Decriminalisation of same-sex relations in Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan

Written declaration No. 731 | Doc. 15389 | 01 October 2021

Signatories:

Mr Fourat BEN CHIKHA, Belgium, SOC ; Mr Pedro BACELAR DE VASCONCELOS, Portugal, SOC ; Ms Petra BAYR, Austria, SOC ; Ms Arta BILALLI ZENDELI, North Macedonia, SOC ; Ms Margreet De BOER, Netherlands, SOC ; Mr Pedro CEGONHO, Portugal, SOC ; Ms Edite ESTRELA, Portugal, SOC ; Mr Carlos Alberto GONÇALVES, Portugal, EPP/CD ; Mr Domagoj HAJDUKOVIĆ, Croatia, SOC ; Ms Bisera KOSTADINOVSKA-STOJCHEVSKA, North Macedonia, SOC ; Mr Christophe LACROIX, Belgium, SOC ; Mr Luís LEITE RAMOS, Portugal, EPP/CD ; Mr Didier MARIE, France, SOC ; Ms Isabel MEIRELLES, Portugal, EPP/CD ; Mr Oleksandr MEREZHKO, Ukraine, NR ; Ms Marica MONTEMAGGI, San Marino, SOC ; Mr Simon MOUTQUIN, Belgium, SOC ; Mr Paulo PISCO, Portugal, SOC ; Mr Stefan SCHENNACH, Austria, SOC ; Mr Filippo SENSI, Italy, SOC

This written declaration commits only those who have signed it.

We, the undersigned, declare the following:

In Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan, voluntary sexual relations between two men are punishable by imprisonment under their Criminal Codes. Due to the widespread failure to understand the difference between sexual orientation and gender identity among the general public and law enforcement, this law negatively impacts all of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community in both countries.

The Central Asia Rule of Law Programme aims to improve the lives of citizens by reinforcing human rights, the Rule of law and democracy in accordance with European and other international standards. Criminalisation of the voluntary same-sex relations violates multiple human rights, including the right to private and family life and to freedom from discrimination. Repealing laws that criminalise same-sex relations and other laws used to punish LGBTI people is an important step towards protection of human lives and rights, in line with ensuring a common human rights system between Europe and Central Asia.

Therefore, we call upon the European Union and the Council of Europe to ensure that decriminalisation of same-sex relations in partner countries is a cornerstone of the common legal space between Europe and Central Asia, advancing human rights protections envisioned by the Central Asia Rule of Law Programme.