LGBTQ+ Safety Notice — RECENTLY DECRIMINALISED

Legal but with limited protections — social attitudes vary

Local law: Decriminalised 2019 by High Court. One of the more progressive in southern Africa.

Safety guidance for visitors →

Do not disclose your orientation to hotel staff, drivers, or guides.
Avoid public displays of affection of any kind.
Stay at international-chain hotels (Hilton, Marriott, Hyatt) — they rarely interrogate guest arrangements.
Register with your embassy on arrival — consular help may be limited.
Share a daily check-in with someone trusted abroad.
Listings on this page are provided for harm reduction and informed travel decisions — not a recommendation to visit.

🆘 Who to contact if in trouble →

Global emergency resources (always available):

Rainbow Railroad — emergency relocation for LGBTQ+ people facing persecution. Confidential intake form.
OutRight International — global LGBTQ+ human rights advocacy and emergency referrals.
ILGA World — global legal-status map and regional contacts.
UNHCR — refugee status if you are persecuted; LGBTQ+ is a recognised ground for protection.

Embassy emergency lines:

🇺🇸 US: travel.state.gov — find your embassy and the 24/7 line
🇬🇧 UK: gov.uk/world
🇨🇦 Canada: travel.gc.ca — Emergency Watch and Response Centre +1 613 996 8885
🇪🇺 EU: europa.eu — any EU embassy can help EU citizens
🇮🇱 Israel: gov.il/foreign-affairs — Citizen Assistance Centre +972 2 530 3155

If detained: do not sign any document you do not understand. Request your embassy and a lawyer immediately. Do not consent to phone searches without legal advice.

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BONELA

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Address

Gaborone, Botswana

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Website

bonela.org

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About this place BONELA

BONELA (Botswana Network on Ethics, Law and HIV/AIDS) is a Gaborone NGO that works on health and legal rights for marginalised groups. Its work covers legal aid, HIV-related services and policy advocacy. It isn't an LGBTQ organisation, but it has a long record as an ally of Botswana's queer community. Botswana's High Court decriminalised same-sex relations in 2019, and the Court of Appeal upheld the ruling in 2021. Contact BONELA through its website, because no walk-in address is listed.

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Last updated on 7 November 2026

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