REPORT: THE STATE OF HUMAN RIGHTS FOR LGBT PEOPLE IN AFRICA July 2014 As the largest civil rights organization working to American ideals. Universal values. achieve equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and On human rights, the United States must be a beacon. transgender individuals, the Human Rights Campaign Activists fighting for freedom around the globe represents a force of more than 1.5 million members continue to look to us for inspiration and count on us and supporters nationwide — all committed to making for support. Upholding human rights is not only a HRC's vision a reality. moral obligation; it’s a vital national interest. America The Human Rights Campaign Foundation, the is strongest when our policies and actions match our educational arm of the Human Rights Campaign, values. improves the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual and Human Rights First is an independent advocacy and transgender (LGBT) people by working to increase action organization that challenges America to live up understanding and encourage the adoption of LGBT- to its ideals. We believe American leadership is inclusive policies and practices. essential in the struggle for human rights so we press We build support for LGBT people among families and the U.S. government and private companies to respect friends, co-workers and employers, pastors and human rights and the rule of law. When they don’t, we parishioners, doctors and teachers, neighbors, and the step in to demand reform, accountability and justice. general public. Through the programs and projects of Around the world, we work where we can best harness the HRC Foundation, we are enhancing the lived American influence to secure core freedoms. experiences of LGBT people and their families, as we We know that it is not enough to expose and protest change hearts and minds across America and around injustice, so we create the political environment and the globe. policy solutions necessary to ensure consistent HRC GLOBAL strengthens the global equality respect for human rights. Whether we are protecting movement though public education, advocacy, refugees, combating torture, or defending persecuted fellowships, partnerships, and research. minorities, we focus not on making a point, but on making a difference. For over 30 years, we’ve built The HRC Foundation is a nonprofit, tax-exempt bipartisan coalitions and teamed up with frontline 501(c)(3) organization. activists and lawyers to tackle issues that demand American leadership. Human Rights First is a nonprofit, nonpartisan international human rights organization based in New York and Washington D.C. To maintain our independence, we accept no government funding. © 2014 Human Rights Campaign Foundation and Human Rights First. All Rights Reserved. This report is available online at hrc.org/foundation and humanrightsfirst.org. TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. Executive Summary ..................................................................................... 5 2. Legislative Overviews .................................................................................. 6 Algeria ........................................................................................................................ 6 Angola ........................................................................................................................ 6 Benin .......................................................................................................................... 6 Botswana .................................................................................................................... 6 Burkina Faso .............................................................................................................. 6 Burundi ....................................................................................................................... 7 Cameroon ................................................................................................................... 7 Cape Verde ................................................................................................................. 7 Central African Republic ........................................................................................... 7 Chad ........................................................................................................................... 7 Comoros ..................................................................................................................... 7 Cote d’Ivoire ............................................................................................................... 8 Domocratic Republic of the Congo .......................................................................... 8 Djibouti ....................................................................................................................... 8 Egypt .......................................................................................................................... 8 Equatorial Guinea ...................................................................................................... 8 Eritrea ......................................................................................................................... 9 Ethiopia ...................................................................................................................... 9 Gabon ......................................................................................................................... 9 Gambia ....................................................................................................................... 9 Ghana ......................................................................................................................... 9 Guinea ........................................................................................................................ 9 Guinea-Bissau.......................................................................................................... 10 Kenya ........................................................................................................................ 10 Lesotho..................................................................................................................... 10 Liberia ....................................................................................................................... 10 Libya ......................................................................................................................... 10 Madagascar .............................................................................................................. 11 Malawi ....................................................................................................................... 11 Mali ........................................................................................................................... 11 Mauritania ................................................................................................................. 11 Mauritius ................................................................................................................... 11 Morocco.................................................................................................................... 12 Mozambique ............................................................................................................. 12 Namibia .................................................................................................................... 12 Niger ......................................................................................................................... 12 Nigeria ...................................................................................................................... 12 Republic of the Congo ............................................................................................. 13 Rwanda ..................................................................................................................... 13 Sao Tome and Principe ........................................................................................... 13 Senegal ..................................................................................................................... 13 Seychelles ................................................................................................................ 13 Sierra Leone ............................................................................................................. 14 Somalia ..................................................................................................................... 14 South Africa ............................................................................................................. 14 South Sudan ............................................................................................................ 14 Sudan ....................................................................................................................... 14 Swaziland ................................................................................................................. 15 Tanzania ................................................................................................................... 15 Togo .......................................................................................................................... 15 Tunisia ...................................................................................................................... 15 Uganda