insert_link Namibia Namibia’s sodomy laws have been overturned – what that means for LGBTIQ+ rights in the country Bennian/Getty Images, CC BY By John Nakuta, University of Namibia The Namibian high court recently invalidated the country’s colonial-era “sodomy law”, which had made consensual sexual acts between men a criminal offence. The court declared that the common law offences of “sodomy” and “unnatural sexual offences” were unconstitutional. This ruling follows a separate decision in 2023 where Namibia’s supreme court ruled to recognise certain same-sex unions […] todayJuly 8, 2024 26
insert_link Africa Sierra Leone bans child marriage with new law Sierra Leone has brought in a new law banning child marriage with much fanfare at a ceremony organised by First Lady Fatima Bio in the capital, Freetown. The BBC reports that invited guests, including first ladies from Namibia and Cape Verde, watched as her husband President Julius Maada Bio signed the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act into law. Anybody now involved in the marriage of a girl aged under the […] todayJuly 3, 2024 9
insert_link World India implements new criminal codes, replacing British era laws India on Monday implemented three new criminal laws that replace archaic colonial-era legislation to significantly overhaul its criminal justice system. Sreoshi Mukherjee reports from New Delhi. India's opposition parties and lawyers have hit out at the new laws. todayJuly 1, 2024 19
insert_link World French parliamentarians secure abortion rights French parliamentarians have voted to enshrine the right to access abortion services into the constitution. Ross Cullen reports that lawmakers and senators overwhelmingly approved the changes in a rare joint session of parliament. todayMarch 6, 2024 10
insert_link Africa Local activist opposes Ghana’s anti-LGBTQ+ legislation Ghana's parliament has approved a bill criminalising LGBTQ+ identity and the formation or funding of LGBTQ+ groups, punishable by up to three to five years in prison, respectively. The bill will come into effect only if President Nana Akufo-Addo signs it into law. Linda Baumann an activist for the rights of women, and the LGBTQI community says the bill should not be enacted into law. todayFebruary 29, 2024 24
insert_link Africa Zimbabwe scraps death penalty Zimbabwe’s cabinet has agreed to abolish the death penalty for murder offences almost two decades after its last execution. Bloomberg News reports that the cabinet on Tuesday approved the Memorandum on the Private Member’s Death Penalty Abolition Bill introduced to parliament last year, bringing an end to the death penalty introduced in the southern African nation by British colonial administrators. todayFebruary 8, 2024 12
insert_link South Africa South African marriage ruling is a win for divorcees and surviving spouses: it guides the sharing of their assets By Waheeda Amien, University of Cape Town South Africa’s Constitutional Court has fundamentally changed the country’s marriage law, making it fairer to people who are married “out of community of property” when their marriages end. In these marriages, the estates of spouses are kept separate. They do not combine what they own into a joint estate. The change applies to people who got married after 1 November […] todayFebruary 5, 2024 8
insert_link World South Korea bans dog meat trade South Korea has passed a new law, that aims to end the slaughter and selling of dogs for their meat by 2027. The BBC reports that under the law, raising or slaughtering dogs for consumption will be banned, as will distributing or selling dog meat. Those butchering dogs could face up to three years in prison, while those who raise dogs for meat or sell dog meat could serve a […] todayJanuary 9, 2024 11
