Niger: The situation of sexual minorities, including legislation; treatment of sexual minorities by society and the authorities; protection provided to sexual minorities who are victims of violence (2015-September 2017)
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Publication Date | 17 September 2017 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | NER105974.FE |
| Related Document(s) | Niger : information sur la situation des minorités sexuelles, incluant les lois; traitement des minorités sexuelles par la société et les autorités; protection offerte aux minorités sexuelles victimes de violence (2015-september 2017) |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Niger: The situation of sexual minorities, including legislation; treatment of sexual minorities by society and the authorities; protection provided to sexual minorities who are victims of violence (2015-September 2017), 17 September 2017, NER105974.FE, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/59d383854.html [accessed 18 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Ottawa
1. Situation of Sexual Minorities
Sources state that, although no legislation in Niger prohibits same-sex sexual relations, such relations are highly stigmatized (US 3 Mar. 2017, 20; Freedom House 18 Aug. 2016). In its Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2016, the US Department of State adds that gay men and lesbians experienced societal discrimination and social resentment in Niger (US 3 Mar. 2017, 20). That same report states that due to societal pressure "many LGBTI [lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or intersex] individuals married and had families, often while pursuing LGBTI relationships in secret" (US 3 Mar. 2017, 20).
The International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA) reports that the Nigerian Penal Code (Code pénal) states that the legal age for consensual sexual relations for heterosexuals differs from that of same-sex persons (ILGA May 2017, 27). Articles 277, 278 and 282 of the Nigerian Penal Code provide as follows:
[translation]
Section II. – Indecent assault
Art. 277: Indecent assault means any indecent act committed directly against another person of either sex.
Art. 278: Any non-violent indecent assault or attempted assault against a child of either sex under the age of thirteen is punished by two to less than ten years' imprisonment and a fine of 20.000 [C$46] to 200.000 francs [C$456].
[…]
Section III. – Indecent acts with a minor of the same sex
Art. 282: Every person who commits an indecent act or an act against nature with a minor of the same sex, whose age is less than 21 years, shall be punished by imprisonment for a term of six months to three years and a fine of 10.000 [C$23] to 100.000 francs [C$228] (Niger 1961).
Information on the application of this legislation by Nigerian authorities could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.
2. Treatment of Sexual Minorities by Society and the Authorities
A survey conducted by Afrobaromètre, [translation] "a pan-African independent research network that conducts public attitude surveys on democracy, governance, economic conditions, and related issues in Africa" (Afrobaromètre 1 Mar. 2016, 2), reports, according to data collected in Niger in April 2015 from a sample of 1,200 people (Afrobaromètre Aug. 2015, 2), that five percent of the population of Niger would like or attach little importance to having a homosexual neighbour, versus 21 percent in most of the 33 African countries surveyed (Afrobaromètre 1 Mar. 2016, 2, 13). The same source states that 91 percent of the population of Niger [translation] "would really hate" having a homosexual neighbour, while four percent "would somewhat hate" it (Afrobaromètre 1 Mar. 2016, 28).
According to the Country Reports 2016, there were no documented cases of discrimination against LGBTI persons in employment, occupation, housing, statelessness, or access to education or health care in Niger in 2016 (US 3 Mar. 2017, 21). The same source states that observers believed stigma and intimidation of individuals concerned impeded individuals from reporting such abuse against them (US 3 Mar. 2017, 21).
Country Reports 2016 states that there were no reports of violence against individuals based on their sexual orientation or gender identity (US 3 Mar. 2017, 20). Information on cases of violence against members of sexual minorities in Niger could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.
On its website, the ILGA states that the Nigerian Armed Forces do not prohibit gay, lesbian or bisexual persons from entering the country (ILGA n.d.). Corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.
In a declaration by Islamic associations in Niger [1], released in March 2017 on ActuNiger, a Nigerian news website, it states that the signatory associations oppose the project by the Nigerian authorities to introduce sexual education in schools [2] and state, among other things, that [translation] "the meteoric rise of homosexuality elsewhere sufficiently shows the inevitable decline of civilization in its people" (ActuNiger 27 Mar. 2017).
A 2017 report on Niger, called the Qualitative Study on Adolescents' Level of Information, Opinions, and Effective Practices in Sexuality and Reproductive Health (Étude qualitative sur le niveau d'information, les opinions et les pratiques effectives des adolescents en matière de la sexualité et santé de la reproduction), published by Miseli, an association located in Mali that conducts anthropological research and works in Niger (Miseli n.d), states that the NGOs responsible for raising awareness are wary of challenging traditions or religion, and this means that [translation] "[s]ome themes, such as homosexuality, […] do not have any information or awareness-raising campaigns" (Miseli Jan. 2017). The same source reports that homosexuality is among the themes missing from sexual education given to youth in Niger, although it is a part of their daily lives (Miseli Jan. 2017). Corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.
3. Protection Provided to Sexual Minorities who are Victims of Violence
Information on the protection provided to sexual minorities who are victims of violence was scarce among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.
