Press Release
Senegal's New Anti-LGBTQ Law Criminalizes Support, Silences Dissent, and Threatens Public Health Gains
Senegal's parliament passed a law on March 11 that significantly expands the criminalization of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) people and those who support them, restricting basic freedoms for everyone in Senegal, Outright International said today. The bill amends Article 319 of the Penal Code of Senegal, which was passed by a vote of 135 to none, with three abstentions. The bill will now proceed to the President for assent.
The amendment more than doubles the penalty for so-called "unnatural acts" between consenting adults to a mandatory five to ten years' imprisonment, along with fines. It introduces sweeping new provisions targeting the "promotion" or "glorification" of homosexuality, bisexuality, and transsexuality, marking the first time that Senegal has outlawed expressing public support for a marginalized group of people. The law's explicit prohibition of "transsexuality" adds Senegal to a short list of countries such as Saudi Arabia and Brunei that criminalize gender expression, putting transgender people and anyone perceived as gender non-conforming at risk of arrest and prosecution.
These provisions extend beyond private conduct to criminalize advocacy, journalism, civil society activity, and even the provision of support services. Organizations, donors, and human rights defenders may now face criminal liability for providing care or documenting abuses. Taken together, they threaten to erase the legal, civic, and healthcare space in which LGBTQ people and those who support them operate, while weakening accountability mechanisms that allow civil society and journalists to document human rights violations.
"LGBTQ people are citizens of Senegal. They pay taxes, serve their communities, and contribute to the nation's future. This law does not protect Senegalese society; it abandons a part of it, sentencing LGBTQ people to exist in a country where they are cut off from health services, legal support, and community networks," said Yvonne Wamari, Senior Program Officer for Africa at Outright International. "Under the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, which Senegal has freely ratified, the government has a binding obligation to protect the dignity, health, and safety of all its citizens, not legislate their erasure."
Quote from Maria Sjödin, (she/they)
"Senegal's new law is not an isolated act — it is part of a dangerous global trend of governments weaponizing legislation against LGBTQ people and those who support them. The criminalization of 'promotion' is not a safeguard; it is a gag order that cuts people off from information, threatens public health, and silences civil society. History shows that when governments begin by targeting a minority, they rarely stop there — the tools built to erase LGBTQ people are the tools of democratic erosion. Outright International urges President Bassirou Diomaye Faye to refrain from signing the bill and ensure that the law is tested against the Constitution his government has sworn to uphold,"
Even prior to the law’s passage, LGBTQ people in Senegal were living in a state of fear following a wave of arrests in late 2025 and early 2026. Activists from Senegal informed Outright that a significant number of LGBTQ Senegalese have fled the country, while many more are actively planning to leave. But for the many who lack the means, there is no escape. If the law is enacted, they will be unable to report abuse or seek care, and will live in constant fear of arrest and violence.
The law's impact on public health is likely to be immediate and severe. Senegal has long been recognized for progress in HIV prevention and treatment. Senegal's National Council for the Fight Against AIDS (CNLS) has warned that such legislative excesses have led to individuals avoiding HIV testing and treatment facilities and the collapse of critical support networks due to fear of stigmatization or reprisals, weakening the entire prevention infrastructure. While the amendment includes a limited exemption for accredited health organizations, its scope is unclear and does not provide sufficient legal certainty for those delivering essential services.Protecting public health, preserving civic space, and upholding human dignity should not be criminal acts; they are the foundation on which Senegal's constitution is built. The international community, regional institutions, and partners must engage constructively with Senegal to safeguard fundamental rights and ensure that progress on public health and democratic governance is not reversed. Outright International calls on President Faye to reject this bill.
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