logo

international gay and lesbian human rights commission

Human rights for everyone. everywhere.

| high graphics | sitemap | search |

Decriminalization
While the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international treaties prohibit discrimination and specify that everyone has a right to privacy, over 80 countries currently have sodomy laws or other legal provisions criminalizing homosexuality. Apart from the inherent violation of criminalizing sexual conduct, these laws empower police and other authorities to abuse, harass, extort, imprison and execute people whose sexual orientation, gender identity or expression differs from dominant norms. We believe that eliminating sodomy laws is fundamental for advancing a universal vison of human rights and work alongside other activists to decriminalize homosexuality.

RELATED DOCUMENTS

PBS Frontline: Protecting Rights of Gay Citizens in Iran


12/10/2011 - IGLHRC in the News

Statement on Nigeria’s Pending Anti Gay Legislation
by Jabulani Chen Pereira, IGLHRC Africa Program Coordinator
12/09/2011 - Press Release

UN to Iran: There Are No Excuses for Denying LGBT People Their Human Rights
11/28/2011 - IGLHRC in the News

Advancing LGBT Human Rights in Iran: A Historic Moment
UNHRC Specifically Addresses Grave Human Rights Violations against LGBT Iranians in Concluding Observations from 3rd Periodic Review of Iran
11/04/2011 - Press Release

UN Report Spotlights LGBT Rights Abuses in Iran
11/04/2011 - IGLHRC in the News

IGLHRC in the Bay Area Reporter: Kenyan Ex-Pat Aims to Help Gay Countrymen
11/03/2011 - IGLHRC in the News

Nigeria: ‘Same Gender’ Marriage Ban Would Attack Rights
Bill Would Invade Privacy, Threaten Broad Range of Activists
11/01/2011 - Press Release

Malawi: Lack of Cooperation with the UN Human Rights Committee Raises Concerns on the Alarming Human Rights Situation in Malawi
10/28/2011 - Press Release

Northern Cyprus: Release All Men Arrested under the Anti-Gay Article 171
Abolish Last Remaining Law in Europe that Criminalises Homosexuality
10/25/2011 - IGLHRC Global Monitor

Government of Malawi Refuses to Submit Human Rights Report to United Nations
NGOs Expose Grave Human Rights Violations
10/23/2011 - Press Release

Shadow Report on the Implementation of the ICCPR in Malawi
10/21/2011 - Report

Iran Submits to UN Human Rights Committee Review for First Time in 18 Years
NGO Report to Committee Highlights Arbitrary Arrest and Torture of LGBT People, MSM and WSW
10/17/2011 - Press Release

Report from IGLHRC and IRQO to be Released at UN Human Rights Committee Review
10/17/2011 - Press Release

Cameroon: End ‘Discriminatory’ Anti-Gay Laws
Cameroon must release all individuals held under a discriminatory law that criminalizes consensual same-sex relations.
09/26/2011 - Press Release

Cameroon: Two Detained on Homosexuality Charges
08/17/2011 - IGLHRC Global Monitor

ILGA State-Sponsored Homophobia Report
A World Survey of Laws Prohibiting Same Sex Activity Between Consenting Adults
05/27/2011 - From Our Partners

Alan Cumming Donates Proceeds from New Fragrance to IGLHRC
"You Will Not Only Smell Good, You Will Do Good Too!"
05/19/2011 - IGLHRC in the News

Lady Gaga in Metro: ‘Huge Progress’ in Gay Rights
05/17/2011 - IGLHRC in the News

Uganda Update: IGLHRC Welcomes Closing of Ugandan Parliament Without Vote on Anti-Homosexuality Bill
05/13/2011 - Press Release

Associated Press: Ugandan Lawmakers Hold Hearings on Anti-Gay Bill
05/09/2011 - IGLHRC in the News

Is Uganda’s “Kill the Gays” Bill Being Used to Blind the World?
Press statement by the Civil Society Coalition on Human Rights and Constitutional Law
05/09/2011 - From Our Partners