Freedom House states, in its document Freedom in the World 2016, that there is no protection provided in Niger against discrimination based on sexual orientation (Freedom House 18 Aug. 2016). Corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
Notes
[1] The following Islamic associations are signatories to the declaration: IKS [Al Islam Kitab Wassounna (Niger and Denmark April 2006, 2)]; ANASI [Nigerian Islamic Call and Solidarity Association] [Association nigérienne pour l'appel et la solidarité islamique (Niger and Denmark April 2006, 2)]; ASJN, ACJMN [Muslim Youth Clubs Association of Niger] [Association clubs des jeunes musulmans du Niger (Le Sahel n.d.a)]; AEMN [Muslim Students Association of Niger] [Association des étudiants musulmans du Niger (Le Sahel 22 Aug. 2017)]; LNJM [Nigerian Muslim Youth League] [Ligue nigérienne de la jeunesse musulmane (Gomez-Perez and Leblanc 2012, 224)]; APCI; Anri Hatoul-Islam (ActuNiger 27 Mar. 2017).
[2] Another declaration of Islamic associations of Niger, released in November 2014 in Le Monde d'aujourd'hui, a Nigerian daily, states that the Ministry of Secondary Education prepared two documents in March 2014, the first called: [translation] Training Module on the Sexual and Reproductive Health of Adolescents and Youth for Responsible Conduct (Module de formation sur la santé sexuelle et reproductive des adolescents et des jeunes pour un comportement responsable), and the second an instructor's guide to introducing sexual education at school (Le Monde d'aujourd'hui 2 Nov. 2014). The same source states that, according to the Module de formation, [translation] "[r]omantic and sexual life may be a matter of human rights" and that each individual may "choose to have an intimate relationship with a same-sex person" (Le Monde d'aujourd'hui 2 Nov. 2014). An article published by Le Sahel, a Nigerian newspaper, states that in October 2014, the Minister of Secondary Education announced the withdrawal of the document for educators of secondary school (Le Sahel n.d.b).
References
ActuNiger. 27 March 2017. "Déclaration des associations islamiques contre la dégradation des mœurs et l'introduction de l'éducation sexuelle à l'école." [Accessed 16 Aug. 2017]
Afrobaromètre. 1 March 2016. Bons voisins? Les Africains démontrent un sens élevé de la tolérance envers beaucoup, mais pas tous. [Accessed 15 Aug. 2017]
Afrobaromètre. August 2015. Hervé Mukuna. Manuel de codes pour la série 6 d'enquêtes Afrobaromètre au Niger. [Accessed 30 Aug. 2017]
Freedom House. 18 August 2016. "Niger." Freedom in the World 2016. [Accessed 15 Aug. 2017]
Gomez-Perez, Muriel and Marie Nathalie Leblanc. 2012. L'Afrique des générations. Entre tensions et négociations. Éditions Karthala
International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA). May 2017. Aengus Carroll and Lucas Ramón Mendos. State-Sponsored Homophobia. [Accessed 15 Aug. 2017]
International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA). N.d. "Law in Niger." [Accessed 16 Aug. 2017]
Miseli. January 2017. Laurence Touré. Étude qualitative sur le niveau d'information, les opinions et pratiques effectives des adolescents en matière de sexualité et santé de la reproduction. [Accessed 16 Aug. 2017]
Miseli. N.d. "Miseli, l'anthropologie dans le développement." [Accessed 16 Aug. 2017]
Le Monde d'aujourd'hui. 2 November 2014. "Déclaration des associations islamiques en date du 26 octobre 2014, correspondant au 02 Mouharam 1436h." [Accessed 16 Aug. 2017]
Niger. 1961 (amended in 2003). Code pénal. (Loi no 2003-025 du 13 juin 2003 modifiant la loi no 61-27 du 15 juillet 1961, portant institution du Code pénal, Journal officiel spécial no 4 du 7 avril 2004). [Accessed 15 Aug. 2017]
Niger and Denmark. April 2006. Moulaye Hassane, Marthe Doka and Oumarou Makama Bawa. Étude sur les pratiques de l'Islam au Niger. [Accessed 30 Aug. 2017]
Le Sahel. 22 August 2017. Mamane Abdoulaye. "4ème congrès ordinaire de l'Association des étudiants musulmans du Niger (AEMN) : un engagement pour la promotion d'une citoyenneté responsable." [Accessed 30 Aug. 2017]
Le Sahel. N.d.a. Mamane Abdoulaye. "21ème édition de la Tournée de solidarité islamique (TSI) : les valeurs de l'Islam, vecteur de paix et de développement en toile de fond." [Accessed 30 Aug. 2017]
Le Sahel. N.d.b. Assane Soumana. "Billet : le module abject ne passera pas." [Accessed 16 Aug. 2017]
United States (US). 3 March 2017. Department of State. "Niger." Country Reports on Human Rights Practice for 2016. [Accessed 15 Aug. 2017]
Additional Sources Consulted
Oral sources: Association nigérienne de défense des droits de l'homme; Collectif des organisations de défense des droits de l'homme et de la démocratie; Mouvement nigérien pour la promotion et la défense des droits de l'homme; Rassemblement démocratique des femmes du Niger.
Internet sites, including: Amnesty International; BBC; ecoi.net; Factiva; Human Rights Watch; IRIN; Micro Rainbow International; Minority Rights Group International; Le Monde; La Nation; Niger – Ministry of Justice; OutRight Action International; Pink News; Rainbow World Fund; UN – Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.
