Human rights
ECOM’s Legal Program is dedicated to protecting the rights and dignity of LGBT people in the EECA region. We support LGBT people and communities facing discrimination and oppression through advocacy, strategic legal support to change legislation, education, and grassroots initiatives. We fight systemic injustice and promote inclusive policies that protect LGBT rights in the region.
The program focuses on international and national advocacy, the preparation of annual regional and national reports on legislation and human rights violations. ECOM also submits alternative reports on LGBT rights to UN human rights mechanisms, such as the Universal Periodic Review, UN Human Rights Committees, and Special Rapporteurs, while seeking new mechanisms and tools for advocacy. We also monitor legislative initiatives and the situation of LGBT rights to quickly prepare position papers and advocacy strategies. Our team actively supports local LGBT organizations and initiatives, working to defend and promote the rights of LGBT people in the EECA region.
News about human rights
December 10, 2024
Fake Dates, Rape, and Extortion: How LGBT Rights Were Violated in EECA Countries in 2024
“In Kazakhstan, a man reported a rape to the police, but the law enforcement officers mocked him and refused to...
December 3, 2024
ECOM Position. On the development of a law to ban LGBT propaganda in Uzbekistan
The leader of the “Milliy Tiklanish” party has announced the drafting of a law to ban LGBT propaganda in Uzbekistan....
July 16, 2024
ECOM Calls for Rejection of Illegal Petition “Against LGBT Propaganda”
In June, the Ministry of Culture and Information of Kazakhstan started considering the petition “We are against open and concealed...
May 21, 2024
ECOM Statement. On Adoption of Oppressive Legislation in Georgia
On 14 May 2024, the Georgian parliament, despite ongoing mass protests inside the country and numerous calls from the international...
April 8, 2024
ECOM Joins Task Force Partnership Aimed at Achieving 10-10-10 Targets
On March 28, the first Task Force meeting was held with the participation of experts from ECOM. The Task Force...
March 27, 2024
First Meeting of Regional Decriminalization Movement "Rise & Decriminalize" Takes Place
On March 12–13, 2024, the first meeting of the movement for decriminalization “Rise & Decriminalize” was held. In 2023, five...
December 10, 2023
Consolidating and Sustaining Human Rights Culture into the Future: Human Rights Day 2023
December 10, 2023 marks the 75th anniversary of adopting the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, a document that forever changed...
November 1, 2023
Resolution adopted by European Parliament condemns criminalization of same-sex relations in Uzbekistan
The European Parliament has issued a resolution on Uzbekistan, condemning the criminalization of same-sex relations in the country. This is...
October 17, 2023
How does Armenia plan to remove barriers to access for the LGBT community to economic, social, and cultural rights?
The Consortium of ECOM, NGNGO and NTC participated in the 74th session of the UN Committee on Economic, Social and...
August 18, 2023
Kyrgyzstan prohibits “LGBT propaganda” among children
The President of Kyrgyzstan signed amendments to the Law “on measures to prevent harm to the health of children, and...
July 28, 2023
Three Countries in Central Asia Report on Progress Towards Achieving Sustainable Development Goals
From July 10 to 19, the High-level Political Forum was held in New York, where Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan spoke...
July 27, 2023
EU Concerned about Human Rights Situation in Kyrgyzstan
On July 13, the European Parliament adopted a resolution on the crackdown on the media and freedom of expression in...
July 27, 2023
Transphobic Law Adopted in Russia
On July 14, 2023, the law prohibiting transgender transition was adopted unanimously by all the deputies in the third and...
July 24, 2023
ECOM Hosted Academy for LGBT Youth in Tallinn
From July 9 to 16, the fifth IGLYO Activist Academy, which brings together young LGBT people aged 18 to 30...
June 29, 2023
Report on Violations of LGBT People's Rights in Armenia in 2022
ECOM annually conducts an analysis of violations of LGBT people’s rights in the countries of Eastern Europe and Central Asia....
June 8, 2023
Report on Violations of LGBT People's Rights in Uzbekistan in 2022
ECOM continues to regularly analyze violations of LGBT people’s rights in the countries of the Eastern Europe and Central Asia...
