International Advocacy

Updated Information on the Implementation of the Convention on Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women. Status of Sex Workers in the Republic of Macedonia

The Committee recommends that the State party address the stigma experienced by lesbian, bisexual and transgender women and intersex persons when they endeavour to gain access to health care, including sexual and reproductive health care.

Answers to the list of issues prior to submission of the fifth periodic report of Belarus under the Convention of Civil and Political Rights

The State party should take vigorous steps to eradicate effectively all forms of discrimination and violence on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity, inter alia by: (a) explicitly listing sexual orientation and gender identity among the prohibited grounds for discrimination in comprehensive anti-discriminationlegislation; (b) providing appropriate training on combating discriminatory attitudes towards lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons to law enforcement and other officials; and (c) sanctioning such conduct properly, including by promptly and effectively investigating any reports of violence or hatred motivated by sexual orientation and gender identity and by bringing perpetrators to justice. The State party should amend relevant regulations and procedures governing gender transition with a view to ensuring their compatibility with the Covenant, including with the right to privacy.

Alternative report to the Committee against Torture (submission for the 63rd session of the Committee to the consideration of the 5th periodic report of the Republic of Belarus

The State party should take intensify its efforts to ensure prompt, thorough and impartial investigations into allegations of attacks against persons on the basis of their sexual orientation or gender identity; provide training to law enforcement officials and the judiciary on detecting and combatinghate-motivated crimes, including those motivated by sexual orientation or gender identity; and develop specific monitoring mechanisms documenting the administrative and judicial measures taken to investigate and prosecute such crimes and the sentences imposed on perpetrators. The State party should: (a)Take measures to protect lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons from violence by public officials and fellow inmates, and in particular protect transgender women from violence inflicted by male detainees; (b)End the discrimination and violence against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex prisoners, abolish the practice of their degrading and involuntary segregation and all other degrading and humiliating practices that still persist in prisons; and investigate promptly, impartially and thoroughly all such allegations, and bring the perpetrators to justice.

Human Rights Violations Based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity in Uzbekistan. Alternative Report as a commentary on the report CCPR/C/UZB/5 by Uzbekistan and as a response to the List of issues CCPR/C/UZB/RQ/5

Alternative report as a commentary on the Fifth Periodic Report CEDAW/C/KAZ/5 by the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Committee’s List of Issues CEDAW/C/KAZ/Q/5/

The Committee recommends that the State party: (a) Adopt comprehensive anti-discrimination legislation and measures to prohibit direct and indirect discrimination, as well as intersecting forms of discrimination, in the public and private spheres, and to include all internationally recognized prohibited grounds of discrimination against women; The Committee recommends that the State party take advantage of the adoption of the vision for the development of civil society for the period up to 2025: (b) To review the law on charities to remove disproportionate restrictions on the registration of civil society organizations and ensure that such organizations, including feminist organizations promoting women’s human rights and the rights of lesbian, bisexual and transgender women and intersex persons, are able to exercise their rights to freedom of expression, assembly and association without undue interference.

Human Rights Violations Based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity in Uzbekistan to the Committee against Torture for consideration at 66th session (Pre-sessional working group List of Issues); Human Rights Violations Based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity in Uzbekistan to the Committee against Torture for consideration at 68th session – Country Review of Uzbekistan

Violence against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons 63.The Committee is concerned at reports that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons are subjected to: violence and torture while in detention; persecution by the police, including through entrapment schemes carried out using websites, threatening videos and extortion; and violence by private persons. The Committee is also concerned that the State party indicated that it has no cases open involving violence against lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender persons. In addition, it is concerned about reports that the criminalization of same-sex sexual relations in article 120 of the criminal procedure code renders lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons particularly vulnerable to violence by both law enforcement officials and private persons. This is because lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons are reluctant to contact the authorities to seek protection from violence for fear of being arrested (arts. 2, 12–14 and 16). The State party should undertake prompt, effective and impartial investigations of all allegations of torture and ill-treatment perpetrated against lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender persons by or with the consent or acquiescence of public officials. The State party also should take measures to prevent violence and discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender persons on the basis of their sexual orientation and gender identity, including by repealing article 120 of the criminal code and ensuring that its complaints mechanisms are accessible to and capable of facilitating effective protection for lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender persons who are victims of or at risk of violence.

