Fun Fast Facts:
Updated: 23 Jun 2014 (Migration, Sexuality and Sexual health)
- Both male and female same-sex sexual activity is illegal in Eritrea. The government routinely detains individuals for consensual homosexual activity and has allegedly periodically engaged in roundups of known or suspected lesbians and gays in the country. There is no protection against discrimination based on sexual orientation.
- Both male and female same-sex sexual activity is illegal in Ethiopia, punishable by imprisonment of 1-15 years. Conservative attitudes around sex and sexuality remain prevalent in Ethiopia, with many Ethiopians believing that homosexuality is simply a choice and not innate.
- Punishment for homosexual activity in South Sudan under Sharia law, can range from lashes to the death penalty.
- In Somalia, sexual intercourse with a person of the same sex is punishable by imprisonment from three months to three years. Humanitarian workers have stated that Islamic social mores often make it difficult to publicly talk about HIV and how the virus can be spread.
- Same-sex sexual activity is legal in Djibouti. Whilst there are rarely reports of societal violence or discrimination based on sexual orientation, societal norms do not allow for the public discussion of homosexuality or gay people to live openly.
Migration, Sexuality and Sexual health
Broadcast: 23 Jun 2014
LGBTIQ-friendly organisation:
LGBTIQ-friendly organisation: Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society (ARCSHS)
- ARCSHS is a centre for social research into sexuality, health, and the social dimensions of human relationships.
- ARCSHS works collaboratively and in partnership with communities, community-based organisations, government and professionals in relevant fields to produce research that promotes positive change in policy, practice and people’s lives.
- ARCSHS aims to increase the quantity, quality and impact of multi-disciplinary social research into sexuality, health, and the social dimensions of human relationships.
- Gay and Lesbian Health Victoria is part of ARCSHS.
- The role of GLHV is “to enhance and promote the health and well being of GLBTI people in Victoria”.
W3JOY interviewed: Samuel Muchoki of Australian Research Centre in Sex Health and Society, La Trobe University
“When you are talking about sexuality, it’s a sensitive topic. So many of them were happy to talk about their sexual practices or their sexuality because English was their second or their third language. So they were a bit (more) comfortable to talk about their sexual practices because in their first language it is a taboo. They don’t have the vocabulary. For example, oral sex. What is that in their first language?”
“Some had interesting stories about inter-racial relationships. For some, within the first two months of being in Australia, they had already engaged in sexual relations with an Australian sexual partner.”
“Those who are married, you find some of them find it difficult relating with their wife. There were these general perceptions that in Australia the women have more power. So the men can not subject the women to their will.”
“If you have a problem in the Horn of Africa with your wife, it’s your wife who leaves the family house. But in this country, some of the men discovered you can be given an intervention order and you are told to leave the family house.”