CAMEROON: END 'DISCRIMINATORY' ANTI-GAY LAWS
CAMEROON MUST RELEASE ALL INDIVIDUALS HELD UNDER A DISCRIMINATORY LAW THAT CRIMINALIZES SAME-SEX RELATIONS.
26/09/2011 - The Cameroonian authorities must end the
persecution of gays and lesbians and repeal laws that criminalize consensual same-sex relations, five human rights organizations said
today in an open letter to the President of Cameroon, Paul Biya.
Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch joined the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC),
L'Association pour la Défense des Droits des Homosexuel(le)s (ADEFHO) and Alternatives Cameroun in urging the government to release
all individuals detained under the discriminatory law.
"This use of criminal law to punish private sexual activity between consenting adults contravenes international human
rights laws that Cameroon has signed and ratified," said Salil Shetty, Secretary General of Amnesty International.
"We are receiving an increasing number of reports that individuals are being targeted not only because of their
sexual behaviour, which is the subject of these discriminatory laws, but because of their real or perceived sexual orientation or
gender identity. This use of criminal law to punish identities, as well as behaviours, is deeply concerning," he added.
The organizations also ask that the government take steps to ensure the end of detentions, arrests and harassment of
individuals on the grounds of their real or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity.
In the last six months, at least ten individuals in Yaoundé and Douala have been arrested under the law.
One man, Jean-Claude Roger Mbede, was convicted and sentenced to three years' imprisonment on 28 April 2011. At least six
others, arrested in July and August 2011, remain in custody, while three men were arrested and then released.
"We have received information that at least some of these men were subjected to torture or other ill-treatment while
in custody," said Kenneth Roth, Executive Director of Human Rights Watch.
The human rights organizations also express their concern at Cameroon's plans to increase the penalties for consensual
same-sex sexual acts under the law to 15 years' imprisonment and a fine of 2 million francs CFA ($ 4104 USD).
"Individuals who are detained under this law face further human rights violations in detention," said Alice Nkom,
executive director of Cameroon rights organization ADEFHO.
"In Cameroon, where homophobic sentiments are common, they are at risk of violence or discriminatory treatment by other
detainees or even prison officers because of their real or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity," she said.
As well as the human rights violations perpetrated against individuals detained under the law, discriminatory laws also
have a wider impact on Cameroonian society.
"Discriminatory laws that target individuals on the basis of their real or perceived sexual orientation or gender
identity create a climate of fear for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) individuals," said Parfait Behen,
the president of Alternatives Cameroun.
"These laws allow police and other actors to target individuals for harassment or violence with impunity", said
Cary Alan Johnson, executive director of IGLHRC.
Open letter to His
Excellency Paul Biya, President of the Republic of Cameroon
Lettre ouverte au président de la République du Cameroun, M. Paul Biya
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The International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission
(IGLHRC) is a leading human rights organization solely devoted to improving the rights of people around the world who are targeted for
imprisonment, abuse or death because of their sexuality, gender identity or HIV/AIDS status. IGLHRC addresses human rights
violations by partnering with and supporting activists in countries around the world, monitoring and documenting
human rights abuses, engaging offending governments, and educating international human rights officials.
A non-profit, non-governmental organization, IGLHRC is based in New York, with offices in
Cape Town and Buenos Aires. Visit http://www.iglhrc.org for more information
The Mission of the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission is to secure the full enjoyment of human rights of all
people and communities subject to discrimination or abuse on the basis of sexual orientation or expression, gender identity or expression
and/or HIV status.
Contact:Jabu Pereira, International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission
+1-646-204-5797 or jpereira@iglhrc.org
Reproduced with permission - "INTERNATIONAL GAY AND LESBIAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION (IGLHRC)"
INTERNATIONAL GAY AND LESBIAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION (IGLHRC)
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