Human Rights Violations Based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity in Azerbaijan (Lol)

Non-discrimination 19. The Committee recommends that the State party: (a) Adopt a comprehensive anti-discrimination legislation and policy framework aimed at ensuring equality and addressing direct, indirect, multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination on any ground, including gender identity, sexual orientation, and residence or documentation status, among others; (b) Strengthen its efforts to ensure non-discriminatory access to adequate housing, employment, education and health care by disadvantaged and marginalized individuals and groups, including internally displaced persons; (c) Take all measures necessary to eliminate negative stereotypes and stigmatization of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons, including through awareness-raising campaigns for the public, health-care providers, teachers, social workers, and law enforcement and other public officials; (d) Put in place an efficient procedure for legal gender recognition, irrespective of whether or not the person has undergone gender reassignment surgery, to facilitate the equal enjoyment of Covenant rights by transgender persons.

Human Rights Violations Based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity in Azerbaijan

Human Rights Violations And Torture On The Basis Of Sexual Orientation And Gender Identity In Armenia Alternative Report

Not available

Rights Violations of Trans* Women in the Republic of Moldova An “alternative report” as a commentary on the Replies to the List of Issues CEDAW/C/MDA/RQ/6 by the Republic of Moldova and the Committee’s List of Issues CEDAW/C/MDA/Q/6

35. The Committee recalls its previous recommendations (CEDAW/C/MDA/CO/4- 5, para. 32) and recommends that the State party:(f) Eliminate discrimination and stigma against women living with HIV/AIDS through awareness-raising and extend the programme on the prevention and control of HIV/AIDS to women belonging to disadvantaged groups, particularly transgender women.

Human Rights Violations of Trans People in Kyrgyzstan An “alternative report” as a commentary on the Fifth Periodic Report CEDAW/C/KGZ/5 by Kyrgyzstan and the Committee’s List of Issues CEDAW/C/KGZ/Q/5/

22. Recalling its general recommendation No. 35 (2017) on gender-based violence against women, updating general recommendation No. 19, the Committee recommends that the State party: (a) Review the Act on Protection and Defence against Domestic Violence to ensure that it covers all forms of gender-based violence and takes into account the special needs of disadvantaged and marginalized groups of women, including women with disabilities, migrant women, women living with HIV/AIDS, women using drugs and lesbian, bisexual and transgender women.

Lesbian, bisexual and transgender women 47.The Committee is concerned about the discriminatory terminology in relation to lesbian, bisexual and transgender women in the Criminal Code, legislation and procedures that preclude transgender persons, including women, from changing the gender marker on their identity documents, hate crimes and attacks against lesbian, bisexual and transgender women, and the absence of grounds for prosecution in legislation. 48. The Committee recommends that the State party: (a) Amend the Criminal Code (articles 162– 164) to remove the reference to “lesbianism”; (b) Adopt a definition of rape (article 161) based on lack of free consent that protects all women from rape, including lesbian, bisexual and transgender women; (c) Reinstate the right of transgender persons, including women, to change the gender marker on their passport and other identity documents and their personal identification number, including by repealing the amendments of 1 August 2020 to the civil status law and the procedure for assigning and changing the personal identification number; (d) Criminalize hate speech and attacks against lesbian, bisexual and transgender women and recognize sexual orientation and gender identity as aggravating circumstances if they are the motive for committing such criminal offences; (e) Ensure that lesbian, bisexual and transgender women can freely participate in political and public life by exercising their right to freedom of peaceful assembly without intimidation or reprisals

Alternative Report “Discrimination on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights of LGBT+ people in Kyrgyzstan” to form a list of issues

