West Africa
Rights Under Pressure
Silence and fear must not become policy.
Published October 12, 2026
Human Rights Watch reported a growing crackdown on LGBT people in Senegal, including mass arrests, forced HIV testing and barriers to legal representation.
Although the report covers LGBT people broadly, these actions can create particular risks for lesbian, bisexual and queer women through stigma, family pressure, healthcare barriers and exposure to violence.
Our advocacy point: every person deserves due process, privacy, healthcare and protection from abuse.
