Entry #1318: Homosexual activity in Namibia

Current Version

RegionNamibia
IssueHomosexual activity
StatusMale illegal, female legal
Start DateMar 21, 1990
End DateMay 17, 2024
DescriptionWhen Namibia gained independence from South Africa in 1990, they inherited the Roman-Dutch common law. The law criminalizes sodomy and unnatural sexual offences. This law is only applied toward sodomy performed by men.
Sourceshttps://www.humandignitytrust.org/country-profile/namibia/#:~:text=Sodomy%20is%20criminalised%20as%20an,sexual%20intercourse%20between%20men%20only


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Revision History (11)

edited by Unknownmiles. Links, dates, and description

Old Value New Value (Current)
Start Date1920Mar 21, 1990
DescriptionNot enforced. Decriminalization pending. Court plans to decriminalize homosexuality by May 17, 2024.When Namibia gained independence from South Africa in 1990, they inherited the Roman-Dutch common law. The law criminalizes sodomy and unnatural sexual offences. This law is only applied toward sodomy performed by men.
Show Difference
Not enforced. Decriminalization pending. Court plans to decriminalize homosexuality by May 17, 2024. When Namibia gained independence from South Africa in 1990, they inherited the Roman-Dutch common law. The law criminalizes sodomy and unnatural sexual offences. This law is only applied toward sodomy performed by men.
Sourceshttp://lib.ohchr.org/HRBodies/UPR/Documents/Session10/NA/JS1_JointSubmission-eng.pdf
http://old.ilga.org/Statehomophobia/ILGA_State_Sponsored_Homophobia_2013.pdf
https://allafrica.com/stories/202311010204.html
https://www.humandignitytrust.org/country-profile/namibia/#:~:text=Sodomy%20is%20criminalised%20as%20an,sexual%20intercourse%20between%20men%20only
Show Difference
http://lib.ohchr.org/HRBodies/UPR/Documents/Session10/NA/JS1_JointSubmission-eng.pdf http://old.ilga.org/Statehomophobia/ILGA_State_Sponsored_Homophobia_2013.pdf https://allafrica.com/stories/202311010204.html https://www.humandignitytrust.org/country-profile/namibia/#:~:text=Sodomy%20is%20criminalised%20as%20an,sexual%20intercourse%20between%20men%20only

edited by Pizzaslices412653. Illegal since 1920

Old Value New Value
Start Date(unknown)1920

edited by Pizzaslices412653. Namibian court plans to reverse sodomy law by May 17, 2024.

Old Value New Value
End Date(none)May 17, 2024
DescriptionNot enforced (decriminalization pending)Not enforced. Decriminalization pending. Court plans to decriminalize homosexuality by May 17, 2024.
Show Difference
Not enforced (decriminalization pending) enforced. Decriminalization pending. Court plans to decriminalize homosexuality by May 17, 2024.
Sourceshttp://lib.ohchr.org/HRBodies/UPR/Documents/Session10/NA/JS1_JointSubmission-eng.pdf
http://old.ilga.org/Statehomophobia/ILGA_State_Sponsored_Homophobia_2013.pdf
http://lib.ohchr.org/HRBodies/UPR/Documents/Session10/NA/JS1_JointSubmission-eng.pdf
http://old.ilga.org/Statehomophobia/ILGA_State_Sponsored_Homophobia_2013.pdf
https://allafrica.com/stories/202311010204.html
Show Difference
http://lib.ohchr.org/HRBodies/UPR/Documents/Session10/NA/JS1_JointSubmission-eng.pdf http://old.ilga.org/Statehomophobia/ILGA_State_Sponsored_Homophobia_2013.pdf http://lib.ohchr.org/HRBodies/UPR/Documents/Session10/NA/JS1_JointSubmission-eng.pdf http://old.ilga.org/Statehomophobia/ILGA_State_Sponsored_Homophobia_2013.pdf https://allafrica.com/stories/202311010204.html

edited by DuffdeNecker

Old Value New Value
ValueLegalMale illegal, female legal
Reports (2)
  • All information is correct, just adding sources "https://www.gaytimes.co.uk/life/could-namibia-decriminalise-same-sex-relations/amp/ Namibia set to debate law next May"
  • Status is not correct "Namíbiában hatályon kívül helyezték a törvényt ezért jogilag nem büntethet?. "

