Namibian Law on LGBT Issues Gender Research and Advocacy Project LEGAL ASSISTANCE CENTRE 2015 Section Heading A ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The primary author of this report is Dianne Hubbard. Research, writing and other support was provided by Felix Lüth, Laura Halonen, Shane Meckler, Sam Szoke-Burke, Drew Aiken, Rachel Coomer, Yolande Engelbrecht, Grace Kapere, and Markus Ihalainen. Design and layout are by Perri Caplan. Thanks also to the many Namibian groups working with LGBT issues for their input and interest, and to the entire Legal Assistance Centre team. The project was funded by the Government of the United States of America and the Embassy of Finland in Namibia. © Legal Assistance Centre 2015 This report may be freely copied for educational purposes, as long as the source is acknowledged. PUBLISHER’S CONTACT DETAILS 4 Marien Ngouabi Street (former name Körner Street), Windhoek PO Box 604, Windhoek, Namibia Telephone 264-061-223356 Fax 264-061-234953 Email [email protected] Website www.lac.org.na A digital version (PDF) of this publication is available on the LAC website. B Namibian Law on LGBT Issues ISBN 978-99945-61-53-7 CONTENTS Chapter 1: INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................................................................. 1 1.1 Terminology .................................................................................................................................................... 2 1.2 Homosexuality and bisexuality ................................................................................................. 7 1.3 Transgenderism ....................................................................................................................................... 16 1.4 Intersexuality .............................................................................................................................................. 21 Chapter 2: CONSTITUTION ............................................................................................................................................. 27 2.1 Namibia’s Bill of Rights ..................................................................................................................... 28 2.2 Protection in the Namibian Constitution for LGBT rights ................................ 29 2.3 Limiting fundamental rights ......................................................................................................... 42 2.4 Enforcing fundamental rights .................................................................................................... 43 Chapter 3: INTERNATIONAL LAW ........................................................................................................................ 45 3.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................................. 46 3.2 The role of international law in Namibia ....................................................................... 46 3.3 LGBT rights under international law ..................................................................................... 47 3.4 Conclusion ................................................................................................................................................... 61 Chapter 4: CRIME ......................................................................................................................................................................... 63 4.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................................. 64 4.2 Sodomy and unnatural sexual off ences ....................................................................... 65 4.3 Public indecency, indecent assault and related statutory off ences .......................................................................................................................................................... 76 4.4 Sex work and brothels ...................................................................................................................... 77 Chapter 5: PROTECTION .................................................................................................................................................... 81 5.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................................. 82 5.2 Rape and other non-consensual sexual contact ............................................... 84 Contentss i 5.3 Other violent crimes ........................................................................................................................... 86 5.4 Domestic violence ............................................................................................................................... 87 5.5 Protections against exploitation in respect of sex work ................................ 88 5.6 Bullying ............................................................................................................................................................. 90 5.7 Recommendations for protecting the LGBT community .............................. 91 Chapter 6: SPEECH ..................................................................................................................................................................... 93 A. PROTECTION AGAINST HATE SPEECH AND INVASION OF PRIVACY .......................................................................................................................................................... 94 6.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 94 6.2 Legislation protecting against hate speech in Namibia .............. 95 6.3 Criminal remedies in Namibia ................................................................................. 97 6.4 Civil remedies in Namibia ............................................................................................ 99 6.5 Using constitutional rights to protect against hate speech .......................................................................................................................................... 103 6.6 International law: Hate speech and crimes against humanity ...................................................................................................................................... 104 6.7 Models for law reform .................................................................................................... 105 B. PROTECTION FOR FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION ABOUT LGBT ISSUES .............................................................................................................................................................. 106 6.8 Restrictions on “propaganda of homosexuality” ............................. 106 6.9 Limitations on indecent, obscene and undesirable speech .......................................................................................................................................... 107 Chapter 7: LABOUR ............................................................................................................................................................... 109 7.1 Introduction to LGBT employment discrimination ............................................ 110 7.2 Employment discrimination laws in Namibia ........................................................ 112 7.3 International law ................................................................................................................................. 116 7.4 Sexual harassment ............................................................................................................................ 119 7.5 Family responsibilities .................................................................................................................... 121 7.6 Compassionate leave ................................................................................................................... 122 7.7 Severance pay and dependants on agricultural land ............................... 123 7.8 Social security benefi ts ................................................................................................................ 124 7.9 Employees’ compensation ...................................................................................................... 124 7.10 Models for law reform .................................................................................................................... 125 ii Namibian Law on LGBT Issues Chapter 8: FAMILY ................................................................................................................................................................... 127 8.1 Introduction .............................................................................................................................................. 128 8.2 Marriage ...................................................................................................................................................... 128 8.3 Current legal position of same-sex partners in Namibia .......................... 136 8.4 Legal mechanisms which can be applied to same-sex partnerships .............................................................................................................................................