"Nowhere to Turn" Featured in "The Public Eye Magazine"
05/07/2011 - IGLHRC in the News

IGLHRC Shocked at Possible Passage of Ugandan Anti-Homosexuality Bill
Rights Protections for All Ugandans Precarious
05/06/2011 - Press Release

Cameroon: Press Release on Arrest of Three Alleged Homosexuals
04/23/2011 - IGLHRC Global Monitor

UN Human Rights Council: A Stunning Development Against Violence
Unprecedented Support for Statement on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity
03/23/2011 - IGLHRC Global Monitor

Will the "New Middle East" Be a Welcoming Place for Gays and Lesbians?
03/07/2011 - IGLHRC in the News

Coming Out in the Developing World: Insurgent Queer Identities in the Middle East
02/21/2011 - IGLHRC Global Monitor

Mongolia LGBT Centre and Jeff Sharlet Receive Prestigious LGBT Human Rights Award
02/18/2011 - Press Release

African Civil Society Condemn Malawi Criminalizing Consensual Sexual Relations Between Adult Women
02/11/2011 - From Our Partners

Sex Between Women Now a Crime in Malawi: New Law Violates Human Rights Obligations of Malawi
02/09/2011 - From Our Partners

Letter to Ugandan Government Calling for Condmenation of Death of LGBT Activist David Kato
02/03/2011 - IGLHRC Global Monitor

End the Commonwealth's Silence on Homophobia
01/07/2011 - From Our Partners

Statement by Ambassador Susan E. Rice, U.S. Permanent Representative to the UN
After Adoption by the General Assembly of a US-led Amendment to the Resolution on Extrajudicial, Summary, and Arbitrary Executions
12/21/2010 - From Our Partners

Reuters: UN Victory for Gay Rights Supporters
12/21/2010 - IGLHRC in the News

Pressions de la société civile aux gouvernements réussissent à supprimer le crédit discriminatoires à l'ONU
12/21/2010 - Press Release

Exitoso trabajo de la Sociedad Civil con los gobiernos para revertir Votación discriminatoria en la ONU
12/21/2010 - Press Release

Civil Society Pressures Governments to Successfully Reverse Discriminatory Vote at UN
12/21/2010 - Press Release

Washington Post: Gay Rights in Focus Before UN Vote
12/19/2010 - IGLHRC in the News

Alerte à l'action: Exigez aux gouvernements du monde entier de condamner les exécutions LGBT!
12/15/2010 - Action Alert

Action Alert: Demand Governments of the World Condemn LGBT Executions!
12/15/2010 - Action Alert

Appel Urgent a l’Action
Le Vote du 20 Décembre a l’ONU sur la Protection des Personnes LGBT Contre les Exécutions Extrajudiciaires
12/14/2010 - IGLHRC Global Monitor

Résolution sur les exécutions extrajudiciaires, sommaires ou arbitraires : quelques points à considérer
12/14/2010 - IGLHRC Global Monitor

Resolución sobre Ejecuciones Extralegales, Sumarias o Arbitrarias: Algunos Puntos a Considerar
12/14/2010 - IGLHRC Global Monitor

¡Urgente Alerta Para Actuar!
20 de Diciembre, Votación en la ONU Sobre Proteger o no a las Personas LGBT Contra Ejecuciones Extralegales
12/14/2010 - IGLHRC Global Monitor

Resolution on Extrajudicial, Summary or Arbitrary Executions: Some Points to Consider
12/14/2010 - IGLHRC Global Monitor

The Rise & Fall of Human Rights in Uganda?
12/12/2010 - From Our Partners

Gays in Africa Face Growing Persecution, Activists Say
12/12/2010 - IGLHRC in the News

The Advocate: U.S. Vows to Change U.N. Resolution
12/10/2010 - IGLHRC in the News

UN Secretary General Condemns Anti-LGBT Violence and Criminalization
12/10/2010 - IGLHRC Global Monitor

Malawi Parliament Expands Laws Criminalising Homosexuality
12/03/2010 - From Our Partners