LGBTQ communities in Namibia and those defending their rights remain targeted, suffering various forms of discrimination, stigmatisation and violence. It is time for the Namibian government to take action and decriminalise same-sex sexual relations, revise laws discriminating against, and take measures to address violence in, LGBT communities.
At the 48th session of the Human Rights Council, ISHR together with The Intersectional Network of Namibia- a network of independent and nonpartisan national LGBT and Women’s rights organisations – delivered a joint statement during the adoption of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) report of Namibia. The statement welcomed the 19 recommendations received in relation to LGBTQ communities, including calling for decriminalisation of same-sex sexual relations, revision of laws discriminating against LGBT communities, and measures to address violence. Recommendations which echo calls from local activists and the LGBTQ community.
The statement highlights that the calls on the Namibian Government are clear, and the path has been laid out:
‘We are concerned by the Namibian Government’s comments during the review that ‘homosexuality is not illegal’ and that it ‘does not condone sanction or persecution of the LGBTIQ community’, especially in the current context where ‘sodomy provisions legitimise societal and State sponsored discrimination against LGBTQ persons even when they are not enforced.’ The Government needs to go much further, it must protect its LGBTIQ communities, and prohibit discrimintaion and violence, including in domestic violence contexts’, said ISHR’s Tess McEvoy
‘We welcome the 2020 report of the Law Reform and Development Commission and call on the Namibian Government to take measures to implement its recommendations on the abolishment of common law offences of ‘sodemy and unnatural sexual offences’, and to progress the accompanying draft bill that would repeal these common law provisions.’ said Linda Baumann of the Namibia Diverse Women’s Association.
‘It’s time for Namibia to take this important step forward and acknowledge the right to universal enjoyment of human rights- that all human beings, of all sexual orientations and gender identities are entitled to the full enjoyment of human rights’ added McEvoy.
ISHR and Outright International welcome the UN General Assembly Third Committee Member States’ adoption of a resolution on extrajudicial, summary, and arbitrary executions that again specifically includes sexual orientation and gender identity as prohibited grounds of discrimination.
An event held on 18 October 2024 on the sidelines of the African Commission's 81st session shed light on restrictions on the work of human rights defenders in Côte d’Ivoire - specifically with respect to freedom of association and assembly, the shrinking of civic space, and the particular threats faced by those who defend the rights of LGBTIQ+ people.
On Wednesday 25 September, Georgia will address the 79th session of the UN General Assembly at a time when its own rights record and the situation for human rights defenders working within its borders merit deep scrutiny.
