 January 2013.
  10. ^ "Cameroon 'gay sex' men acquitted". BBC News. 7 January 2013.
  11. ^ "Cameroon denies homosexuals face persecution", BBC News, 8 July 2010.
  12. ^ "Air France refuses to carry deported gay Cameroon man from UK", Radio France Internationale, 10 August 2011.
  13. ^ "Row over Cameroon 'gay' witchhunt" BBC News. Updated 6 February 2006, 11:43 GMT Accessed 7 February 2006.
  14. ^ Cameroon gay list publisher jailed Ninemsn. Saturday 4 Mar 09:23 AEDT.
  15. ^ http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/160112.pdf
  16. ^ World Queens, le lesbiche del Camerun fanno rete Il grande colibrì. 24 November 2012. Accessed 1 December 2012
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