UN human rights chief Volker Türk issued a stark warning today: violence and discrimination against LGBTIQ+ people are escalating worldwide. In a statement marking the International Day against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia, Türk noted that more than one in three countries still criminalize consensual same-sex relations, with several maintaining the death penalty for it.
“The trend is worsening,” Türk said. He cited Burkina Faso’s recent criminalization of same-sex relations, Senegal’s increase in prison terms from five to 10 years, and similar laws under consideration in Ghana.
Türk also highlighted discriminatory laws penalizing the dissemination of LGBTIQ+ information in Belarus and Kazakhstan. “History has shown that when societies normalize hate and discrimination against LGBTIQ+ people, it lays the groundwork for broader repression,” he warned.
Elections have become “battlegrounds of hate,” Türk added, referencing an Outright International study that found approximately 85% of countries surveyed in 2024 contained anti-LGBTIQ+ messages.
Despite the negative trend, some progress exists. St. Lucia and Botswana have decriminalized same-sex relations, Nepal elected its first transgender MP, and the EU’s top court struck down Hungary’s ban on LGBTQ content for children.
Türk urged states to repeal biased laws, investigate violations, and hold perpetrators accountable, while calling on tech companies to act against online hate.