The Committee also recommends that the State party adopt a comprehensive anti ‑ discrimination law that: (a) provides sufficient protection against discrimination in accordance with article 2 of the Covenant; (b) explicitly includes all prohibited grounds of discrimination enumerated in that article and as elaborated in the Committee ’ s general comment No. 20 (2009) on nondiscrimination in economic, social and cultural rights, including sexual orientation and gender identity; (c) defines direct and indirect discrimination in line with the State party ’ s obligations under the Covenant; (d) prohibits discrimination in the public and private spheres; and (e) provides for effective remedies in cases of discrimination. 23. The Committee recommends that the State party repeal all legislative provisions that discriminate against LGBTQI+ persons and that it take legislative measures to prohibit in law all forms of discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. In particular, the Committee recommends that the State party: (a) repeal the legal amendments, as adopted in 2023 by the law introducing amendments to several legal acts, that provide for sanctions for persons who disseminate information that “ denies family and traditional social values and promotes non-traditional sexual relations ” ; (b) revise the law on the protection of the health of citizens and take all measures necessary to guarantee the right of transgender persons to health and bodily autonomy without discrimination, including by removing disproportionate legal and administrative barriers to legal gender recognition and by facilitating access to healthcare, including sexual and reproductive health services and genderaffirming medical services.

Human Rights Violations based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity in Uzbekistan An “alternative report” as a commentary on the third Periodic Report E/C.12/UZB/3/

The Committee recommends the State party to: (a) Expedite the adoption of the Equality and Non-Discrimination Bill and ensure that it guarantees adequate protection against all forms of discrimination in order to ensure equal access to all economic, social and cultural rights; (b) Repeal article 120 of the Criminal Code; (c) Review its legislative framework with the aim of eliminating discriminatory provisions against persons with HIV/AIDS; (d) Establish mechanisms to ensure that victims of discrimination can seek redress, including effective administrative and judicial remedies; (e) Conduct awareness-raising campaigns targeting the public, health-care providers, and law enforcement and other public officials to eliminate negative stereotypes and stigma against members of marginalized groups, such as persons living with HIV, and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons; (f) Consider its general comment No. 20 (2009) on non-discrimination in economic, social and cultural rights.

Human Rights Violations based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity in Azerbaijan An “alternative report” as a commentary on the sixth Periodic Report CEDAW/C/AZE/RQ/6/

Recommendations were not accepted in Concluding Observations

Human Rights Violations Based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity in Georgia An “alternative report” as a commentary for the 135th Session of Human Rights Committee Review of the third periodic report by Georgia

Discrimination and violence on the grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity 17. While noting the 2020 policy document on sexual orientation and gender identity rights and the legislative efforts under way to strengthen protection, the Committee remains concerned about the reported prevalence of discrimination, harassmentintimidation and attacks against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons, advocates for their rights and journalists, in particular the violent attacks committed during the Tbilisi Pride march on 5 and 6 July 2021. It is further concerned by reports of homophobic and transphobic rhetoric being conducted with impunity by politicians, other public officials and religious figures. Furthermore, it regrets the lack of definition of legal recognition of gender reassignment and reports that individuals are required to undergo gender-reassignment surgery in order to change their civil status (arts. 2, 7, 17, 21 and 26). 18. The State party should step up its efforts to: (a) Provide effective protection against all forms of discrimination and violence on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity, both in law and in practice, and ensure that such violations are promptly and effectively investigated, that perpetrators are held accountable, with penalties commensurate with the seriousness of the crime, and that victims have access to full reparation; (b) Take adequate measures to prevent ang=en homophobic and transphobic discourse by politicians, other public officials and religious figures; (c) Review and amend its legislation and procedure for the change of civil status with respect to gender identity, with a view to providing a quick, transparent and accessible gender-recognition procedure on the basis of self-identification by applicants

Human Rights Violations Based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity in Tajikistan A commentary on the List of Issues Submitted to 72nd Session the Committee on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights

21. The Committee recommends that the State party provide effective protection against all forms of discrimination and violence based on sexual orientation and gender identity, which hinders the enjoyment by victims of their economic, social and cultural rights . It also recommends that the State party take all the measures necessary to combat stigmatization and discrimination affecting lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons, including through awareness-raising campaigns.

Human Rights Violations Based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity in the Republic of Armenia Alternative Report Regarding the List of Issues CEDAW/C/ARM/Q/7/

12. The Committee highlights as critical the meaningful and inclusive participation of women at all stages of peace and reconstruction processes so that women ’ s priorities and experiences of the armed conflict are fully integrated into those processes, as required under the Convention and Security Council resolution 1325 (2000) , with a view to achieving a lasting peace. The Committee recalls its general recommendation No. 30 and recommends that the State party: (e) Address in a sustainable manner the specific needs of internally displaced women and girls and of those in a refugeelike situation, who often face intersecting forms of discrimination, including widows, women and girls with disabilities, older women, women and girls belonging to ethnic minorities, and lesbian, bisexual, transgender and intersex women.

