The situation of sexual minorities inCameroon is a human rights issue (Alternatives Cameroun, Adefho, Human Rights Watch, IGLHRC, 2010; Alternatives Cameroun, IGLHRC, Center for Human Rights, Global Rights, 2010). In this country, homosexuality is not only subject to social rejection but is also punishable by prison sentences. Although local MSM organizations, supported by a few human rights organizations, are fighting against this situation, legislation shall shortly become harsher, passing from 5 to 15 years imprisonment.1 Studies and reports have shown that tMSM are victims of diverse form sof physical and/or psychological violence (Gueboguo, 2006, 2008), such as blackmail using disclosure of sexual orientation as a threat.
In Cameroon, HIV prevalence is estimated to be 5.3%in the general population (UNAIDS, 2009). Among the MSM population, high proportions of sexual risk practices have been documented (Henry et al., 2010). Although country-level prevalence data in MSM are unavailable, studies in neighboring countries have shown much higher prevalence in MSM than in the general population (Baral, Sifakis, Cleghorn, & Beyrer,
2007; Wade et al., 2005).
Access to existing national prevention and care programs remains difficult for MSM in Cameroon. The national strategy to fight the HIV epidemic and provide sexual prevention messages is still almost uniquely directed at heterosexuals (Henry et al., 2010). Prevention actions for MSM are often left to the goodwill of local community-based organizations working in complex and hostile social, political,
and sometimes legal environments, where few people are mobilized on the subject. The difficulty in disclosing one’s sexual orientation compounds these problems.
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by Emilie Henry, et al
Source – MSM Global Forum