edited by DuffdeNecker

Old Value New Value
ValueMale illegal, female legalLegal

edited by Antinousosiris

Old Value New Value
DescriptionNot enforced Not enforced (decriminalization pending)

edited by Antinousosiris

Old Value New Value
ValueIllegal (imprisonment as punishment)Male illegal, female legal
DescriptionAccording to a Submission in the UPR review of Namibia:
"Homosexuality per se is not illegal in Namibia, however anal sex between two males has been considered illegal under common law sodomy provisions inherited as part of the Roman-Dutch law by the time of Namibia’s of independence. The law is silent on consensual sex between two women."
Not enforced
Show Difference
According to a Submission in the UPR review of Namibia: "Homosexuality per se is not illegal in Namibia, however anal sex between two males has been considered illegal under common law sodomy provisions inherited as part of the Roman-Dutch law by the time of Namibia’s of independence. The law is silent on consensual sex between two women." Not enforced

edited by vviet93

Old Value New Value
Reports (1)
  • Status is not correct "Read the Legal Assistance Centre, a Namibian NGO's, report on LGBT rights. There are cases of arreat, albeit few with no trials."

edited by danlev

Old Value New Value
DescriptionAccording to a Submission in the UPR review of Namibia:

"Homosexuality per se is not illegal in Namibia, however anal sex between two males has been considered illegal under common law sodomy provisions inherited as part of the Roman-Dutch law by the time of Namibia’s of independence. The law is silent on consensual sex between two women."
According to a Submission in the UPR review of Namibia:
"Homosexuality per se is not illegal in Namibia, however anal sex between two males has been considered illegal under common law sodomy provisions inherited as part of the Roman-Dutch law by the time of Namibia’s of independence. The law is silent on consensual sex between two women."
Show Difference
According to a Submission in the UPR review of Namibia: "Homosexuality per se is not illegal in Namibia, however anal sex between two males has been considered illegal under common law sodomy provisions inherited as part of the Roman-Dutch law by the time of Namibia’s of independence. The law is silent on consensual sex between two women." "Homosexuality per se is not illegal in Namibia, however anal sex between two males has been considered illegal under common law sodomy provisions inherited as part of the Roman-Dutch law by the time of Namibia’s of independence. The law is silent on consensual sex between two women."

edited by danlev

Old Value (Original) New Value
DescriptionAccording to a Submission in the UPR review of Namibia:

"Homosexuality per se is not illegal in
Namibia, however anal sex between two males has been considered illegal under
common law sodomy provisions inherited as part of the Roman-Dutch law by the time of
Namibia’s of independence. The law is silent on consensual sex between two women."
According to a Submission in the UPR review of Namibia:

"Homosexuality per se is not illegal in Namibia, however anal sex between two males has been considered illegal under common law sodomy provisions inherited as part of the Roman-Dutch law by the time of Namibia’s of independence. The law is silent on consensual sex between two women."
Show Difference
According to a Submission in the UPR review of Namibia: "Homosexuality per se is not illegal in Namibia, however anal sex between two males has been considered illegal under common law sodomy provisions inherited as part of the Roman-Dutch law by the time of Namibia’s of independence. The law is silent on consensual sex between two women." Namibia, however anal sex between two males has been considered illegal under common law sodomy provisions inherited as part of the Roman-Dutch law by the time of Namibia’s of independence. The law is silent on consensual sex between two women."

created by danlev

Original entry
StatusIllegal (imprisonment as punishment)
Start Date(unknown)
End Date(none)
DescriptionAccording to a Submission in the UPR review of Namibia: "Homosexuality per se is not illegal in Namibia, however anal sex between two males has been considered illegal under common law sodomy provisions inherited as part of the Roman-Dutch law by the time of Namibia’s of independence. The law is silent on consensual sex between two women."
Sourceshttp://lib.ohchr.org/HRBodies/UPR/Documents/Session10/NA/JS1_JointSubmission-eng.pdf http://old.ilga.org/Statehomophobia/ILGA_State_Sponsored_Homophobia_2013.pdf