Communication 136-94 William A. Courson v Zimbabwe.pdf
Communication 136-94 William A. Courson v Zimbabwe.pdf
136/94 : William A. Courson / Zimbabwe
Summary of Facts
1. The communication concerns the legal status of homosexuals in Zimbabwe. Domestic law of
Zimbabwe criminalises sexual contacts between consenting adult homosexual men in private.
According to the Complainant, this prohibition is currently being enforced in Zimbabwe, encouraged by
statements against homosexuals by the President and by the Minister for Home Affairs.
Complaint
2. The communication complains of violations of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights,
namely Articles 1, 6, 8, 11,16, 20, 22 and 24. The Complainant points to Article 60 of the Charter
which states that the Commission shall draw inspiration from international law on human and peoples’
rights and as Annex B to the communication the Complainant has attached the views adopted by the
Human Rights Committee in the case of Toonen vs. Australia. In this case the Committee was of the
view that the criminalisation of homosexuality in Tasmania was unreasonable and interfered arbitrarily
with Mr Toonen’s right to privacy under Article 17, paragraph 1 of the International Covenant on Civil
and Political Rights (ICCPR).
Holding
The communication was withdrawn by the author. The Commission saw no need to continue with it.