LGBT Rights

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</div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div id="main" class="clear-block"> <div id="content" class="clear-block"> <div class="panel-display panel-1col clear-block" id="taxonomy"> <div class="panel-panel panel-col"> <div><div class="panel-pane pane-views-panes pane-taxonomy-landing-page-panel-pane-3 pane-taxonomy-updatable-box"> <div class="pane-content"> <div class="view view-taxonomy-landing-page view-id-taxonomy_landing_page view-display-id-panel_pane_3 view-taxonomy-updatable-box view-dom-id-1"> <div class="view-content"> <div class="item-list"> <ul> <li class="views-row views-row-1 views-row-odd views-row-first views-row-last"> <div class="views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/web/20130513190702/http://www.hrw.org/node/88189">Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Rights</a></span> </div> <div class="views-field-body"> <div class="field-content"><p><img align="left" hspace="8" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130513190702im_/http://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/media/images/photographs/lgbt.jpg"/>People around the world face violence and inequality – and sometimes torture, even execution – because of who they love, how they look, or who they are.</p> <p>Sexual orientation and gender identity are integral aspects of our selves and should never lead to discrimination or abuse.</p> <p>Human Rights Watch works for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people’s rights, with activists representing a multiplicity of identities and issues.</p> <p>We document and expose abuses based on sexual orientation and gender identity worldwide – including torture, killing and executions, arrests under unjust laws, unequal treatment, censorship, medical abuses, discrimination in health and jobs and housing, domestic violence, abuses against children, and denial of family rights and recognition.</p> <p>We advocate for laws and policies that will protect everyone’s dignity. We work for a world where all people can enjoy their rights fully.</p> <div class="view-field field-image-caption"> <p>Photo: © The Rainbow Project, Namibia 2001.</p> </div></div> </div> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="panel-region-separator"></div><div class="panel-pane pane-views-panes pane-taxonomy-landing-page-panel-pane-1 pane-taxonomy-feature-page"> <div class="pane-content"> <div class="view view-taxonomy-landing-page view-id-taxonomy_landing_page view-display-id-panel_pane_1 view-taxonomy-feature-page view-dom-id-4"> <div class="view-content"> <div class="item-list"> <ul> <li class="views-row views-row-1 views-row-odd views-row-first views-row-last"> <div class="views-field-field-imagefile-fid"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/web/20130513190702/http://www.hrw.org/news/2013/03/21/cameroon-rights-abuses-homosexuality-prosecutions"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130513190702im_/http://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/imagecache/crop-300x200/media/images/photographs/2013_Cameroon_lgbt.jpeg" class="imagecache imagecache-crop-300x200 imagecache-default imagecache-crop-300x200_default"/></a></span> </div> <div class="views-field-field-image-caption-value"> <div class="field-content">S. was arrested, charged with homosexual conduct, and denied access to a lawyer in 2010 after he met two male friends in a hotel lobby. His case is one of many that illustrates the due process and other human rights violations common to “homosexuality” prosecutions in Cameroon.</div> </div> <div class="views-field-field-copyright-value"> <span class="field-content">© 2013 Human Rights Watch</span> </div> <div class="views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/web/20130513190702/http://www.hrw.org/news/2013/03/21/cameroon-rights-abuses-homosexuality-prosecutions">Cameroon: Rights Abuses in ‘Homosexuality’ Prosecutions</a></span> </div> <div class="views-field-field-news-teaser-value"> <div class="field-content">Cameroon prosecutes people for consensual same-sex conduct more aggressively than almost any country in the world, four human rights organizations said in a report released today. At least 28 people have been prosecuted for same-sex conduct in Cameroon since 2010. Most cases are marked by grave human rights violations, including torture, forced confessions, denial of access to legal counsel, and discriminatory treatment by law enforcement and judicial officials.