May 11, 2023
Report on the Violations of LGBT People's Rights in Kyrgyzstan in 2022
ECOM continues to regularly assess violations of LGBT people’s rights in the countries of the Eastern Europe and Central Asia...
February 23, 2023
ECOM’s Position Paper on the Initiation of a Law on the Transparency of Foreign Influence in Georgia
Background On February 20, the party “Power of the People” initiated a law on agents of foreign influence in the...
February 7, 2023
ECOM Conducts Analysis of National Legislation of Uzbekistan Related to LGBT Rights and HIV
Uzbekistan, while internationally declaring its openness and accessibility to information, including on human rights, remains one of the most closed...
December 10, 2022
I Have the Right to Control my Body: Human Rights Day 2022
Every person has the right to be himself/herself/themselves. Against the backdrop of the World War II horrors, the world unanimously...
December 7, 2022
ECOM discussed cooperation in the field of Human Rights with Armenian NGOs
On November 3 and 4, 2022, ECOM experts made a working visit to Armenia as part of the #SoS_project. Human...
December 6, 2022
37 ECOM cases published in Annual OSCE Report on Hate Crimes
The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) has published data on hate crimes for 2021. The 2021...
November 22, 2022
Kyrgyzstan Receives Recommendations from the UN Human Rights Committee
ECOM together with the Public Association “Labrys” and the Initiative Group “Myrzaiym” submitted an alternative report to the UN Human...
October 24, 2022
New Grounds of Discrimination: Russia is Going to Ban Any Representation of LGBT People
Russia is planning to toughen the punishment for the so-called “gay propaganda”. ECOM is concerned about the future work of...
October 21, 2022
ECOM's Standpoint on the Draft Law on Mandatory Medical Examination of Persons With Suspected HIV in Uzbekistan
What happened? On August 26, 2022, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Uzbekistan presented for public discussion a draft law...
September 16, 2022
Blogger QUEERathon Brings Together Queer Youth in the EECA Region
The academic year began for young activists from the EECA region with a welcome from ECOM. The “Blogger QUEERathon” for...
August 16, 2022
UN Human Rights Committee Publishes Final Recommendations with Respect to Georgia's Fifth Periodic Report
ECOM, in partnership with Tbilisi Pride, Equality Movement and Temida, presented a report on LGBT human rights violations in Georgia...
July 20, 2022
ECOM Conducted a Training Session on Monitoring and Documenting Human Rights Violations
At the end of June, a training session was held on monitoring and documenting human rights violations of LGBT people....
June 1, 2022
Pride Month 2022: Our Rights Matter!
June is the most anticipated month of the year. Because today is the beginning of Pride Month! Pride in who...
May 17, 2022
IDAHOBIT-2022: We have the right to be ourselves!
Today, May 17, we celebrate the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT). In 2022, the theme of this...
April 25, 2022
ECOM continues to support Ukraine
The war in Ukraine has been going on for three months. ECOM continues to support our members and partners from...
April 12, 2022
Opportunities to Advocate for LGBT Rights through the Sustainable Development Goals
In April, ECOM held a webinar «Sustainable Development Goals and how to use them in advocacy of rights», within the...
July 6, 2021
Statement on Violence Against Tbilisi Pride in Georgia
On Monday, June 6, far-right demonstrators stormed an LGBTQ activists’ headquarters of Tbilisi Pride in a rampaging violent attack. Reports...
May 27, 2021
ECOM Report on Rights Violations: No significant improvements in the respect of LGBT rights in EECA countries!
ECOM is pleased to present its Regional report on violations of the right to health of gay and other MSM...
January 26, 2021
Analysis of National Legislation Related to LGBT Rights and HIV in Azerbaijan Now Available in Azerbaijani
ECOM continues publication of its analysis of national legislation related to LGBT rights and HIV in the countries of Eastern...
August 27, 2020
ECOM and Equality Movement applied to UN HRCtee and claimed Georgia to ensure equal access to medical services for LGBT
In October 2020 within 130th Session UN Human Rights Committee will formulate List of Issues for Georgia to report on...
July 3, 2019
Officials continue to use their power to discriminate against LGBT people
The Eurasian Coalition on Male Health (ECOM) publishes the “Regional report on violations of the right to health of gay...