Human Rights Violations Based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity in Georgia An alternative report in relation to the consideration of the 6th periodic report of Georgia

b)Adopt legislative and policy measures to combat gender-based violence and discrimination against lesbian, bisexual, transgender and intersex women

Human Rights Violations Based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity in Russia. Submission to the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination 109 Session

Recalling its general recommendation No. 36 (2020) on preventing and combating racial profiling by law enforcement officials, the Committee recommends that the State party: (a) Develop and adopt legislation and other forms of regulation explicitly prohibiting law enforcement officials from engaging in racial profiling and racially motivated violence, with effective and meaningful participation of representatives of groups vulnerable to racial discrimination, mainly Roma, migrants, particularly from Central Asia and the Caucasus, people of African descent, and those facing intersecting forms of discrimination, such as women and LGBTQI+ persons.

Human Rights Violations Based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity in Kazakhstan

Legal recognition of gender 41.The Committee is concerned that mandatory reassignment surgery, including sterilization, is a requirement for the legal recognition of gender under article 257 (13) of the Family and Marriage Code, that a diagnosis of a psychiatric condition is also required, and that there is a lack of any psychosocial support in this regard (art. 16). 42. The State party should revoke the requirement of mandatory reassignment surgery contained in article 257 (13) of the Family and Marriage Code, and the requirement of a diagnosis of a psychiatric condition, establish procedures concerning the legal recognition of gender based on non-discrimination and on a voluntary basis, and ensure impartial counselling services and psychosocial support.

Joint NGO submission to the United Nations Committee onEconomic, Social and Cultural Rights ahead of the consideration of Armenia’s Fourth Periodic Report at the 74th session in SeptemberOctober 2023 Key issues: Human Rights Violations Based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity in Armenia. Primarily focused on non-discrimination, health, domestic violence

1. The Committee recommends that the State party: (c) Ensure that lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons and persons living with HIV/AIDS have access to health care without discrimination, including by establishing adequate training programmes for medical personnel at different levels in order to combat stereotyping and stigmatization and providing them with the knowledge and tools necessary to offer adequate care to persons living with HIV/AIDS, including with regard to the protection of their privacy.

Joint NGO submission List of issues prior to submission of the fourth periodic report of Kyrgyzstan

Issue within Article 11 of the Convention was addressed to the State. Please also indicate whether protocols are in place to meet the requirements of other groups of prisoners with particular needs, such as persons with disabilities, older persons and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons.

Submission within the Follow-up procedure on the Concluding Observations of the UN Committee against Torture (CAT) on the Fourth Periodic Report of Kazakhstan

