Ivory Coast

While male and female same-sex sexual activity is legal, age of consent differs and same-sex couples and households headed by same-sex couples are not eligible for the same legal protections as heterosexuals.

Same-sex sexual acts have never been criminalized within the Ivory Coast, a former French colony, unlike in other former British colonies in the area.

Legislation

Male to male relationships: Legal

Female to female relationships: Legal

Age of consent: Different for heterosexuals and homosexuals

More on the law of Ivory Coast at ilga.org

Social climate / Legal incidents

Read more about the sociale climate for LGBT people in Ivory Coast in this article at ilga.org

LGBT organizations/networks

Alternative Côte d’Ivoire was founded in 2010 and is an NGO fighting homophobia and promoting healthcare for sexual minority groups. The organisation is also striving for the self-fulfilment of its members through the launch of two exclusively gay and lesbian nightclubs in the Ivorian capital. The contact details of the organisation can be found here: http://ilga.org/directory/en/detail?o_id=5478

Conventions

Country Data

The country data was collected June-July 2012. Please note that reliable information is difficult to obtain for many countries on violations of LGBT people's human rights, the enforcement of legislation etc. Local LGBT organisations and networks are listed in the capacity of human rights defenders.

In many countries where male homosexual acts are criminalized, no laws exist on female-to-female relationships and so those are listed as "legal". However, this does not mean that women are not targeted by state and police persecution.

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Ivory Coast

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