The ICJ expresses its serious concern at the unlawful detention, prosecution and conviction of Steven Monjeza and Tiwonge Chimbalanga, a Malawian gay couple.
The ICJ calls for the sentence against them to be unconditionally reviewed and their conviction immediately overturned.
Malawi-criminalisation-same sex relationships constitutes-press release-2010 (full text, PDF)
Read the 43rd issue of ICJ’s monthly newsletter on proposed and actual changes in counter-terrorism laws, policies and practices and their impact on human rights at the national, regional and international levels.
The most visible example of oppression on the grounds of sexual orientation is the continued criminalization of sexual activity between consenting adult partners of the same sex in many states around the world.
Regardless of whether they are enforced, these so-called sodomy laws have the effect of stigmatizing an entire group of people as criminal. International law on the issue is clear. Such laws violate human rights. In this ICJ Briefing Paper, we analyze the application of international human rights law to the criminalization of same-sex sexual conduct.
International human rights law and the criminalizaion of same-sex sexual conduct-anyalsis brief-2010 (full text, PDF)
The ICJ and Amnesty International welcome the initiative of the Committee of Ministers to prepare guidelines on the obligations of Council of Europe Member States to prevent and counter impunity.
EU: Children with disabilities have the right to participate in legal proceedings
Pakistan – Dismantling Justice: A Full-Frontal Assault on the Rule of Law
Egypt: New Criminal Procedure Code violates human rights
GUATEMALA: International organizations express concern over the detention of lawyer Ramón Cadena