Gabon : Love is not a crime
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Gabon’s National Assembly is considering a bill that would impose a five-year prison sentence for same-sex relationships between adults. Sign the petition to stop it.

Imagine being arrested, tried, and imprisoned not for anything you did -- but for who you love.

That is what Gabon is preparing to do.

A bill currently before the National Assembly would impose a five-year prison sentence and a fine of up to 10 million CFA francs (around $17,000) on anyone who has had a same-sex relationship. Publicly expressing support for LGBT+ people would also become a criminal offense.

In 2020, Gabon removed those same offenses from its penal code -- a step recognized around the world as progress. Now authorities want to reverse that decision and go further than the law ever did before.

Here is what this bill would mean in practice:

- Men and women could face prison for private relationships between consenting adults.
- Parents, caregivers, teachers, and journalists could be prosecuted simply for acknowledging that LGBT+ people exist.
- Families would be exposed to denunciations and fear.

This is not a matter of opinion or culture. It is a violation of every person's fundamental right to live safely, to love freely, and not to be punished by the state for who they are.

Governments have a duty to protect their citizens -- all of their citizens. Sending people to prison for who they love protects no one. It exposes people to violence, shame, and exclusion. It tears families apart. It silences people.

Gabon has ratified international treaties that guarantee the right to equality, dignity, and protection from arbitrary treatment. This bill contradicts those commitments.

Sign the petition. Tell Gabon that the freedom to live and love without fear is non-negotiable.

0people have signed
Goal: 5,000

The President of the Gabonese Republic and the members of the National Assembly of Gabon

Gabon stands at a critical crossroads. A bill currently before the National Assembly threatens to reinstate -- and extend -- the criminalization of same-sex relationships, overturning a repeal that had been achieved in 2020. This represents a serious regression, both for fundamental human rights and for Gabon's standing in the international community.

The bill would impose penalties of up to five years in prison and a fine of up to 10 million CFA francs (around $17,000) for consensual relationships between same-sex adults. It would also criminalize any public expression of support for LGBT+ people -- a provision that goes further than the law that was repealed. These measures directly contradict universal principles of dignity, equality, and non-discrimination. They violate every person's fundamental right to live safely and to love freely, without fear of prosecution by the state.

When Gabon decriminalized same-sex relationships in 2020, it was recognized around the world as a significant step forward -- evidence of the country's commitment to human rights. Reversing that decision would be a serious mistake, undermining public trust in state institutions and contradicting the international treaties Gabon has ratified, including the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights.

Governments have a duty to protect all of their citizens, without exception. Imprisoning people for their sexual orientation protects no one. It generates fear, shame, and exclusion. It tears families apart and silences people. This is not a matter of opinion or culture -- it is a matter of basic human rights.

Gabon must reaffirm its commitment to justice and equality. We call on Gabonese lawmakers to reject this bill and ensure that the country's penal code remains consistent with its international human rights obligations. The freedom to live and love without fear is non-negotiable.

0people have signed
Goal: 5,000

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