</div> </div> </li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="attachment attachment-before"> <div class="view view-taxonomy-landing-page view-id-taxonomy_landing_page view-display-id-attachment_1 view-dom-id-2"> <div class="view-content"> <div class="item-list"> <ul> <li class="views-row views-row-1 views-row-odd views-row-first"> <div class="views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/web/20130513190702/http://www.hrw.org/news/2013/04/18/universal-periodic-review-joint-hrw-submission-cameroon-affirmative-action-alternati">Universal Periodic Review: Joint HRW submission on Cameroon with Affirmative Action, Alternatives Cameroun, ADEFHO, Camfaids, Evolve, Humanity First, IGLHRC</a></span> </div> <div class="views-field-created"> <span class="field-content">Apr 18, 2013</span> </div> </li> <li class="views-row views-row-2 views-row-even"> <div class="views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/web/20130513190702/http://www.hrw.org/news/2013/04/16/ukraine-reject-discriminatory-lgbt-laws">Ukraine: Reject Discriminatory LGBT Laws</a></span> </div> <div class="views-field-created"> <span class="field-content">Apr 16, 2013</span> </div> </li> <li class="views-row views-row-3 views-row-odd"> <div class="views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/web/20130513190702/http://www.hrw.org/news/2013/04/09/waiting-minds-change-cameroon">Waiting for Minds to Change in Cameroon</a></span> </div> <div class="views-field-created"> <span class="field-content">Apr 9, 2013</span> </div> </li> <li class="views-row views-row-4 views-row-even views-row-last"> <div class="views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/web/20130513190702/http://www.hrw.org/news/2013/04/02/uruguay-marriage-equality-approved">Uruguay: Marriage Equality Approved</a></span> </div> <div class="views-field-created"> <span class="field-content">Apr 2, 2013</span> </div> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="view-footer"> <a href="/web/20130513190702/http://www.hrw.org/by-issue/news-filter/674">More news »</a> </div> <div class="attachment attachment-after"> <div class="view view-taxonomy-landing-page view-id-taxonomy_landing_page view-display-id-attachment_2 view-dom-id-3"> <div class="view-content"> <div class="item-list"> <ul> <li class="views-row views-row-1 views-row-odd views-row-first views-row-last"></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="feed-icon"> <a href="/web/20130513190702/http://www.hrw.org/rss/taxonomy/674" class="feed-icon">Subscribe to content feed</a><img src="/web/20130513190702im_/http://www.hrw.org/misc/feed.png" width="16" height="16"/> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="panel-region-separator"></div><div class="panel-pane pane-views-panes pane-taxonomy-landing-page-panel-pane-7"> <div class="pane-content"> <div class="view view-taxonomy-landing-page view-id-taxonomy_landing_page view-display-id-panel_pane_7 view-taxonomy-updatable-box view-dom-id-5"> <div class="view-content"> <div class="item-list"> <ul> <li class="views-row views-row-1 views-row-odd views-row-first views-row-last"> <div class="views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/web/20130513190702/http://www.hrw.org/node/105655">Boris Dittrich, LGBT Rights advocacy director, speaks on LGBT rights at the TEDDY AWARD Ceremony 2013 in Berlin, Germany</a></span> </div> <div class="views-field-body"> <div class="field-content"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="yt_presser" frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130513190702if_/http://www.youtube.com/embed/bDgMt5L8HDE" width="638"></iframe></div> </div> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="panel-region-separator"></div><div class="panel-pane pane-views-panes pane-taxonomy-landing-page-panel-pane-2 pane-taxonomy-reports"> <h2 class="pane-title">Reports</h2> <div class="pane-content"> <div class="view view-taxonomy-landing-page view-id-taxonomy_landing_page view-display-id-panel_pane_2 view-taxonomy-reports view-dom-id-6"> <div class="view-content"> <div class="item-list"> <ul> <li class="views-row views-row-1 views-row-odd views-row-first"> <div class="views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/web/20130513190702/http://www.hrw.org/reports/2013/03/21/guilty-association">Guilty by Association</a></span> </div> <div class="views-field-field-reportsynopsis-subtitle-value"> <span class="field-content">Human Rights Violations in the Enforcement of Cameroon’s Anti-Homosexuality Law</span> </div> <div class="views-field-field-reportsynopsis-cover-fid"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/web/20130513190702/http://www.hrw.org/reports/2013/03/21/guilty-association" class="imagecache imagecache-scale-crop-200w-133h imagecache-linked imagecache-scale-crop-200w-133h_linked"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130513190702im_/http://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/imagecache/scale-crop-200w-133h/media/images/report-covers/cameroon0313_reportcover_0.jpg" class="imagecache imagecache-scale-crop-200w-133h"/></a></span> </div> </li> <li class="views-row views-row-2 views-row-even"> <div class="views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/web/20130513190702/http://www.hrw.org/reports/2012/08/21/curtailing-criticism">Curtailing Criticism</a></span> </div> <div class="views-field-field-reportsynopsis-subtitle-value"> <span