According to the sources consulted, all same-sex sexual relations are criminalized in Togo. While the US Department of State (USDOS) reports that there have been few prosecutions under this specific law, it notes that arrests for same-sex sexual conduct have usually been carried out on other grounds. According to the latest USDOS report and the United Nations Human Rights Committee, LGBTQI+ identities are not protected under anti-discrimination laws.
“Art. 392: Any indecent or unnatural act committed with an individual of the same sex constitutes an outrage against good morals. […]
Art. 393 – Anyone committing an outrage against good morals will be punished by imprisonment for one to three years and/or a fine of one million to three million CFA francs.”
Art.394 - Is punished with a prison sentence of 6 months to 2 years, and a fine of 500,000 to 2 million CFA francs, or one of these two penalties, anyone who:
1) publicly exhibits, manufactures or sells for public exhibition objects, images, films, sound or audio-visual recordings contrary to decency;
2) distributes or distributes on public roads or by post, or door to door or by electronic means any books, brochures, catalogues, leaflets, images, films, sound or audio visual recordings contrary to decency, without the prior consent of the recipients;
3) disseminates or causes to be disseminated publicly incitements to practices contrary to good morals by words, writings or any other means of communication.” (In-house translation. The translator is an English native speaker and is professionally fluent in French.)
ORIGINAL SOURCE:
« Art. 392: Constitue un outrage aux bonnes mœurs tout acte impudique ou contre nature commis avec un individu de son sexe. […]
Art. 393: Toute personne qui commet un outrage aux bonnes mœurs est punie d'une peine d'emprisonnement d'un (01) à trois (03) ans et d'une amende d'un million (1.000.000) à trois millions (3.000.000) de francs CFA ou de l'unè de ces deux peines.
Article 394 : Est punie d’une peine d’emprisonnement de six (06) mois à deux (02) ans et d’une amende de cinq cent mille (500.000) à deux millions (2.000.000) de francs CFA ou de l’une de ces deux peines toute personne qui:
1) expose publiquement, fabrique ou vend en vue de l’exposition publique des objets, images, films, enregistrements sonores ou audio visuels, contraires à la décence ;
2) distribue ou fait distribuer sur la voie publique ou par voie postale, ou de porte à porte ou encore par voie électronique tous livres, brochures, catalogues, prospectus, images, films, enregistrements sonores ou audio visuels contraires à la décence, sans le consentement préalable des destinataires ;
3) diffuse ou fait diffuser publiquement des incitations à des pratiques contraires aux bonnes mœurs par paroles, écrits ou tous autres moyens de communication. »
“Significant human rights issues included credible reports of: [...] enforcement of laws criminalizing consensual same-sex sexual conduct between adults [...]
The law [criminalizing same-sex sexual conduct] was enforced, but LGBTQI+ persons were rarely punished or jailed under these specific statutes. On those occasions when police arrested someone for engaging in consensual same-sex sexual conduct, the justification for the arrest was usually for some other legal infraction such as a “shameless or unnatural act.” The government often did not bring charges under any statute, or following arrest chose not to prosecute. […]
The existing antidiscrimination law does not apply to LGBTQI+ persons. LGBTQI+ persons faced societal discrimination in employment, housing, and access to education and health care.
The majority of LGBTQI+ persons did not report discrimination and abuses in view of the stigma and potential criminal consequences.”
“The Committee takes note of the provisions of the new Criminal Code concerning the criminalization of discrimination. It is, nevertheless, concerned by the fact that there is no clear definition or criminal classification of direct or indirect discrimination that covers all the grounds listed in the Covenant, including sexual orientation and gender identity. It also takes note of the information provided by the State party concerning the non-application, in practice, of criminal law provisions that characterize sex between consenting adults of the same sex as an offence and concerning the importance of first changing mindsets before introducing legislative changes in that area. However, it is concerned by the fact that these provisions have been retained in the new Criminal Code and that the applicable penalties have been increased.
“According to the NGO official contacted by Full-news [who is Togo-based and spoke on condition of anonymity], ‘this provision [criminalizing same-sex sexual conduct] is applied when someone is caught in the act.’” (In-house translation. The translator is an English native speaker and is professionally fluent in French.)
ORIGINAL SOURCE
« Pour le responsable ONG contacté par Full-news, « cette disposition s’applique en flagrant délit.» »
“According to the Minister of Communication and Media, Prof. Akodah Ayewouadan, who was a guest on a local radio interview on 5 July 2022, the country’s position on the issue has not changed.
‘You know the position of our country on those liberties and that position will not change as we have already said, our society does not wish us to move towards those liberties. As a government, a State must listen to its society, there is no reason to fear that Togo becoming a member of the Commonwealth will impose any new approaches’, explained the minister. ‘One can be assured of this point of view. Furthermore, the Commonwealth is not in a host position where the organization will dictate steps to be taken by different states. I recall, it is an organization which truly advocates cooperation, partnership, and the principle of non-interference.’” (In-house translation. The translator is an English native speaker and is professionally fluent in French.)
ORIGINAL SOURCE :
« Selon le ministre de la Communication et des Médias, Prof. Akodah Ayewouadan, invité sur une radio de la place mardi 5 juillet 2022, la position du pays sur la question n’a pas évolué..
« Vous connaissez la position de notre pays sur ces libertés-là et cette position ne variera pas puisque nous l’avions déjà dit, notre corpus social ne souhaite pas que nous allions vers ces libertés-là. Comme un gouvernement, un Etat doit écouter son corpus social, il n’est pas de raison de craindre que l’adhésion du Togo au Commonwealth nous impose quelques approches nouvelles que ce soit, a explique (sic) le ministre. On peut être rassuré sur ce point de vue. Et aussi, le Commonwealth n’est pas dans une position hôte ou l’organisation dicterait la démarche à suivre aux différents Etats. Je rappelle, c’est une organisation qui prône véritablement la coopération, le partenariat et le principe de non-ingérence. »
“Togo will not recognize the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people on its territory. This position was reaffirmed on Tuesday 29 June 2021 by government representatives during the traditional presentation of the periodic report before the United Nations Human Rights Committee.
‘Regarding sexual relations between consenting adults of the same sex, Togo does not envisage repealing the provisions which criminalise these’, declared the minister of human rights, Christian Trimua. ‘Because this sexual orientation is not in line with Togolese social values.’” (In-house translation. The translator is an English native speaker and is professionally fluent in French.)
ORIGINAL SOURCE:
« Le Togo ne reconnaîtra pas les droits des lesbiennes, gays, bisexuels et transgenres (LGBT) sur son territoire. La position a été réaffirmée mardi 29 juin 2021 par les représentants du gouvernement lors de la traditionnelle présentation de rapport périodique devant le Comité des droits de l’Homme des Nations Unies.
« Pour ce qui concerne les relations sexuelles entre adultes consentants du même sexe, le Togo n’envisage pas d’abroger les dispositions qui les criminalisent », a déclaré le ministre des droits de l’homme , Christian Trimua. Car cette orientation sexuelle n’est pas en adéquation avec les valeurs sociales togolaises ». »