The Seychelles National Assembly yesterday passed the groundbreaking Penal Code (Amendment) Act 2024 – the first time in the country’s history that a law has been adopted to protect its citizens from crimes motivated by prejudice and identity-based hate. The Act, approved by a majority of 18 votes to 8, safeguards Seychellois citizens, especially those from marginalised groups.
Since 2020, the Trust has provided technical legal assistance to the Seychelles Attorney General’s office to draft the hate crime components of the Act. We are also grateful to Professor Mark Walters of the University of Sussex, for his invaluable expertise and contribution to the drafting process.
After South Africa, the Seychelles is now the second country in Africa to protect against all forms of hate-based victimisation.
The Act amends the Seychelles Penal Code, labelling certain existing offences as ‘aggravated’ – meriting higher penalties – when they are driven by hostility or bias against the victim based on protected characteristics, such as race, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity and sex characteristics.
We are honoured to have played a key role in creating this significant milestone for the Seychelles. The changes to the Penal Code will provide new and meaningful protections for people targeted simply because of who they are and encourages marginalised communities to report crimes. By enacting this law, the Seychelles has taken a strong stance against hate-motivated violence, ensuring that the most vulnerable members of society are protected.
Hon. Bernard Georges, Leader of Government Business, Member of the Seychelles National Assembly and key proponent of the Act, said, ‘The passing of this Act sends a clear message that the Seychelles is committed to protecting the dignity and safety of all its citizens, regardless of their background or identity. We will not tolerate crimes motivated by hate, and this law is a vital tool in upholding our shared values of equality and justice.’
‘This Act offers hope and protection for Seychellois citizens from many communities, including LGBT people. Eight years after decriminalising consensual same-sex sexual intimacy, this is a welcome step for our community in combatting the harms caused by homophobia and other forms of hate, and will serve to encourage victims to report incidents,’ said Rebecca Julienne, Chair of LGBTI Sey.
Notes to editors
- Watch our short film, A Wake Up Call, to learn how LGBT people across the Commonwealth, including in the Seychelles, have been affected by hate crime.
- Read our reports Legislating to Address Hate Crimes against the LGBT Community in the Commonwealth and Establishing a Framework for the Implementation of Legislation to Address Anti-LGBT Hate Crime.
- The Human Dignity Trust works with LGBT activists around the world to defend human rights in countries where private, consensual, same-sex sexual activity is criminalised. We provide free technical legal assistance to local organisations that are challenging laws that persecute people on the basis of their sexual orientation and/or gender identity.
For more information, contact:
Nafisa D, Communications Officer, Human Dignity Trust
E: nafisadahir@humandignitytrust.org / X: @HumanDignityT / W: www.humandignitytrust.org
