Cameroon
Twelve female students expelled from school on suspicion of being lesbians
On March 13, 2006 twelve female students (aged between 16 and 22 years) of the Eyenguè Nkongo college of Deido Plage in Douala, Cameroon were expelled from the institution after its disciplinary council concluded that they were lesbians. Amnesty International is concerned that the girls were expelled solely because of their sexual orientation. AI is also concerned that the students have been deprived of their right to education on account of their alleged sexual orientation, that their right to privacy has been violated and may face arrest as homosexuality is a criminal offense in Cameroon.
The female students were accused of being members of a "lesbian network" and expelled after a school disciplinary council decision which was based on investigations by the school authorities. The decision to expel them was reportedly taken after a meeting of the Parents/Teachers Association (PTA). The decision was also approved by the Littoral Provincial Delegate of Secondary Education. Investigations are reported to have been initiated after a female student told the school authorities that another female student had assaulted her. It is also reported that the two girls confessed to being lesbians. The two students reportedly disclosed the identities of other alleged lesbian students to the school authorities. There is no indication that any of the students were performing sexual acts within the school grounds. The circumstances surrounding the expulsion of the 12 students were published by various Cameroonian media but their names were not mentioned.
BACKGROUND
Amnesty International remains deeply concerned about endemic homophobia in Cameroon, and urges Cameroonian authorities to respect and enforce the human rights of all people in Cameroon. AI is also concerned about a relentless moral panic leading to the targeting of known or suspected gay men and lesbians in the country. There are reports of colleges turning over information on suspected gay and lesbian students to the police for criminal investigations. Homosexuality is illegal in Cameroon and sentences can range from 6 months to 5 years imprisonment.
In May 2005, 17 men were arrested in a night club on suspicion of practising homosexuality. Nine of them, including a 17-year-old youth, remained imprisoned at Kondengui Central Prison in Yaoundé and were committed for trial at the start of 2006. Amnesty International called for their immediate and unconditional release. On April 21, 2006, after spending nearly a year in prison, the eight men and the boy were tried and acquitted. However, the prosecutor appealed against their release and they remain in jail. AI considers them prisoners of conscience and is calling for their immediate and unconditional release.
In December 2005, the Cameroonian Roman Catholic Church denounced homosexuality in the country.
In January 2006, three Cameroonian newspapers published a list of several dozen people, including government officials, musicians and businessmen "accused" of homosexuality. On March 3, 2006 the High Court in Yaoundé found the editor of L'Anecdote newspaper guilty of defaming a government minister whom the newspaper had alleged was a homosexual. On March 24, the same court found the editor of Nouvelle Afrique newspaper guilty of libelling a medical doctor and a government minister by naming them in an article. Both editors have appealed against their convictions and sentences and are not thought to have been imposed.
