Botswana’s High Court has ruled decriminalizing gay sex. It said the laws criminalizing gay sex were unconstitutional.
Sections of Botswana’s penal code criminalize same-sex relations and impose up to seven years in prison.
The high court in a unanimous decision ruled on Tuesday that the laws were unconstitutional.
AP quotes the Botswana-based non-governmental group LEGABIBO as saying that the laws “infringe on basic human dignity.”
Botswana’s President, Dr. Mokgweetsi E.K Masisi recently said that “There are also many people of same-sex relationships in this country who have been violated and have also suffered in silence for fear of being discriminated. Just like other citizens, they deserve to have their rights protected.”
A student filed the case in court arguing that society had changed and homosexuality must be accepted openly.
These 70 countries still ban homosexuality in 2019! Botswana still criminalises consensual same sex-sexual conduct!
Report by @ILGAWORLD pic.twitter.com/Aytl7gtpF1
— #LEGABIBO (@legabiboadvo) March 27, 2019
There were reports of loud celebrations in the courtroom in the capital, Gaborone during the court ruling.
Last month another top court in Kenya upheld similar laws after a challenge by activists.
In Many African countries, people suspected to be gays are attacked and discriminated against.
Laws in many African countries criminalize same sex and make it unfriendly for them to practice openly.
But countries like Angola, Mozambique and the Seychelles have all recently scrapped their anti-homosexuality laws.
Source: Africafeeds.com
