Namibian LGBTQ community members were overjoyed on Friday, June 21, when a high court overturned the country’s colonial-era rules criminalising same-sex partnerships.
In a verdict applauded by LGBTQ rights groups, Namibia’s high court found the crimes of “sodomy” and “unnatural sexual offences” to be “unconstitutional and invalid”.
“We are not persuaded that in a democratic society such as ours… it is reasonably justifiable to make an activity criminal just because a segment, maybe a majority, of the citizenry consider it to be unacceptable,” the judges wrote.
The decision overturns laws dating back to 1927 that Namibia acquired from the colonial era but kept after winning independence from South Africa in 1990.
“Because of this decision, I no longer feel like a criminal on the run in my own country simply because of who I am, Friedel Dausab”, the activist who brought the case, said.
The Human Dignity Trust, based in London, described the verdict as “historic”.
“LGBT Namibians can now look to a brighter future,” said its chief executive, Tea Braun.
The United Nations AIDS program, UNAIDS, said the ruling marked a “significant victory for equality and human rights.”
“This decision… is a powerful step towards a more inclusive Namibia,” said Anne Githuku-Shongwe, UNAIDS regional director for East and Southern Africa.
A Gentle Reminder: Every obstacle is a stepping stone, every morning; a chance to go again, and those little steps take you closer to your dream.
Nnamdi Okoli
