Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09BANGUI276
2009-12-31 11:52:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Bangui
Cable title:  

CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: LAWS AND SOCIAL VIEWS ON SEXUAL

Tags:  PHUM PGOV CT 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO8904
PP RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHJO RUEHMA RUEHMR RUEHPA RUEHRN RUEHTRO
DE RUEHGI #0276 3651152
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P R 311152Z DEC 09
FM AMEMBASSY BANGUI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1114
RUEHZO/AFRICAN UNION COLLECTIVE
INFO RHMFISS/AFRICOM
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0192
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 0210
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 0548
RUEHGI/AMEMBASSY BANGUI 1409
UNCLAS BANGUI 000276 

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPT FOR AF FRONT OFFICE
AF/C
FOR AF/RSA - LOUIS MAZEL, LAURA GRIESMER, AND LEARNED DEES
PARIS FOR RKANEDA
LONDON FOR PLORD
AFRICOM FOR JKUGEL
INR FOR JPEKKINEN
DRL FOR SCRAMPTON

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PGOV CT
SUBJECT: CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: LAWS AND SOCIAL VIEWS ON SEXUAL
ORIENTATION

REF: A - 09 STATE 130765 AND PREVIOUS

UNCLAS BANGUI 000276

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPT FOR AF FRONT OFFICE
AF/C
FOR AF/RSA - LOUIS MAZEL, LAURA GRIESMER, AND LEARNED DEES
PARIS FOR RKANEDA
LONDON FOR PLORD
AFRICOM FOR JKUGEL
INR FOR JPEKKINEN
DRL FOR SCRAMPTON

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PGOV CT
SUBJECT: CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: LAWS AND SOCIAL VIEWS ON SEXUAL
ORIENTATION

REF: A - 09 STATE 130765 AND PREVIOUS


1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Central African Republic (CAR) law
criminalizes homosexual behavior. The law, reflective of widely
held social stigma against homosexuality, considers any act of
homosexuality as an ``offense against public decency.'' Post is,
however, unaware of any arrests or fines and very few cases of
extrajudicial violence targeting homosexuals. There is a
semi-open gay culture in the capital, Bangui, but very little
toleration for it in the rest of the country. Sexual topics in
general are not widely discussed in public, adding to the lack
of open discussion vis a vis homosexuality. END SUMMARY.


2. (U) Article 85 of the 2009 CAR Penal Code states that any
``unnatural act'' committed with an individual of the same sex
is considered an offense against public decency and subject to a
jail sentence of six months to two years in addition to a fine
ranging from CFA 150,000 to CFA 600,000 - USD 333 to 1,333 at
USD 1=CFA 450 (NOTE: The 2009 Penal Code's statutes on this
subject are a holdover from the previous Code. END NOTE). While
the penal code criminalizes homosexual behavior, Post is unaware
of instances where police arrested or detained persons they
believed to be homosexual. The country is not engaged in any
current debate on the subject or considering any changes in
their legislation. The government does not address the subject.
AIDS/HIV prevention efforts, both by the local authorities and
international organizations, rarely deal with homosexual issues
related to the disease.


3. (SBU) Societal discrimination against homosexuals is
widespread and many Central Africans attribute the existence of
homosexuality to undue western influence. Homosexuality is not
discussed in public and homosexuals very rarely make their
orientation known to others. A quiet subculture does exist in
Bangui, but there are no specific places for congregating and
those within the community make great efforts to conceal their
orientation. Transvestite and gay sex workers are very rare.
Rural life and traditional beliefs in much of the rest of the
country make conditions difficult for any acceptance of
homosexuality.

COOK