Gay laws declared unconstitutional in Namibia.

In a landmark ruling for gay rights campaigners, Namibia’s High Court declared laws banning same-sex acts between men unconstitutional. Convictions for colonial-era offenses of “sodomy” and “unnatural sexual offenses” were rare but fueled discrimination against gay men who lived in fear of arrest.

This decision is a victory for love, equality, and human rights. It aligns Namibia’s laws with its constitution, the African Charter, and international human rights law, all of which prohibit discrimination.

Namibia now joins other Southern African countries that have decriminalized consensual same-sex sexual conduct. However, violence and discriminatory legislation persist, and authorities must ensure the safety of LGBTI persons