Botswana High Court Hears Arguments to Decriminalise Homosexuality

The Botswana High Court has started hearing arguments presented by LGBT+ activists to decriminalise homosexuality in the country, Reuters reports.

The case was filed by an unnamed gay man in May of last year who alleges unfair discrimination based on his sexual orientation.

Currently article 164 and article 167 of the Botswana Penal Codeforbid relationships “against the order of nature.” Such acts carry a seven-year prison sentence.

“Botswana is a diverse society and the constitution protects the freedoms and dignity of all persons in Botswana, regardless of whether you are gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender or intersex,” said Anna Mmolai-Chalmers CEO of LEGABIBO, an LGBT+ activist group.

“We are confident and hopeful that the court will uphold the human rights of the LGBTI community,”said Tashwill Esterhuizen, an LGBT+ rights lawyer.

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