Senegal LGBTQ+ crackdown sparks calls for change as fears grow
Human Rights Watch reports arrests and healthcare fears in Senegal as human rights advocates call for stronger protections for LGBTQ+ people.
LGBTQ+ people in Senegal are avoiding healthcare and going into hiding amid an escalating crackdown by authorities, according to a new report from Human Rights Watch.
Published on 12 October, the report documents arrests, concerns about forced HIV testing and difficulties finding lawyers willing to represent people accused of same-sex conduct. The organisation warns that growing fear and stigma are affecting people beyond those directly detained by police.
The crackdown follows amendments to Senegal’s penal code adopted in March 2026, which doubled the maximum prison sentence for consensual same-sex conduct to ten years. The changes also introduced penalties for promoting, supporting or financing LGBTQ+ people and organisations.
More than 200 arrests reported
Human Rights Watch said it could not independently verify the total number of arrests linked to the amended law. However, data from the African Forum for the Defense of Human Rights (RADDHO) recorded at least 212 arrests between February and July, while the HIV Justice Network reported that the figure exceeded 300.
The report also raises concerns about detainees being subjected to HIV testing without informed consent and sensitive medical information being used against them. Human Rights Watch said 82 people had faced charges relating to alleged “voluntary HIV transmission”, although a court dismissed those charges in August.
LGBTQ+ people afraid to seek treatment
Health professionals told Human Rights Watch that fear of arrest and exposure was discouraging people from seeking HIV testing and treatment. Some patients had reportedly stopped attending appointments, including people who needed ongoing medication.
The organisation also documented difficulties finding lawyers willing to represent people accused of same-sex conduct, with some legal professionals facing pressure over their involvement in such cases. Human Rights Watch interviewed 39 people for its research, including detainees, lawyers, health professionals and members of Senegal’s LGBTQ+ community.
Calls for the crackdown to end
Same-sex sexual conduct has been criminalised in Senegal since 1965, but Human Rights Watch says hostility towards LGBTQ+ people has intensified. The organisation argues that the latest measures raise serious concerns about privacy, equality, fair trials and access to healthcare.
Human Rights Watch said it contacted Senegalese authorities with questions about its findings on 29 September but had received no response by publication. It has called on the government to halt the crackdown and repeal the laws criminalising same-sex conduct and support for LGBTQ+ people.
The report also brings renewed international attention to the experiences of Senegal’s LGBTQ+ community, helping ensure that concerns about arrests, healthcare access and discrimination are documented and heard. Continued scrutiny from human rights organisations and those working to support affected people will be important in pressing for accountability and a future in which LGBTQ+ people can access essential services and legal protection without fear.
