Russian Federation - CEDAW (LOI) - LGBTIQ+ Rights - June 2020
Country: Russian Federation
Type: Intl Mechanism Submission
Issues: Detention, Extrajudicial Killing, Gender-Based Violence, International Advocacy, LGBTIQ+ Rights, Policing, Torture
Mechanism: UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women
Report Type: List of Issues
View and Download Document:
Russian Federation’s Compliance with Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women
Suggested List of Issues Relating to Discrimination Based on Sexual orientation, Gender Identity, and Gender Expression
Partner: Moscow Community Center for LGBT+ Initiatives
Russian authorities continue to engage in and create a climate of impunity for widespread violence, discrimination, harassment, and murders of lesbian, bisexual, and transgender women.
The COVID-19 pandemic has placed lesbian, bisexual, and transgender women at heightened risk, particularly as they are confined to the family home—an environment where many LBT women do not feel safe. In the North Caucuses, LBT women report that law enforcement actively facilitate domestic violence by returning victims to their abusive families. Victims of domestic violence in the region are unable to obtain health care for their injuries.
Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, the situation in Chechnya was particularly dangerous for LBT women. Women have faced detention and torture for their sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. LBT women are controlled entirely by their male family members, and therefore are unable to leave the family home or the region without their authorization. Family members subject LBT women to threats, violence, and even so-called honor killings. This violence occurs with impunity, and often even with the assistance of law enforcement.
