Senegal

Making love a crime: Criminalization of same-sex conduct in Sub-Saharan Africa

Published by on June 25, 2013

Amnesty International 25 June 2013 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This report provides an analysis of the legal environment and wider context of human rights violations against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) individuals in sub-Saharan Africa. Recent years have seen increasing reports of people being harassed, marginalized, discriminated against and attacked because of their real or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity. This is occurring in countries whose legal systems still condone the criminalization of consensual same-sex behaviour, and in countries where the police and justice systems are failing to prevent these crimes from happening. The continued criminalization of consensual same-sex Read the full article…

Senegal: Amnesty International Annual Report 2013

Published by on May 23, 2013

Amnesty International 23 May 2013 The unrest which marked the pre-election period in January and February resulted in serious human rights violations, including excessive use of force leading to the death of several protesters; torture and other ill-treatment; and attacks on freedom of expression. In Casamance, in the south, clashes between the army and an armed group intensified at the beginning of the year leading to arrests and targeting of civilians. An agreement was signed between Senegal and the AU to establish a special court to try former Chadian President Hissène Habré. Read full report here.

Senegal: Freedom in the World 2013

Published by on May 20, 2013

Freedom House 20 May 2013 Tensions rose in the run-up to the February 2012 presidential election, in which Abdoulaye Wade ran for a constitutionally questionable third term. Wade’s candidacy sparked demonstrations, leading to several deadly clashes between protesters and police. After losing to opposition candidate Macky Sall, Wade quickly conceded defeat, leading to a peaceful transfer of power. Legislative elections held in June saw an overwhelming victory for Sall’s United in Hope coalition. Shortly after his election, Sall launched an audit of state institutions and initiated talks with rebel groups over the long-running conflict in the Casamance region. Read full Read the full article…

Senegal: 2012 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices

Published by on April 19, 2013

United States Department of State 19 April 2013 Senegal is a moderately decentralized republic dominated by a strong executive branch. On March 25, voters elected Macky Sall president for a seven-year term in an election viewed as largely free and fair. On July 1, Sall’s Benno Bokk Yakaar coalition won the majority of seats in National Assembly elections. Security forces reported to civilian authorities. In the run-up to the two rounds of the presidential election in February and March, the country experienced significant unrest, including clashes between police and protesters who questioned the constitutionality of incumbent president Abdoulaye Wade’s decision Read the full article…

Senegal: intimidation and arrest of protesters one week before presidential elections

Published by on February 17, 2012

Amnesty International 17 February 2012 One week before the first round of presidential elections in Senegal, the authorities have increased their intimidation of President’s Wade political opponents. Yesterday, they arrested twenty or so members of the “Y en a marre” movement who had wished to organise a sit-in at the Place de l’Obélisque in Dakar. Amnesty International asks for the immediate and unconditional release of these protestors, arrested simply for exercising their right to demonstrate, a right protected by international law and by the Senegalese Constitution. Article 10 of this Constitution stipulates: “ All individuals shall be entitled to express Read the full article…

Senegal: Law Promotes Violence Against Homosexuals

Published by on November 30, 2010

Human Rights Watch, November 30, 2010 Being gay in Senegal has become more difficult following the prosecution of a group of men accused of having sex with men. Gay men have also been the victims of violence on the streets. But HRW reporter Jori Lewis finds that this kind of abuse and discrimination has not always been the norm in the West African country. Decriminalize Consensual Sexual Conduct; Punish Attackers Senegal’s law criminalizing consensual sexual conduct among adults is discriminatory and invites abuse of homosexuals by both the police and the general public, Human Rights Watch said in a report Read the full article…