The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has applauded the High Court of Namibia for striking down a number of anti-LGBTQI+ laws and declaring that they are a violation of the constitutional rights of all citizens.
The decision, which was delivered Friday, states that the common law ordinances of sodomy and unnatural sexual offenses are no longer valid.
The court found that the laws are not justifiable in a democratic society and that the government cannot rely on the state interest clause in the constitution to justify the continuation of the laws.
The judgment is aligned with the recommendations of the Namibian Law Reform and Development Commission, which has also called for the repeal of the laws.
The decision is a landmark victory for the LGBTQI+ community in Namibia and a clear signal of the country’s commitment to equality and human rights, the UNDP said in a press statement.