Not available

Written Submission for the Universal Periodic Review of Kazakhstan

Adoption outcome report 06-2025

Written Submission for the Universal Periodic Review of Armenia

Approximately in 2026

Written Submission for the Universal Periodic Review of Kyrgyzstan

Approximately in 2026

Concluding observations on the fourth periodic report of Kyrgyzstan

10.Noting the prosecution of human rights defenders in relation to their participation in peaceful protests, the Committee remains concerned about: (c)The reports of harassment, intimidation and reprisals against, as well as cases of arrests, detention and trials of, journalists and human rights defenders, including those working to defend economic, social and cultural rights and those advocating for the rights of minorities and LGBTQI+ persons. 11. The Committee recommends that the State party: (a) Revise, in consultation with civil society, its legislative framework, including the existing Non-Profit Organizations Act, so as to remove the disproportionate and discriminatory obligation of being registered in theRegistry of Non-Profit Organizations Performing Functions of Foreign Representatives if a civil society organization receives foreign funding and is engaged in broadly worded “ political activities ” , abolish undue restrictions on civil society organizations ’ operational autonomy, including the extrajudicial suspension of their operations by the Ministry of Justice and eventual liquidation through a court suit , and ensure that the State party ’ s laws and policies guarantee an environment in which civil society organizations are enabled to freely carry out their activities without undue control, interference or restrictions; (b) Ensure that the draft law on mass media is adopted by the parliament as revised in close consultation with civil society and media representatives, and ensure that the State party ’ s legislative framework enables favourable conditions for journalists and media outlets to carry out their activities without undue control, interference or restrictions; (c) Effectively address cases of harassment, intimidation and reprisals against journalists and human rights defenders by government authorities and private persons or entities, and prevent cases of judicial harassment against them, ensuring that the State party ’ s laws are not used to prosecute and punish them for their legitimate activities; (d) Be guided by the Committee ’ s statement on human rights defenders and economic, social and cultural rights. Discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity 22.The Committee notes with concern that, despite its previous recommendations, in 2023, the State party enacted into law sanctions for persons who disseminate information that “denies family and traditional social values and promotes non-traditional sexual relations”, which may aggravate already high levels of discrimination against LGBTQI+ persons. The Committee expresses concern about discriminatory restrictions on the health and bodily autonomy of transgender persons, including the law on the protection of the health of citizens, under which the minimum age for accessing gender-affirming care in the State party has been increased to 25 (arts. 2 and 12). 23. The Committee recommends that the State party repeal all legislative provisions that discriminate against LGBTQI+ persons and that it take legislative measures to prohibit in law all forms of discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. In particular, the Committee recommends that the State party: (a) repeal the legal amendments, as adopted in 2023 by the law introducing amendments to several legal acts, that provide for sanctions for persons who disseminate information that “ denies family and traditional social values and promotes non-traditional sexual relations ” ; (b) revise the law on the protection of the health of citizens and take all measures necessary to guarantee the right of transgender persons to health and bodily autonomy without discrimination, including by removing disproportionate legal and administrative barriers to legal gender recognition and by facilitating access to healthcare, including sexual and reproductive health services and genderaffirming medical services. Right to work 26.While noting the efforts to reduce unemployment, including by vocational training of unemployed persons to meet the skilled worker needs of the labour market, the Committee remains concerned about reports of persistently high unemployment and economic inactivity rates in the State party, especially among young people, women, persons with disabilities and LGBTQI+ persons. The Committee expresses concern about the insufficient efforts undertaken to address job losses triggered by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. Finally, the Committee notes with concern that asylum-seekers are unable to access employment while their asylum applications are being processed (art. 6). 27. The Committee recommends that the State party increase its efforts to reduce unemployment by implementing public sector employment schemes, vocational training programmes and partnerships with the private sector, while ensuring that its policies tackle the root causes of unemployment, paying particular attention to young people, women, persons with disabilities and LGBTQI+ persons. It also recommends that the State party tackle the job losses triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic, paying special attention to the situation of migrant workers and the sectors of the population most affected by unemployment. The Committee further recommends that the State party revise its legislation to facilitate the right to work for asylum-seekers. The Committee refers the State party to its general comment No. 18 (2005) on the right to work. Right to physical and mental health 54.While noting the measures taken to make healthcare and services available and accessible including through the compulsory health insurance system, the Committee is concerned about: (c)The persistent discrimination in access to healthcare experienced by LGBTQI+ persons, persons with disabilities, women involved in sex work and persons living with HIV/AIDS (art. 12). 55. The Committee recommends that the State party: (c) Ensure that LGBTQI+ persons, persons with disabilities, women involved in sex work and persons living with HIV/AIDS have access to healthcare without discrimination, including by establishing adequate training programmes for medical personnel at different levels in order to combat stereotyping and stigmatization and providing them with the knowledge and tools necessary to offer adequate care, including with regard to the protection of privacy; (d) Be guided by the Committee ’ s general comment No. 14 (2000) on the right to the highest attainable standard of health.

Report for the list of issues is reflecting the third periodic report of the Republic of Turkmenistan on the implementation of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights

Not Available

Contribution to the call for input of the Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers in Uzbekistan Purpose: To inform the Special Rapporteur’s forthcoming report on safeguarding the independence of judicial systems in the face of contemporary challenges to democracy, to be presented at the 56th session of the Human Rights Council in June 2024.

Not Available

Call for inputs: Preserving the gains and pushing back on emerging restrictions on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association and rising authoritarianism To inform the UN Special Rapporteur’s thematic report to the Human Rights Council – 56th session

Not Available

Report on Protection against Violence and Discrimination based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity in relation to the human rights to freedom of expression, association, and assembly in the EESCCA region

Not Available

Report on Human Rights Violations against trans sex workers

Not Available