Djibouti

Demographics

Estimated Total Population:

973,600

World Bank, 2019

Estimated SGM Population:

N/A

N/A

Estimated Total SGM Adult Population:

N/A

N/A

Estimated % of SGM Adults (18+):

N/A

N/A

Same-sex sexual activity is considered legal under the penal code of Djibouti. However, same-sex activity is, “de facto illegal,”due to influences from Islamic law, and public attitudes are staunchly against  homosexuality; consequently, members of the LGBTQI community are forced to hide their identities to avoid harassment and violence (Archer, 2016). SGM communities have little to no access to health or education services or even Internet (Ammon, 2016). There are no major LGBTQI organizations in the nation, and members perpertually live, “‘undercover, unconfident and in fear’” (Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, 2007).

Djibouti's Laws and Policies from ILGA World Report (2019)

RECOGNITION
Marriage for Same-Sex Couples
No
Civil Unions
No
Joint Adoption
No
Second Parent Adoption
No
PROTECTION
Employment Nondiscrimination Laws
No
Broad Protections
No
Criminalization of Violence
No
Ban of Conversion Therapy
No
CRIMINALIZATION
Consensual Same-Sex Acts are Legal?
No
Gender
Any Gender
Max Penalty (Yrs in Prison)
Undetermined

Selected Published Studies, Reports, and Other Documents

Archer, R(2016). Djibouti LGBTQI Resources. Rights in Exile Programme. http://www.refugeelegalaidinformation.org/djibouti-lgbti-resources

Ammon, R (2016, February). Gay Life in Djibouti, Africa. GlobalGayz. https://www.globalgayz.com/gay-life-in-djibouti-africa/

Equaldex (2020). LGBT Rights in Djibouti. Equaldex. https://www.equaldex.com/img/regions/lgbt-djibouti.png

Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada. (2007, February). Djibouti: Treatment of homosexuals by society and government authorities; legal recourse and protection available to homosexuals who have been subject to ill-treatment (2004-2007). Refworld. https://www.refworld.org/docid/469cd6b62.html

Mendes, L. R. (2019, March). State-Sponsored Homophobia. The International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, And Intersex Association. https://ilga.org/downloads/ILGA_State_Sponsored_Homophobia_2019.pdf

The World Bank. (2019).Djibouti. Data. https://data.worldbank.org/country/Djibouti