Namibia Removes Laws Prohibiting Same-Sex Relations
LGBTIQ+ Manifestation celebrating the triumph of their rights, June 2024 Photo: @galzinf
June 21, 2024 Hour: 4:51 pm
The measures prohibiting gay relations, dates from the colonial era and subjected to severe punishment any man who maintained a love or sexual relationship with someone of the same gender.
On Friday, the Namibian authorities removed from the constitution two laws that prohibited the affective or carnal relations of homosexuals.
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The measures prohibiting gay relations, dates from the colonial era and subjected to severe punishment any man who maintained a love or sexual relationship with someone of the same gender.
Following the decision an extensive demonstration of the LGBTIQ+ community, which supported and welcomed the decision of the Namibian court, stating that despite the new measures “there is a long way to go”.
Despite the small steps taken by the community, Namibia’s gay, lesbian and transgender people in recent months have been persecuted by the citizenry and the government itself.
An example of this was SWAPO politician Jerry Ekandjo, who introduced a bill in parliament. It includes an amendment to the Marriage Act 1961 which defines marriage exclusively as the union between a man and a woman. It would also criminalize witnessing a same-sex wedding and generally promoting same-sex marriages.
On the other hand, at the end of April 2024, a transgender woman was brutally murdered in an informal settlement in Windhoek. According to the police, the 30-year-old woman was found with dozens of stabs and mutilations.
Despite changes to the law, it would not be uncommon for LGBTIQ+ activists and individuals to be persecuted unconstitutionally, say community members in Namibia.
Autor: OSG
Fuente: DW-Africanews
