Madam Cecelia Kpebia Roberts, a Liberian woman living with HIV and a human rights defender has reported death threats on her life for her role in defending and advocating for the rights of the LGBTQIA2+ members in Liberia.
In Liberia, under the 1976 penal law section 14.74, it is seriously prohibited for people to engage into same sex relationship. This act criminalized ‘voluntary sodomy’ both for men and women and also, Commercial sex work. Under Sections 18.1 and 18.5 of the Penal Law sex work is a serious offense in the country. These acts are regarded as ‘minor misdemeanor’ if caught guilty can result in one year imprisonment. Although the law already criminalizes same-sex relationships and commercial sex work, there have been multiple attempts by some members of the Liberian legislature to even make the law more repressive.
Currently, another bill targeting members of the LGBTQIA2+ community has been introduced by a member of the House of Representatives in-person of Representative Johnson N. Williams of River Gee County. Hon. Williams is calling for tougher punishment for anyone caught practicing homosexuality in the border of Liberia. The introduction of the bill comes against recent controversy regarding the division in the United Methodist Church over the recognition of same sex marriage. The bill
“Titled Anti-Homosexuality Law of Liberia 2024”, this bill, if passed, will amend chapter 14 of the1976 Penal Code of Liberia. This Chapter 14 considers same sex relationship as a “voluntary sodomy” with the classification of a misdemeanor.
In his communication to his colleagues at the House of Representative, Hon. Williams said his bill is against same sex marriage and the promotion of any kind of same-sex relationship in Liberia shall be considered a crime.
In an interview with this paper, Madam Roberts indicated that over the years she has been moved to advocate for the health rights of marginalized people including members of the LGBTQIA2+ community who are also infected with HIV, taking into consideration the 2018 IBBSS report which highlighted high HIV prevalence among them.
“I am a woman been living with HIV since 2008. Also, as a Human Rights defender, I advocate for the rights of everyone including marginalized groups and LGBTQIA2+ persons. They are humans too like ourselves; they deserve to enjoy every fundamental human rights, including rights to equal health services and rights to life. I believe that the same way we who are living with HIV need healthcare services to live, members of the LGBTQIA2+ community too deserve healthcare services too because they too suffer health complications,” Madam Roberts said.
She went on to say, “Seeking protection for members of the LGBTQIA2+ community is considered prohibited and against our law, even though our Constitution guarantees the fundamental rights of everyone. Being a human rights defender advocating for the rights of the LGBTQIA2+ communities have put my family and I at risk, our lives have been seriously threatened, verbally bullied and labeled as gays advocate, saying we will be treated the same way LGBTQIA2+ members are treated on a daily basis. There has been consistent violation of the rights of the LGBTQIA2+ population, which is also extended to those who advocate for their rights. There is a widespread discrimination against them, which sometimes result to death.
Madam Roberts, the Executive Director for the Liberian Women Empowerment Network (LIWEN), an organization providing support to women infected and affected by HIV in Liberia explained, “There has been consistent violation of the rights of the LGBTQIA2+ population which sometimes result to death, and this is also extended to those who advocate for their rights. This is the main reason why I am informing the government of Liberia and the general public about me and my family insecurity.”
According to Madam Roberts, “On May 17 2023 she Participated in a LGBTQIA2+ Rights defender training that brought together stakeholders from diverse background. This training focused on LGBTQIA2+ rights, abuses and violations. On the next day while on her way home, she was verbally attacked by some men who believed to be anti LGBTQIA2+ thugs and they started raining insults, threats and warned her to desist from advocating for gays and lesbian rights or else they are going to come after her and my family members.
The Liberian female human rights defender who is already fighting HIV-related stigma and discrimination narrated that, “On December 30 2023, She received a call from a private number and the person confided in her that she should be careful because some people, particularly young men are planning to attack she and her family because of her advocacy role with LGBTQIA2+ community. The person who confided in her said those people are very serious to harm you According to her she is right now living in serious fears. She also expressed fears for the lives of her children and other family because they could be attacked as they have witnessed in the past with other people.
Madam Roberts told our reporter that she has been taking issues for granted, but it became more troubling on April 28, 2024 when she and her husband along with their children were coming from service two boys in their community started pointing at them telling their friends about my involvement with the LGBTQIA2+ activities in Liberia. She reported the incident to the community leaders and she was told to go back the next day. When she told the community chairman about the threats on she and her family lives there were no action taken which had her afraid more.
When asked why she was interested in advocating for LGBTIQIA2+ people rights, she replied by saying“ as a HIV positive person and knowing that more LGBTIQIA2+ persons are infected by HIV or exposed to HIV infection, her advocacy for them comes from the passion she has for the work she is doing. She believes that under the universal declaration on Human Rights, everybody has fundamental rights to healthcare services despite his/her sexual orientation or gender identity this is the foundation of my advocacy.” She also told our reporter that her advocacy for LGBTQIA2+ stands from the point for the provision of equal healthcare services for all despite your sexual orientations.
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