Human Rights Watch (HRW) has warned of worsening arrests, violence and abuse against LGBT people in Senegal following the adoption of tougher penalties for same-sex sexual acts on 11 March 2026.
In a report published on Monday, 12 October 2026, the organization drew on 39 testimonies to document deteriorating conditions for gay and transgender people. The amended law provides prison sentences of five to ten years for acts described as “unnatural”.
The African Meeting for the Defence of Human Rights (RADDHO) reported at least 212 arrests since the law came into force, alongside an increase in detention and abuse across the country.
Legal professionals also described pressure that could hinder detainees’ access to representation. One lawyer said relatives had discouraged him from defending people accused under the law.
HRW further reported that some detainees underwent HIV testing without informed consent, warning that the practice could discourage voluntary testing and undermine efforts to tackle HIV.
The report’s publication coincided with the opening of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights’ 89th Ordinary Session in Dakar on 12 October.