(Burundi) Human Rights Watch has appealed to Burundi to repeal a law passed in April that makes homosexuality illegal and punishable by up to two years in prison reports CNN.

In a recently released report, Human Rights Watch said that many gays and lesbians face great discrimination in the eastern African nation and that the newly enacted law would only worsen the situation.

“Half the world’s countries that criminalize homosexual conduct do so because they cling to Victorian morality and colonial laws,” said Scott Long, director of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights program for Human Rights Watch. “Getting rid of these unjust remnants of the British empire is long overdue.”

According to the group’s report, the new law bans “sexual relations with persons of the same sex.” The report also says that many other African countries with similar laws have increased punishments for those that break the laws.

Prior to the passing of the law, Human Rights Watch said the country’s LGBT community was just beginning to form together to protest their discrimination and request equal treatment.

“The government needs to listen to these voices to understand the harm it is doing to Burundians with its state-sanctioned discrimination,” said Georgette Gagnon, Africa director for Human Rights Watch. “The government should rescind this law and instead work to promote equality and understanding.”