class="field-content">Intimidation and Obstruction of Civil Society in Uganda</span> </div> <div class="views-field-field-reportsynopsis-cover-fid"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/web/20130513190702/http://www.hrw.org/reports/2012/08/21/curtailing-criticism" class="imagecache imagecache-scale-crop-200w-133h imagecache-linked imagecache-scale-crop-200w-133h_linked"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130513190702im_/http://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/imagecache/scale-crop-200w-133h/media/images/report-covers/uganda0812_reportcover.jpg" class="imagecache imagecache-scale-crop-200w-133h"/></a></span> </div> </li> <li class="views-row views-row-3 views-row-odd views-row-last"> <div class="views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/web/20130513190702/http://www.hrw.org/reports/2012/07/19/sex-workers-risk-0">Sex Workers at Risk</a></span> </div> <div class="views-field-field-reportsynopsis-subtitle-value"> <span class="field-content">Condoms as Evidence of Prostitution in Four US Cities</span> </div> <div class="views-field-field-reportsynopsis-cover-fid"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/web/20130513190702/http://www.hrw.org/reports/2012/07/19/sex-workers-risk-0" class="imagecache imagecache-scale-crop-200w-133h imagecache-linked imagecache-scale-crop-200w-133h_linked"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130513190702im_/http://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/imagecache/scale-crop-200w-133h/media/images/report-covers/us0712_reportcover.jpg" class="imagecache imagecache-scale-crop-200w-133h"/></a></span> </div> </li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="view-footer"> <a href="/web/20130513190702/http://www.hrw.org/by-issue/publications/674">More >></a> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="panel-region-separator"></div><div class="panel-pane pane-views-panes pane-taxonomy-landing-page-panel-pane-4 pane-taxonomy-news-listing"> <h2 class="pane-title">LGBT Rights</h2> <div class="pane-content"> <div class="view view-taxonomy-landing-page view-id-taxonomy_landing_page view-display-id-panel_pane_4 view-taxonomy-news-listings view-dom-id-7"> <div class="view-content"> <div class="item-list"> <ul> <li class="views-row views-row-1 views-row-odd views-row-first"> <div class="views-field-field-imagefile-fid"> <span class="field-content"></span> </div> <div class="views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/web/20130513190702/http://www.hrw.org/news/2013/04/18/universal-periodic-review-joint-hrw-submission-cameroon-affirmative-action-alternati">Universal Periodic Review: Joint HRW submission on Cameroon with Affirmative Action, Alternatives Cameroun, ADEFHO, Camfaids, Evolve, Humanity First, IGLHRC</a></span> </div> <div class="views-field-created"> <span class="field-content">Apr 18, 2013</span> </div> <div class="views-field-field-news-teaser-value"> <div class="field-content">This submission, by Affirmative Action, Alternatives-Cameroun, the Association for the Defense of Gay and Lesbian Rights (ADEFHO), Cameroonian Foundation for AIDS (CAMFAIDS), Evolve, Human Rights Watch, Humanity First Cameroon, and the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC), highlights shortcomings in Cameroon’s human rights record related to its treatment of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people. It is based on research conducted in Cameroon in 2009 and 2010 by ADEFHO, Alternatives-Cameroun, Human Rights Watch, and IGLHRC and published in our 2010 report Criminalizing Identities: Rights Abuses in Cameroon based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity, and on follow-up investigations conducted between 2010 and 2012.</div> </div> </li> <li class="views-row views-row-2 views-row-even"> <div class="views-field-field-imagefile-fid"> <span class="field-content"></span> </div> <div class="views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/web/20130513190702/http://www.hrw.org/news/2013/04/18/universal-periodic-review-hrw-submission-russia">Universal Periodic Review: HRW Submission on Russia</a></span> </div> <div class="views-field-created"> <span class="field-content">Apr 18, 2013</span> </div> <div class="views-field-field-news-teaser-value"> <div class="field-content">Starting in June 2012, the Russian government reversed small, positive steps taken since the previous UPR, which had slightly loosened excessive government control over civil society organizations and aimed to improve pluralism in the political system. It launched a broad crackdown on freedom of assembly, association, and expression. Abuses in the counterinsurgency campaign in the North Caucasus continue. Several Russian regions have adopted homophobic laws, and preparations for the 2014 Olympic games in Sochi have been tainted by abuses.