UN Calls for Decriminalization of LGBTQ+ People, Citing Human Rights and Public Health Concerns
In a joint statement, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk and UNAIDS Executive Director Winnie Byanyima emphasized the urgent need to decriminalize laws against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) individuals. The statement highlights the devastating impact of punitive laws on human rights and public health.
The UN officials pointed out that over two-thirds of countries have already repealed laws criminalizing LGBTQ+ people, with 17 countries repealing such laws in the last decade alone. They stressed that such laws are based on prejudice, infringe upon human rights, and harm public health.
The statement noted that criminalization of LGBTQ+ people generates justified fear among those who need access to health services and frontline workers. In criminalizing countries, there is decreased provision and uptake of HIV prevention services, and decreased uptake of HIV care and treatment services. A study in sub-Saharan Africa found that HIV-prevalence among gay men and men who have sex with men was five times higher in countries that criminalized same-sex relationships than in non-criminalized settings.
The UN officials also emphasized that such laws have no “law and order” justification, citing the example of Singapore, where the government recognized that there was no basis for making private sexual behavior between consenting adults a crime. They highlighted that punitive laws lead to harassment, hate crimes, police abuse, and denial of access to healthcare, education, and housing.
The statement concluded by calling on all countries to remove punitive laws against LGBTQ+ people, stressing that decriminalization is vital for protecting everyone’s human rights and public health. The UN officials urged continued progress in legislation and attitudes, as well as a challenge to anti-rights policies, proposals, and propaganda.
The joint statement serves as a powerful reminder of the urgent need to address the human rights and public health concerns faced by LGBTQ+ individuals worldwide.