Human Rights Documents and Debate

This webpage presents Amnesty International's work on LGBTI issues. Among other things, AI calls to states to:

a) ensure that all allegations and reports of human rights violations based on sexual orientation or gender identity are promptly and impartially investigated and perpetrators held accountable and brought to justice;

b) take all necessary legislative, administrative and other measures to prohibit and eliminate prejudicial treatment on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity at every stage of the administration of justice;

c) end discrimination in civil marriage laws on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity and recognise families of choice, across borders where necessary;

d) ensure adequate protection of human rights defenders at risk because of their work on human rights and sexual orientation and gender identity.

Since 2003, ARC International has been advancing lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) rights.

ARC plays a unique role in facilitating strategic planning around LGBT issues internationally, strengthening global networks, and enhancing access to UN mechanisms. They are the only organization with a full-time presence in Geneva committed to advancing LGBT issues within the UN human rights system, and have played a key role in the development of the Yogyakarta Principles on the application of International Human Rights Law in relation to Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity. ARC International advances recognition of human rights based on sexual orientation and gender identity at the international level.

ARC promote the articulation of clear international norms, and mobilize international and domestic pressure when governments fail to live up to these standards. They create global networks to ensure that groups and individuals working on these issues do so not in isolation, but as part of an effective, coordinated international movement

Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity in International Human Rights Law

The purpose of the booklet is to set out core obligations that States have towards LGBT persons, and describe how United Nations mechanisms have applied international law in this context to help States take the necessary steps to meet their fundamental human rights obligations. The booklet is also intended to assist human rights defenders and right-holders generally to call States to account for breaches of international human rights laws.

The five core obligations of States with respect to protecting the human rights of LGBT persons are:

1.     Protect individuals from homophobic and transphobic violence.

2.    Prevent torture and cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment of LGBT persons.

3.    Decriminalize homosexuality.

4.    Prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

5.    Respect freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly.

2016, 52 pages

A 2016 publication by the Human Dignity Trust focuses on the human rights and constitutional law in countries where private, consensual sexual conduct between adults of the same sex is criminalised.  The consensual same-sex sexual conduct is criminalised in 78 jurisdictions worldwide or about 40 per cent of all countries. Of these 78 jurisdictions, at least 44 (56 %) criminalise same-sex conduct between women, thus the focus is specifically put on these contexts and a target group of lesbian and bisexual women. 

This 50-page report released by Human Rights Watch in 2012 documents increasing government attacks on organizations whose focus includes oil revenue transparency, land acquisition compensation, legal and governance reform, and protection of human rights, particularly the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people. Both government ministers and district-level officials have engaged in obstruction, Human Rights Watch said.