Asylum (Designated States) Order 2007

I notice that for six African states listed in the order, the designation applies only to men. I see that women should continue to be protected because of female genital mutilation and possibly honour killings, both of which can give rise to fears of persecution. Have the Government examined the criminal codes to see whether same-sex attractions and sexual acts are crimes in each of the six states? What is the current practice under customary or religious law in these countries? Is there the illegal or de facto persecution of homosexuals? I am prompted to ask these questions by knowledge of a particular asylum case in Britain involving someone from Cameroon. The applicant was a young man who had suffered attacks from his parents and neighbours because of his homosexuality. He was later sent to prison at home because homosexuality was penalised by Cameroon’s criminal code. The situation could well be similar in other African states, including the six named.