</div> </div> </li> <li class="views-row views-row-3 views-row-odd"> <div class="views-field-field-imagefile-fid"> <span class="field-content"></span> </div> <div class="views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/web/20130513190702/http://www.hrw.org/news/2013/04/16/ukraine-reject-discriminatory-lgbt-laws">Ukraine: Reject Discriminatory LGBT Laws</a></span> </div> <div class="views-field-created"> <span class="field-content">Apr 16, 2013</span> </div> <div class="views-field-field-news-teaser-value"> <div class="field-content">The Ukrainian parliament should reject two draft laws that would discriminate against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people and infringe on their free expression rights.</div> </div> </li> <li class="views-row views-row-4 views-row-even"> <div class="views-field-field-imagefile-fid"> <span class="field-content"></span> </div> <div class="views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/web/20130513190702/http://www.hrw.org/news/2013/04/09/waiting-minds-change-cameroon">Waiting for Minds to Change in Cameroon</a></span> </div> <div class="views-field-created"> <span class="field-content">Apr 9, 2013</span> </div> <div class="views-field-field-news-teaser-value"> <div class="field-content">“There’s no reason to despair,” Cameroonian president Paul Biya told journalists in January 2013. They had questioned him, at a Paris news conference, on Cameroon’s startling level of arrests and prosecutions for same-sex conduct – by some accounts, the highest number of “homosexuality” prosecutions in the world. “Minds are changing,” Biya reassured the journalists. He mentioned a recent case appeals court ruling overturning the conviction of two transgender people, Jonas K. and Franky D., who had been sentenced to five years in prison.</div> </div> </li> <li class="views-row views-row-5 views-row-odd"> <div class="views-field-field-imagefile-fid"> <span class="field-content"></span> </div> <div class="views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/web/20130513190702/http://www.hrw.org/news/2013/04/04/new-police-practices-help-fight-hiv-epidemic">New Police Practices Help Fight HIV Epidemic</a></span> </div> <div class="views-field-created"> <span class="field-content">Apr 4, 2013</span> </div> <div class="views-field-field-news-teaser-value"> <div class="field-content">Sex workers in San Francisco, Washington DC, and part of New York State can now carry condoms – protecting themselves and their clients from HIV/AIDS – without fearing that police will use the condoms as evidence of prostitution.</div> </div> </li> <li class="views-row views-row-6 views-row-even"> <div class="views-field-field-imagefile-fid"> <span class="field-content"></span> </div> <div class="views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/web/20130513190702/http://www.hrw.org/news/2013/04/02/uruguay-marriage-equality-approved">Uruguay: Marriage Equality Approved</a></span> </div> <div class="views-field-created"> <span class="field-content">Apr 2, 2013</span> </div> <div class="views-field-field-news-teaser-value"> <div class="field-content">The Uruguay Senate, in approving a bill on April 2, 2013, to legalize same-sex marriage, has moved to guarantee marriage equality and diminish discrimination. The vote was 23 to 8. Uruguay would be the 12th country to approve same-sex marriage nationwide.</div> </div> </li> <li class="views-row views-row-7 views-row-odd"> <div class="views-field-field-imagefile-fid"> <span class="field-content"></span> </div> <div class="views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/web/20130513190702/http://www.hrw.org/news/2013/04/01/nepal-climate-fear-imperils-lgbt-people">Nepal: Climate of Fear Imperils LGBT People</a></span> </div> <div class="views-field-created"> <span class="field-content">Apr 1, 2013</span> </div> <div class="views-field-field-news-teaser-value"> <div class="field-content">The government of Nepal should allow lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) groups to operate freely and end arbitrary arrests of LGBT people. The government should investigate threats and attacks against LGBT people. Widespread harassment, including by the government, has contributed to a climate of fear among LGBT people and activists in Nepal, and has interrupted vital activities, including HIV prevention work.</div> </div> </li> <li class="views-row views-row-8 views-row-even"> <div class="views-field-field-imagefile-fid"> <span class="field-content"></span> </div> <div class="views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/web/20130513190702/http://www.hrw.org/news/2013/03/28/supreme-court-cases-same-sex-marriage">The Supreme Court Cases on Same-Sex Marriage</a></span> </div> <div class="views-field-created"> <span class="field-content">Mar 28, 2013</span> </div> <div class="views-field-field-news-teaser-value"> <div class="field-content">In June 2013, the US Supreme Court will decide two cases on the right of same-sex couples to civil marriage. Human Rights Watch has long advocated the right of same-sex couples to marry based on the international human rights principles of nondiscrimination and equal protection of the law.