Cameroon: Article 347-1 has been shattering gay lives for 10 years
The Cameroonian law transforms intimate choices into criminal offenses.
COMMENTARY
Ten years after its re-adoption and re-numbering in 2016, Article 347-1 of Cameroon’s Penal Code continues to shatter the trajectories of human lives and condemns the LGBTI community to systemic marginalization.
By criminalizing same-sex sexual relations, it has created a lasting divide between national legislation and universal human rights principles.
History and scope of Article 347-1
Introduced and originally adopted as Article 347 bis in the 1970s, the law explicitly targeted homosexuality.
It criminalized all homosexual activity without making any distinction between consensual sex and coerced sex.
Because it applies to private behavior as well as public acts, it transforms intimate choices into criminal offenses. As a result, it undermines individual dignity and freedom.
Original text: “Any person who has sexual relations with a person of the same sex is punishable by imprisonment for six months to five years and a fine of 20,000 to 200,000 CFA francs [about US$36 to $360].”
2016 revision: During the comprehensive reform of the Penal Code in 2016, the article was renumbered 347-1 but its text was unchanged, confirming the political will to maintain criminalization of homosexuality despite international pressure.
Voices of LGBTI rights activists
“Ten years later, we see that Article 347-1 has not protected society, but has instead made lives more precarious. The young women we support live in fear, deprived of health care and their rights. Our fight is to remind people that [a just] law must protect, never exclude,” said Peggy Ngangue, president of the Elle Cameroon Association.
Nickel, an independent activist, stated, “This article has become a tool for stigmatization. It’s not just about legal convictions, but about legitimizing social violence. Denunciations, public humiliations, evictions… all of this is fueled by fear of the law.”
Joachim, a human rights defender, added, “Cameroon is a signatory to international conventions that guarantee non-discrimination. Ten years later, it’s time to ask the question: do we want to be a country that protects its citizens or a country that divides them?”
Impacts on the LGBTI community in Cameroon
1. Health and access to care
Fear of being denounced or arrested deters many LGBTI people from going to health centers.
HIV/AIDS prevention programs are weakened because key populations avoid medical facilities for fear of stigmatization.
Local organizations often have to operate clandestinely to provide care and support.
2. Social violence and marginalization
The article legitimizes everyday discrimination, including evictions, dismissals, and public humiliation.
It leads to frequent anonymous denunciations of alleged homosexuals, creating a climate of fear and insecurity. LGBTI youth, who are particularly vulnerable, are exposed to domestic and community violence.
3. Criminalization and legal insecurity
The law becomes a tool of social control, rather than an instrument of justice.
Arrests are often based on suspicion or denunciations, without solid material evidence. Trials are marred by procedural violations, reinforcing the feeling of injustice.
4. Isolation and Invisibility
The LGBTI community lives in secrecy, limiting its visibility and its ability to claim its rights. LGBTI advocacy associations must work under pressure, often threatened with dissolution or administrative harassment.
Lack of legal recognition exacerbates exclusion and prevents any social integration.
Four ways Article 347-1 fails
Health and dignity: The law weakens access to healthcare and undermines public health policies. (Peggy Ngangue)
Social violence: It legitimizes discrimination and fosters a climate of fear.(Nickel)
Legal contradiction: It places Cameroon in a state of tension with its international commitments. (Joachim)
Beyond these points, Article 347-1 reveals a cultural and political divide: between the desire to preserve traditional values and the need to integrate universal standards for human rights.
What’s needed
- Legal reform: Repeal or revise Article 347-1 to align Cameroon with its international commitments.
- Social dialogue: Create an inclusive space where marginalized voices can be heard.
- Public health: Decriminalize homosexuality to facilitate access to care and strengthen prevention.
- International image: Reform would enhance Cameroon’s credibility on the world stage.
Ten years later, Article 347-1 remains a symbol of the divide between law and human rights. Its impact on the LGBTI community is profound: fear, marginalization, insecurity, and invisibility.
Activist testimonies remind us that the law, far from being neutral, shapes daily life and can become an instrument of social violence.
Cameroon is now facing a historic choice: maintain legislation that stigmatizes, or undertake a reform that protects and includes, reflecting the dignity of all its citizens.
