Fear and Loathing

Sri Lanka: Tamil LGBTQ voices face even greater risk in Sri Lanka

As the Sri Lankan state continues to ramp up its militarisation of the North-East, an already marginalised community has now found itself under greater threat. The Tamil LGBTQ community, which has long faced its own intra-community discrimination and struggles for recognition has in recent months come under mounting pressure.

Wartime sexual violence a ‘psychological weapon’, sets back cause of peace

Sexual violence is used as a war tactic and a political tool to dehumanize, destabilize and forcibly displace populations across the globe, the UN’s expert on the issue told the Security Council on Friday, pressing countries to adopt a survivor-centred approach that ensures victims will not be forgotten.

Sexual Violence in Conflict

We meet today to find effective ways to turn commitments into compliance, and resolutions into results. We meet in the spirit of pursuing a survivor-centered approach, which ensures that survivors of wartime sexual violence will not be forgotten, even in the midst of an unprecedented pandemic that has captured the attention of the world.

Malaysia: Outcry as minister calls to arrest and ‘educate’ transgender people

Religious Affairs Minister Zulkifli Mohamad says he has given ‘full license’ to Islamic authorities to bring transgender people ‘back to the right path’. Activists criticize his words as ‘irresponsible’, saying they cast a further shadow on the new government’s human rights record


Russia: Survival strategies of homosexual and bisexual women and transgender persons in the North Caucasus

The following report presents the findings of a qualitative study conducted by activists of the Queer Women of North Caucasus Support Group Initiative. The findings describe survival strategies for homosexual, bisexual women and transgender persons in a sexually repressive culture.

Malaysia: Minister’s order to take action against the transgender community must be revoked

The ICJ today condemned the order issued by Zulkifli Mohamad Al-Bakri, Malaysia’s Minister in charge of religious affairs, to the Federal Territories Islamic Religious Department (Jawi) to take action against the transgender community.

LGBT asylum seekers' claims routinely rejected in Europe and UK

Researchers found decision-makers did not consider claimants were at risk of persecution

Iraqi Media and the Spread of Anti-LGBT+ Rhetoric

To be sure, the media in Iraq does not take sole responsibility for the oppression of the Iraqi LGBT+ community. Many other factors, including the education system, political and social instability, and religious and tribal values, make it hard if not impossible for the LGBT+ community in Iraq to exist.

Poland: LGBT rights at heart of Poland presidential-election fight

While campaigning for re-election ahead of Sunday’s final-round vote, Poland’s President Andrzej Duda has used harmful rhetoric and called for policies that deny human rights to LGBT people. But longtime activists see Polish attitudes changing, and are pushing back.