Senegal intensifies crackdown on LGBTQ people, over 320 arrested and HIV testing declines
Over 320 people have been detained in Senegal on accusations of “acts against nature” since February, amid a harsher anti-LGBTQ law and reports of forced HIV testing.
A new Human Rights Watch report documents an escalating repression of LGBTQ people in Senegal, where over 320 arrests have occurred since February on accusations of “acts against nature.” At least 84 detainees face charges of “voluntary HIV transmission” despite evidence that many were only diagnosed after arrest or were on treatment. The crackdown follows a March parliamentary amendment that doubled the maximum prison term for consensual same-sex activity to ten years and imposed fines of up to 5 million CFA francs for supporting LGBTQ groups.
Lawyers report fear of prosecution for representing clients, while doctors note a sharp drop in HIV testing and clinic visits. The police have also leaked personal data, exposing individuals to stigma and violence. Researchers and activists call for an immediate halt, highlighting the conflict with domestic and international rights guarantees.
Why it matters
The crackdown threatens human rights, public health and legal protections for thousands of Senegalese LGBTQ individuals.
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