</div> </div> </li> <li class="views-row views-row-9 views-row-odd"> <div class="views-field-field-imagefile-fid"> <span class="field-content"></span> </div> <div class="views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/web/20130513190702/http://www.hrw.org/news/2013/03/21/cameroon-rights-abuses-homosexuality-prosecutions">Cameroon: Rights Abuses in ‘Homosexuality’ Prosecutions</a></span> </div> <div class="views-field-created"> <span class="field-content">Mar 21, 2013</span> </div> <div class="views-field-field-news-teaser-value"> <div class="field-content">Cameroon prosecutes people for consensual same-sex conduct more aggressively than almost any country in the world, four human rights organizations said in a report released today. At least 28 people have been prosecuted for same-sex conduct in Cameroon since 2010. Most cases are marked by grave human rights violations, including torture, forced confessions, denial of access to legal counsel, and discriminatory treatment by law enforcement and judicial officials.</div> </div> </li> <li class="views-row views-row-10 views-row-even views-row-last"> <div class="views-field-field-imagefile-fid"> <span class="field-content"></span> </div> <div class="views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/web/20130513190702/http://www.hrw.org/news/2013/03/14/un-human-rights-council-adoption-outcome-ukraines-upr">UN Human Rights Council: Adoption of the Outcome of Ukraine's UPR</a></span> </div> <div class="views-field-created"> <span class="field-content">Mar 14, 2013</span> </div> <div class="views-field-field-news-teaser-value"> <div class="field-content"></div> </div> </li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="more-link"> <a href="/web/20130513190702/http://www.hrw.org/news-all/674">more documents on this topic »</a> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div id="footer"> <div class="limiter clear-block"> <div class="clear-block"><a href="#header" class="back-to-top">Back to top</a></div> <div class="nav"> <a href="/web/20130513190702/http://www.hrw.org/rss" class="rss-link">RSS</a> <div class="pipe-links"><a href="/web/20130513190702/http://www.hrw.org/home">Home</a> <span class="pipe">|</span> <a href="/web/20130513190702/http://www.hrw.org/our-work">Our Work</a> <span class="pipe">|</span> <a href="/web/20130513190702/http://www.hrw.org/news">News</a> <span class="pipe">|</span> <a href="/web/20130513190702/http://www.hrw.org/publications">Publications</a> <span class="pipe">|</span> <a href="/web/20130513190702/http://www.hrw.org/multimedia">Multimedia</a> <span class="pipe">|</span> <a href="/web/20130513190702/http://www.hrw.org/about">About Us</a> <span class="pipe">|</span> <a href="/web/20130513190702/http://www.hrw.org/contact-us">Contact Us</a> <span class="pipe">|</span> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130513190702/http://ff.hrw.org/">Film Festival</a> <span class="pipe">|</span> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130513190702/https://secure.hrw.org/site/c.nlIWIgN2JwE/b.8671517/k.3F9E/Donate_to_Defend_Human_RIghts/apps/ka/sd/donorcustom.asp">Donate</a></div> </div> <div class="footer-blocks clear-block"> <div id="block-views-hrw_footer-block_1" class="clear-block block block-views"> <div class="bcontent"><div class="view view-hrw-footer view-id-hrw_footer view-display-id-block_1 view-dom-id-9"> <div class="view-content"> <div class="views-row views-row-1 views-row-odd views-row-first views-row-last"> <div class="views-field-body"> <div class="field-content">Human Rights Watch<br/> 350 Fifth Avenue, 34th Floor<br/> New York, NY 10118-3299<br/> USA<br/> Tel: 1-(212) 290-4700<br/> <br/> <strong><a href="/web/20130513190702/http://www.hrw.org/en/contact-us">Contact Us - Global Offices</a></strong><br/> <strong><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130513190702/http://ff.hrw.org/">Film Festival</a></strong><br/> <strong><a href="/web/20130513190702/http://www.hrw.org/en/about/jobs">Employment</a></strong></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div id="block-tic-5" class="clear-block block block-tic"> <div class="bcontent"><div class="col-left clear-block"><strong class="vocab-header"><a href="/web/20130513190702/http://www.hrw.org/regions">Browse by Region</a></strong><div class="item-list"><ul><li class="first first"><a href="/web/20130513190702/http://www.hrw.org/africa">Africa</a></li> <li class=""><a href="/web/20130513190702/http://www.hrw.org/americas">Americas</a></li> <li class=""><a href="/web/20130513190702/http://www.hrw.org/asia">Asia</a></li> <li class=""><a href="/web/20130513190702/http://www.hrw.org/europe/central-asia">Europe/Central Asia</a></li> <li class=""><a href="/web/20130513190702/http://www.hrw.org/middle-east/n-africa">Middle East/N. 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