Senegal’s cabinet of ministers has approved a bill aimed at toughening penalties for same-sex relations and child sexual abuse, sending it to the National Assembly for consideration. The move follows a series of recent arrests that have drawn international attention and criticism from human rights groups.
Earlier this month, Senegalese police arrested 17 men, including two local celebrities and a journalist, under existing anti-LGBTQ laws. In a separate operation, authorities dismantled a paedophile network operating between Senegal and France, arresting 14 people. Media coverage in the country has often conflated the two cases, highlighting both LGBTQ and child abuse issues in headlines.
The newly adopted bill amends the current penal code, clarifying the definition of “unnatural acts” while also increasing the penalties for such offenses. Under existing laws, indecent assault against children under 13 carries a sentence of two to five years, while same-sex acts can result in one to five years imprisonment. Authorities have not disclosed the precise extent of the penalty increases under the proposed legislation.
LGBTQ rights remain a controversial issue in Senegal, where advocacy for the community is frequently criticized as a Western influence, and public debates on sexual orientation continue to provoke strong social and political reactions.
The bill now awaits debate and approval in the National Assembly, where it is expected to face both legal scrutiny and public discussion amid ongoing concerns about human rights and protection of minors.
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