LGBT rights in Nigeria

LGBT rights in Nigeria

Homosexuality in Nigeria is illegal according to Chapter 21, Articles 214 and 217 of the Nigerian penal code and can be punished by imprisonment of up to 14 years. [http://www.sodomylaws.org/world/nigeria/nigeria.htm "Nigeria"] , Sodomy Laws. URL accessed on March 26, 2006,] The north of Nigeria is Islamic and extremely conservative. According to the Shari'a law, which applies here, anal intercourse (Liwat) is punished with 100 lashes (for unmarried men) and one years imprisonment and death by stoning for married men. [http://www.365gay.com/Newscon06/01/011906nigeria.htm "Nigeria To Criminalize Gay Marriage & LGBT Meetings"] , 365Gay.com, January 19, 2006. URL accessed on March 26, 2006.] As of March 2006, press reports say that more than a dozen people have been sentenced to death by stoning since 2000, but the sentences had not been carried out.

Recognition of same-sex couples

On January 18, 2007 the Federal Executive Council approved a law, Same Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act 2006, prohibiting same sex marriages and sent it to the National assembly for urgent action. According to the Minister of Justice, Chief Bayo Ojo, the law was pushed by President Olusegun Obasanjo following demonstrations for same sex marriage during the international conference on HIV/AIDS (ICASA) in 2005. [http://www.nigeria.gov.ng/press%20release%20January19.aspx#NIGERIA_BANS_SAME_SEX_RELATIONSHIPS%E2%80%A6_THREATENS_SEVERE_SANCTIONS "Nigeria bans same sex relationships... threatens severe sanctions"] NigeriaDirect, Press Release January 19, 2007, URL accessed on March 28, 2007)] ]

The proposed bill calls for five years imprisonment for anyone who undergoes, "performs, witnesses, aids, or abets" a same-sex marriage. It would also prohibit any display of a "same-sex amorous relationship" and adoption of children by gays or lesbians. [http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/HRW/e846f6f8aa040916f88b9cc86c16a79a.htm "Nigeria: Obasanjo Must Withdraw Bill to Criminalize Gay Rights"] , Reuters AlertNet. March 23, 2006. URL accessed on March 26, 2006] The bill is expected to receive little or no opposition in Parliament. The same-sex marriage ban would make Nigeria the second country in Africa to criminalize such unions. In 2005, the Ugandan constitution was amended to ban same-sex marriage.

The same bill would also call for five years imprisonment for involvement in public advocacy or associations supporting the rights of lesbian and gay people. Included in the bill is a proposal to ban any form of relationship with a gay person. The intent of the bill is to ban anything remotely associated with being 'gay' or just gay in the country.

In February 2006, the United States State Department condemned the proposal. In March 2006, 16 international human rights groups signed a letter condemning the bill, calling it a violation of the freedoms of expression, association and assembly guaranteed by international law as well as by the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights and a barrier to the struggle against the spread of AIDS. Some sources claim that Nigeria has the world's third-highest population of persons with AIDS: 3.6 million Nigerians are infected with HIV.

LGBT life in Nigeria

Public hostility to homosexual relations is widespread in Nigeria, a largely conservative country of more than 130 million people, split between a mainly Muslim north and a largely Christian south.Heidi Vogt, [http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=86&art_id=qw1143173889726B252 "Nigeria must withdraw anti-gay bill"] , Independent Online. March 24, 2006. URL accessed on March 26, 2006,]

Footnotes

References

* Gay People's Chronicle, 12/15/2006, Vol. 22 Issue 24, p5-5
* Murray, Rachel, Dr. Towards Non-Discrimination on the Basis of Sexual Orientation: The Normative Basis and Procedural Possibilities before the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights and the African Union. Human Rights Quarterly - Volume 29, Number 1, February 2007


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать реферат

Look at other dictionaries:

  • LGBT rights in Alabama — Alabama (USA) Same sex sexual activity legal? Legal since 2003 (Lawrence v. Texas) Prior to 2003, illegal, all sexes; misdemeanor punishable by up 1 year imprisonment and $2000 fine …   Wikipedia

  • LGBT rights in Africa — are limited in comparison to other areas of the world, with the BBC estimating that homosexuality is outlawed in 38 African countries. In 13 nations homosexuality is either legal or there are no laws pertaining to it. [… …   Wikipedia

  • Human rights in Nigeria — In its 2005 report on human rights practices around the world, the U.S. Department of State found that Nigeria s human rights record was poor. According to the report, Nigerian government officials and police were responsible for serious abuses,… …   Wikipedia

  • List of LGBT rights organizations — around the world. Note that some organizations support certain rights while opposing others. International * [http://www.gsani.org Gay Straight Alliance Network International] (GSANI) *International Lesbian and Gay Association (ILGA)… …   Wikipedia

  • List of LGBT rights by region — List of LGBT rights by region, including nation states, commonwealths, and other regions.Africa*Algeria *Angola *Benin *Botswana *Burkina Faso *Burundi *Cameroon *Cape Verde *Central African Republic *Chad *Comoros *Congo (Brazzaville) *Congo… …   Wikipedia

  • LGBT history — Gay Liberation monument in New York City LGBT history refers to the history of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) peoples and cultures around the world, dating back to the first recorded instances of same sex love and sexuality of… …   Wikipedia

  • Outline of Nigeria — [[Image:|122px|alt=|The Coat of arms of Nigeria]] The Flag of Nigeria …   Wikipedia

  • Homosexualität in Nigeria — Nigeria Homosexualität in Nigeria ist gesellschaftlich tabuisiert und homosexuelle Handlungen werden seitens des Staates bestraft. Inhaltsverzeichnis 1 Illegalität …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Droits des personnes LGBT au Nigeria — Les personnes lesbiennes, gays, bisexuelles et transgenres (LGBT) au Nigeria doivent faire face à des difficultés que ne connaissent pas les citoyens non LGBT. Les relations sexuelles tant entre hommes qu entre femmes sont illégales au Nigeria,… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Droits des personnes LGBT en Ouganda — Ouganda L homosexualité est considérée comme un sujet tabou en Ouganda. La population LGBT est estimée à 500 000 personnes en Ouganda[1]. Le gouvernement ougandais considère l homosexualité comme la connaissance charnelle …   Wikipédia en Français

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”