LGBT Rights
Male, but not female, homosexuality is illegal. Persons known to be gay suffer intense social discrimnation. There are underground LGBT support groups. Lesbians are often subject to rapes planned by their families with the intention of turning them straight.
The Human Rights Commission of Sierra Leone noted in its report for 2011 that the government of Sierra Leone had signed a UN Human Rights Council statement in March of that year calling on nations “to take steps to end acts of violence, criminal sanctions and related human rights violations committed against individuals because of their sexual orientation or gender identity.” Yet the government had “rejected recommendations made during the UPR” that called on it to ban “discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity and to repeal all provisions which may be applied to criminalize sexual activities between consenting adults.” The HRCSL further noted the “growing hostile comments on this issue in the media and by religious communities.”
Read more about this topic: Human Rights In Sierra Leone
Famous quotes containing the word rights:
“Is a democracy, such as we know it, the last improvement possible in government? Is it not possible to take a step further towards recognizing and organizing the rights of man?”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)