Mozambique decriminalised homosexuality and abortion on Monday as a new penal code came into force that swept away old Portuguese colonial laws, in a victory for campaigners for gay rights in Africa.
The old code, dating back to 1886, targeted anyone “who habitually engages in vices against nature” – but no known prosecutions took place after Mozambique became independent in 1975. Breaking the law was theoretically punishable by up to three years of hard labour.
The new penal code, which was announced last December by then president Armando Guebuza, also decriminalises abortion after lobbying by civil rights organisations.
The code came into force on Monday.