Topic: LGBT Rights
Country: Congo
Delegate Name: Carly Anderson
School: Forest Hills Central High School
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All Congo position papers GLIMUN 2015 committees
The Republic of Congo has never had a law against the sexual acts of same-sex couples. The sexual acts of LGBT couples is not discriminated against or illegal in any way. However The Congo does hold a law stating that same-sex couples do not have the right to adopt a baby. The constitution of The Republic of the Congo prohibits discrimination based on political, sexual, or religious orientation.The Congo however does have a law that penalizes anyone who ,“commits a shameless act or an act against nature with an individual of the same sex under the age of 21”. According to the NGO association de Soutien aux Groupes Vulnerables (ASGV) and members of the LGBT community of the Congo these laws do not prohibit consensual same-sex conduct, and authorities did not employ the law to arrest or prosecute LGBT persons.
The Congo does not discriminate against or protect homosexuals they are simply left alone without further ado from the government point of view. However there is some social stigma in the country about homosexuality but it has not posed an issue to the country because there has been no reported cases of such discrimination reported to any NGOs. Because of this social stigma there is a very small LGBT community in the Congo. During the year 2014 the human rights report of the Congo states that there were no known publicly reported cases of violence against LGBT individuals throughout that year.
The Congo has signed a treaty for the optional protocol of the convention against torture on September 29th, 2008. The republic of the Congo also supported and helped ratify the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (OP-ICESCR).
The Congo should remain the way it is with its actions regarding LGBT rights, but a governmental campaign to rid the social stigma of the LGBT community should be put into place within the next few years. Any cases regarding violence against LGBT members with be thoroughly investigated and carefully interpreted by the government. Th government will take notice of and act upon any discriminatory actions by State Security Force. Any officer who had brought about the discrimination/ violence towards an LGBT person will be penalized.
Works Cited
"Home | HumanRights.gov Is the Official United States Government Website for International Human Rights Related Information." Home | HumanRights.gov Is the Official United States Government Website for International Human Rights Related Information. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Oct. 2015.
"Human Rights Bodies." United Nations Human Rights. N.p., 25 Sept. 2012. Web. <treaties.un.org>.
United Nations Human Rights. United Nations, n.d. Web. 28 Oct. 2015.
U.S Department of State. Republic of The Congo. N.p.: n.p., n.d. Web. <http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/160117.pdf>.
