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Public Opinion

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According to recent survey data, there appears to be strong opposition to LGBTQ+ rights in Côte d’Ivoire.

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History

Homosexual activity in Côte d’Ivoire

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Homosexual activity in Côte d’Ivoire is legal.

Current status
Legal
Homosexual acts are legal.
Details
Sources:
old.ilga.org/Statehomophobi…
assets.website-files.com/62…
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Same-sex marriage in Côte d’Ivoire

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Same-sex marriage in Côte d’Ivoire is banned.

Current status
Since Jun 26, 2019
Banned
The 2019 Law on Marriage defines a marriage as a union between a man and a woman, effectively banning same-sex marriage in Côte d’Ivoire.
Details
Sources:
sgbv-ihrda.uwazi.io/entity/…
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Censorship of LGBT issues in Côte d’Ivoire

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Censorship of LGBT issues in Côte d’Ivoire is ambiguous.

Current status
Since Jun 26, 2019
Ambiguous
The Penal Code of Cote d'Ivoire of 2019 removed explicit mentions of same-sex activity in Article 360 but there are still excerpts of the code that could be used to censor LGBTIQ+ topics in practice.
Details
Sources:
database.ilga.org/api/downl…
www.juriafrica.com/lex/art-…
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Jul 7, 1981–Jun 26, 2019
Imprisonment as punishment
The 1981 Penal Code of Cote d'Ivoire contained Article 360, which gives a penalty of three months to two years imprisonment for "acts of outrage to public decency". The code also contained a clause stating that if it was an "improper or unnatural act with a person of the same sex", the sentence would be imprisonment from six months to two years instead.

There was no information as to whether it was used to persecute LGBTIQ+ people in practice but the explicit provision was removed in the 2019 Penal Code.
Details
Sources:
ihl-databases.icrc.org/en/n…
webarchive.archive.unhcr.or…
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Right to change legal gender in Côte d’Ivoire

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Right to change legal gender in Côte d’Ivoire is ambiguous.

Current status
Since Jan 1, 2018
Ambiguous
Both the repealed Civil Status Law (1964) and its replacement, the Law Relating to Civil Status (Law No. 2018-862) (2018) indicate in Chapter 7 that the President of the Abidjan Court of First Instance has the authority to order the "rectification of civil status records" when petitioned by an applicant or by a public prosecutor. The legislation does not specify what data may be changed and under what circumstances, so it is unclear whether trans and gender-diverse persons would be permitted to make amendments thereunder. Any amendments made must be noted in the records of the Civil Registry.
Details
Sources:
database.ilga.org/cote-divo…
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Gender-affirming care in Côte d’Ivoire

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Gender-affirming care in Côte d’Ivoire is restricted.

Current status
Restricted
In Ivory Coast, medical transitions between the sexes are limited.
Details
Sources:
amerainternational.org/sexu…
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Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Côte d’Ivoire

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Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Côte d’Ivoire is not legally recognized.

Current status
Not legally recognized
No legal recognition.
Details
Sources:
database.ilga.org/cote-divo…
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LGBT discrimination in Côte d’Ivoire

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LGBT discrimination in Côte d’Ivoire is no protections.

Current status
No protections federal law
There are no protections from discrimination provided to LGBTIQ+ people in Cote d'Ivoire.
Details
Sources:
abidjan.usembassy.gov/ivoir…
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LGBT employment discrimination in Côte d’Ivoire

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LGBT employment discrimination in Côte d’Ivoire is no protections.

Current status
No protections
No protections
Details
Sources:
assets.website-files.com/62…
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LGBT housing discrimination in Côte d’Ivoire

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LGBT housing discrimination in Côte d’Ivoire is no protections.

Current status
No protections
No protections
Details
Sources:
assets.website-files.com/62…
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Same-sex adoption in Côte d’Ivoire

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Same-sex adoption in Côte d’Ivoire is single only.

Current status
Single only
Details
Sources:
no legal text in parlement for this
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Intersex infant surgery in Côte d’Ivoire

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Intersex infant surgery in Côte d’Ivoire is not banned.

Current status
Not banned
There is no ban on surgeries performed on intersex infants in Côte d'Ivoire.
Details
Sources:
database.ilga.org/cote-divo…
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Serving openly in military in Côte d’Ivoire

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Serving openly in military in Côte d’Ivoire is don't ask, don't tell.

Current status
Don't Ask, Don't Tell
Details
Sources:
no legal text in parlement for this
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Blood donations by MSMs in Côte d’Ivoire

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Blood donations by MSMs in Côte d’Ivoire is banned (indefinite deferral).

Current status
Banned (indefinite deferral)
Permanent deferral for homosexual and bisexual people.
Details
Sources:
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/ar…
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Conversion therapy in Côte d’Ivoire

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Conversion therapy in Côte d’Ivoire is not banned.

Current status
Not banned
Conversion therapy is not banned.
Details
Sources:
database.ilga.org/cote-divo…
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Equal age of consent in Côte d’Ivoire

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Equal age of consent in Côte d’Ivoire is unequal.

Current status
Unequal
The age of consent for heterosexual sex is 15, while for homosexual sex it is 18.
Details
Sources:
database.ilga.org/api/downl…
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LGBT Rights by Region

View the LGBT laws in each individual region of Côte d’Ivoire.

    Equality Index ?
    24 / 100
    Legal Rights
    33 / 100
    Public Opinion
    15 / 100

    Equality Rank

    View All
    #174
    Interest Rank based on Equaldex traffic ?

    Top Contributors

    Côte d’Ivoire LGBT Organizations

    There are no organizations listed in Côte d’Ivoire. Suggest one

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    Compare Côte d’Ivoire

    30

    Compare with
    Benin

    19

    Compare with
    Burkina Faso

    65

    Compare with
    Cape Verde

    8

    Compare with
    Gambia

    20

    Compare with
    Ghana

    15

    Compare with
    Guinea

    35

    Compare with
    Guinea-Bissau

    19

    Compare with
    Liberia

    Common queries:
    • Is it illegal to be gay in Côte d’Ivoire?
    • Is homosexuality legal in Côte d’Ivoire?
    • Is gay marriage legal in Côte d’Ivoire?

    LGBT Rights in Western Africa

    30

    LGBT Rights in
    Benin

    19

    LGBT Rights in
    Burkina Faso

    65

    LGBT Rights in
    Cape Verde

    8

    LGBT Rights in
    Gambia

    20

    LGBT Rights in
    Ghana

    15

    LGBT Rights in
    Guinea

    35

    LGBT Rights in
    Guinea-Bissau

    19

    LGBT Rights in
    Liberia

    8

    LGBT Rights in
    Mali

    11

    LGBT Rights in
    Mauritania

    25

    LGBT Rights in
    Niger

    6

    LGBT Rights in
    Nigeria

    86

    LGBT Rights in
    Saint Helena

    4

    LGBT Rights in
    Senegal

    15

    LGBT Rights in
    Sierra Leone

    11

    LGBT Rights in
    Togo