On 13 January the Nigerian president signed into law a bill criminalising same-sex relationships. The new law is wide ranging, prescribing prison sentences of up to 14 years and bans same sex marriage, intimate relationships with a member of the same sex, and gay organisations. Furthermore, the law bans all gatherings of homosexuals: “[A] person or group of persons who . . . supports the registration, operation and sustenance of gay clubs, societies, organisations, processions or meetings in Nigeria commits an offence . . . and is liable on conviction to a term of ten years imprisonment.”
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pilay has expressed her deep concern following the enactment of the draconian law. The new law adds considerably to the violation of human rights in Nigeria. Before this law was passed, consensual same sex relationships were already criminalized, violating rights to privacy and to freedom from discrimination. The Commissioner said “Rarely have I seen a piece of legislation that in so few paragraphs directly violates so many basic, universal human rights . . . [R]ights to privacy and non-discrimination, rights to freedom of expression, association and assembly, rights to freedom from arbitrary arrest and detention: this law undermines all of them. In addition, the law risks reinforcing existing prejudices towards members of the LGBT community, and may provoke an upsurge in violence and discrimination.”
Click here to read a summary of the Human Rights Chief’s comments.
Stephen Chukwumah, Executive Director of the Improved Youth Health Initiative believes the law will also have a detrimental impact on the fight against HIV/AIDS in Nigeria: “Gay people are going underground and, because of this, some of us who work in the field of sex and health education will not be able to reach out to them. They might think we are spies sent by the government to arrest and jail them.”
Click here to read an article in the Economist about the new anti homosexuality law.