SOGI-Rights

Regional Situation

The promotion of sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) rights remains extremely controversial in most countries on the African continent. Consensual same-sex relationships are illegal in all but two countries in the East and Horn of Africa, and general attitudes toward sexual minorities are hostile throughout the sub-region. Human rights defenders attempting to broaden the space for SOGI communities face judicial and physical harassment and intimation by both State and non-State actors. Lesbian, Gay, Transsexual, and Bisexual (LGTBI) defenders are particularly vulnerable, risking physical threats, public shaming, and social isolation due to the stigma associated with their work and identity.