LGBT rights in Mozambique

LGBT rights in Mozambique

Same-sex sexual activity legal? Legal
Military service No[1]
Discrimination protections Sexual orientation protected (employment only)
Family rights
Recognition of
relationships		 No
Adoption No

Same-sex sexual activity became legal in Mozambique under the new Criminal Code that took effect in June 2015.[2] Discrimination based on sexual orientation in employment has been illegal since 2007.

Legality of same-sex sexual activity

Until the enactment of the new Criminal Code, the legal status of same-sex sexual activity was ambiguous in Mozambique. On March 2011, the Minister of Justice declared during the UN Human Rights Council's Universal Periodic Review that homosexuality is not an offence in Mozambique.[3][4] However, the Criminal Code did contain an offence of "practices against nature".[5] According to the ILGA, this clause could potentially be interpreted as including male and female same-sex sexual activity, even though it was unknown to what extent the law was enforced. Indeed, reports state that the incidence of the statute being enforced against LGBT individuals have been slim to none.[6][7]

In December 2014, President Armando Guebuza signed the new Criminal Code, which does not contain any provisions regarding same-sex sexual activity, into law.[8][9] It was published in the country's official journal on 31 December 2014 and took effect 180 days later (i.e. 30 June 2015).[2]

Recognition of same-sex relationships

Mozambique does not provide any form of recognition of same-sex relationships, though protests for same-sex marriage and common-law marriage have been ongoing since 2006.[10]

Discrimination protections

In line with most other former Portuguese African colonies, Mozambique is reported to be one of the most tolerant countries in Africa towards gays and lesbians.[11][12][13] While the Government has reported fairly little on LGBT rights, all of what has been said has been positive.[14] It is one of the only few countries in Africa to offer any form of discrimination protections for gay, lesbians and bisexuals, which have been in place since 2007.[6] Protests for such legislation had been kick started only a year before, signaling a reasonably swift response by the Government.[15]

Article 4 of the 23/2007 Labour Law provides for "non-discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation, race or HIV/AIDS status". Article 5 of the law grants employees a right to privacy, relating to "the private and personal lives of employees, such as their family lives, personal relationships, sex lives, state of health and their political and religious convictions." Article 108 of the law provides that "all employees, whether nationals or foreigners, without distinction based on sex, sexual orientation, [...] have the right to receive a wage and to enjoy equal benefits for equal work".[16][17]

Public opinion

A September 2013 survey of people in the cities of Maputo, Beira and Nampula found moderate levels of support for the legal recognition of same-sex couples and parenting rights:[18]

Maputo Beira Nampula
Same rights for same-sex and opposite-sex couples 42.7% 32.0% 47.2%
Same-sex marriage 37.0% 17.9% 28.2%
Same-sex adoption 49.5% 40.2% 44.9%

A 2016 Afrobarometer opinion poll found that 56% of Mozambicans would welcome or would not be bothered having a homosexual neighbor. Mozambique was one of the only four countries polled with a majority in favor. (the others being Cape Verde (74%), South Africa (67%) and Namibia (55%))[19]

Living conditions

Hate crimes and violence directed at the LGBT community are rare in Mozambique, unlike in other African countries. However, discrimination is not unheard of.[20]

A notable figure to have spoken out in support of LGBT rights in Mozambique and the rest of Africa is former president Joaquim Chissano who also spoke to other African leaders to stop laws that impede on LGBT rights in Africa.[21][22]

Lambda, a local LGBT group, has requested to register as a non-governmental organization since 2008.[23] A process which usually lasts six weeks. In 2010, after being ignored by the Ministry of Justice for two years, the group took their case to the United Nations, appealing to the High Commission for Human Rights to act on the violation of their right to association.[24] The UN Human Rights Council has been calling on Mozambique to register Lambda since 2011. As of January 2016, the group has yet to be registered.[25]

Summary table

Same-sex sexual activity legal (Since 2015)
Equal age of consent
Anti-discrimination laws in employment (Since 2007)
Anti-discrimination laws in the provision of goods and services
Anti-discrimination laws in all other areas (incl. indirect discrimination, hate speech)
Same-sex marriage
Recognition of same-sex couples
Stepchild adoption by same-sex couples
Joint adoption by same-sex couples
LGBT people allowed to serve openly in the military
Right to change legal gender
Access to IVF for lesbians
Commercial surrogacy for gay male couples
MSMs allowed to donate blood

See also

References

  1. ↑ Mady Wechsler Segal (2003). Armed forces and international security: global trends and issues. Jean M. Callaghan, Franz Kernic (editors). Transaction. p. 218. ISBN 3-8258-7227-0.
  2. 1 2 "State-sponsored Homophobia: A world survey of laws prohibiting same sex activity between consenting adults" (PDF). International Lesbian and Gay Association (ILGA).
  3. ↑ Mozambique Gay Rights Group Wants Explicit Constitutional Protections
  4. ↑ Mozambique: Praise for Recognition That Gay Sex Not Illegal
  5. ↑ Gay Mozambique News & Reports
  6. 1 2 "State-sponsored Homophobia: A world survey of laws prohibiting same sex activity between consenting adults" (PDF). International Lesbian and Gay Association (ILGA).
  7. ↑ Mozambique by Mary Fitzpatrick (Lonely Planet) – pg 174
  8. ↑ Mozambique: Presidente promulga nuevo Código Penal que legaliza el aborto
  9. ↑ Moçambique reafirma que homossexualidade não constitui crime
  10. ↑ Gay Mozambique News & Reports
  11. ↑ Biggest Ever Studies on Attitudes to Religion and Morality in Africa Released
  12. ↑ BIGGEST EVER STUDIES ON ATTITUDES TO RELIGION AND MORALITY IN AFRICA RELEASED
  13. ↑ Mozambique discovers its gay minority
  14. ↑ Homosexuality now debated all over Africa
  15. ↑ Mozambique discovers its gay minority, Afrol news
  16. ↑ Labour Law, law nr. 23/2007
  17. ↑ (Portuguese) Lei n.º 23/2007 (p. 20), Boletim Da República, 1 de Agosto de 2007
  18. ↑ Attitudes towards homosexuality 2013
  19. ↑ Africa’s most and least homophobic countries Erasing 76 Crimes
  20. ↑ Mozambique LGBT activists move on to next battle after anti-gay law scrapped The Guardian
  21. ↑ An Open Letter to Africa's Leaders - Joaquim Chissano, former President of Mozambique
  22. ↑ Mozambique’s former president calls for gay rights in Africa
  23. ↑ A Fight for Recognition: The LGBT Community’s Battle in Mozambique
  24. ↑ MOZAMBIQUE GAY RIGHTS GROUP FIGHTS TO BE REGISTERED Mambaonline
  25. ↑ Mozambique accused of “double speak” on LGBTI Rights Mambaonline
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