Botswana has officially removed its anti-sodomy law, closing the chapter on a colonial-era provision that criminalised same-sex intimacy.
Section 164 of the country’s Penal Code had already been ruled unconstitutional in 2019 by the High Court of Botswana, with Judge Michael Leburu saying at the time: “Human dignity is harmed when minority groups are marginalised.”
An appeal was dismissed in 2021, rendering the law unenforceable, but now it’s been formally repealed, according to Mamba Online.
The update, carried out by Attorney General Dick Bayford, removes the sections targeting same-sex relations, leaving only provisions relating to bestiality.
LGBTQ+ advocacy group LeGaBiBo welcomed the move, calling it a clear signal that queer people “are not criminals” and deserve protection.
They added: “For many, these provisions were not just words on paper – they were lived realities. They affected access to healthcare, safety, employment, and the freedom to love and exist openly.”
While challenges remain, including an ongoing case for marriage equality, the repeal marks a huge step forward for LGBTQ+ rights in Botswana.
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