LGBTQ rights in Mongolia: Difference between revisions
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==Legality of same-sex sexual acts== |
==Legality of same-sex sexual acts== |
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In medieval times, engaging in homosexual activity was believed to be punishable by death;<ref>Onon, Urgunge (2001) ''The Secret History of the Mongols: The life and times of Chinggis Khan''. Abingdon: Routledge-Curzon. p.11. {{ISBN|978-0700713356}}. "And anyone |
In medieval times, engaging in homosexual activity was believed to be punishable by death;<ref>Onon, Urgunge (2001) ''The Secret History of the Mongols: The life and times of Chinggis Khan''. Abingdon: Routledge-Curzon. p.11. {{ISBN|978-0700713356}}. "And anyone |
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found indulging in homosexual practices should be executed."</ref> however, no historic records of such punishments are known or recorded, nor does it appear to be true from the perspective of sociological and anthropological inquiry into the nomadic civilisation. |
found indulging in homosexual practices should be executed."</ref> however, no historic records of such punishments are known or recorded, nor does it appear to be true from the perspective of sociological and anthropological inquiry into the nomadic civilisation. This does not, however, mean that homosexuality was traditionally accepted (as is commonly claimed by Modern Western anthropologists about "non-western civilizations"). The Khalkha Mongols, like many early Siberian people's, seem to have placed a rather high regard on heterosexual fertility and intercourse and therefore viewed homosexual affairs as a sort of deviation. <ref>"Cross-Cultural Codes on Twenty Sexual Attitudes and Practices", Gwen Broude and Sarah Greene</ref> |
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The age of consent is 16, regardless of sexual orientation. |
The age of consent is 16, regardless of sexual orientation. |
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Revision as of 04:29, 8 June 2018
LGBTQ rights in Mongolia  | |
|---|---|
.svg) | |
| Status | Legal since 1993 |
| Gender identity | Transgender people allowed to change legal gender marker following a medical procedure to affirm their gender |
| Discrimination protections | Yes (Hate crimes and hate speech outlawed) |
| Family rights | |
| Recognition of relationships | No |
| Adoption | No |
Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people in Mongolia do not fully enjoy the rights that non-LGBT people are afforded, though there has been substantial improvements since the 1990s thanks to the LGBTI rights movement in the country. Homosexuality was criminalised in Mongolia in 1961 through its 1961 Criminal Code.[1] Since Mongolia's peaceful transition to a democracy in the 1990s, homosexuality was legalised and awareness about LGBT people has become more prevalent. Hate crimes and hate speeches on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity have been outlawed in the country since 1 July 2017.[2] Households headed by same-sex couples are, however, not eligible for the same legal protections available to opposite-sex couples.
There is only one NGO that states "advocacy for the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in Mongolia" to be its mandate, and it is the LGBT Centre[3] (active since 2007, the main engine behind the policy and legislative changes in the country around LGBTI rights). Historically, the first gay men's human rights organisation was established in March 1999, and was called Tavilan (meaning destiny in Mongolian), the first gay women's human rights organisation, MILC, was established in December 2003 following the failure on the part of the founders of Tavilan to redraft the bylaws of the NGO to include other sub-communities within the LGBTI community. The first MSM organisation, Zaluus Eruul Mend, was established in 2003 to continue the HIV work of Tavilan.
Legality of same-sex sexual acts
In medieval times, engaging in homosexual activity was believed to be punishable by death;[4] however, no historic records of such punishments are known or recorded, nor does it appear to be true from the perspective of sociological and anthropological inquiry into the nomadic civilisation. This does not, however, mean that homosexuality was traditionally accepted (as is commonly claimed by Modern Western anthropologists about "non-western civilizations"). The Khalkha Mongols, like many early Siberian people's, seem to have placed a rather high regard on heterosexual fertility and intercourse and therefore viewed homosexual affairs as a sort of deviation. [5]
The age of consent is 16, regardless of sexual orientation.
Recognition of same-sex relationships
Marriage is defined as a heteronormative institution in the Article 16 (11)[6] of the Mongolian Constitution as "Marriage is based on the equality and mutual consent of a man and a woman who have reached the age determined by law. The State protects the interests of the family, motherhood, and the child."[7]
Discrimination protections and hate crime laws
Violence and discrimination against LGBT people in Mongolia were fairly common and often not reported to police. In 2001, a lesbian woman was raped, abducted and stabbed by two men. In 2009, an ultra-nationalist neo-Nazi group kidnapped three transgender women and sexually assaulted them. None of these crimes were reported to the police for fear of victimization.[8] In February 2014, a gay man was sexually assaulted by a neo-Nazi group.[9] Following public outcry from the LGBT community and civil society organizations, the Government of Mongolia announced in May 2014 that it would consider anti-discrimination legislation to protect LGBT people.[10]
On 3 December 2015, the Mongolian Parliament adopted a new Criminal Code that prohibits hate crimes, with the protected grounds including sexual orientation, gender identity and health status. The Criminal Code's coming into force was planned for 1 September 2016, however, the newly elected Cabinet postponed the date to 1 July 2017. In August 2017, the LGBT Centre began training more than 100 police officers on what hate crimes are and how to properly handle them.
Gender identity and expression
An amendment made in June 2009 to Article 20(1) of the Civil Registration Law allows transgender people to change their legal gender on birth certificates or citizen identification cards following a medical procedure to affirm their new gender.[11]
Hate crimes and hate speech on the basis of gender identity are outlawed in the country.[8]
Living conditions
As of present, LGBT people lack visibility in Mongolia. In 2009, after more than 10 failed attempts, the Mongolian Government registered the LGBT Centre, the sole non-governmental, LGBTI human rights organisation.[12] Initially, the State Registration Agency refused to register the organization because it "conflicts with Mongolian customs and traditions and has the potential to set a wrong example for youth and adolescents."[8]
The International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia has been celebrated in Mongolia since 2011, organised by the LGBT Centre.[13] In 2013, the first Pride week was organised by members of the LGBT community.[11] Since 2014, the LGBT Centre has been organising Equality and Pride Days annually to promote non-discrimination and equality for all regardless of any distinction.[14]
United Nations
Mongolia has supported landmark LGBT reforms at the United Nations. In 2011, it signed the "joint statement on ending acts of violence and related human rights violations based on sexual orientation and gender identity" at the United Nations, condemning violence and discrimination against LGBT people.[15] In 2016, it supported the appointment of an independent expert to identify what causes violence and discrimination against LGBT people and to find ways to protect them.[16]
Summary table
| Same-sex sexual activity legal |  (Since 1993)
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| Equal age of consent | (Since 1993)
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| Anti-discrimination laws in employment only | 
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| Anti-discrimination laws in the provision of goods and services |
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| Anti-discrimination laws in all other areas (incl. indirect discrimination, hate speech) | (Since 2017)
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| Hate crime laws include sexual orientation and gender identity | (Since 2017)
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| Same-sex marriages |
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| Recognition of same-sex couples |
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| Stepchild adoption by same-sex couples |
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| Joint adoption by same-sex couples |
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| LGBT people allowed to serve openly in the military | 
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| Right to change legal gender | (Since 2009)
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| Access to IVF for lesbians |
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| Commercial surrogacy for gay male couples |
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| MSMs allowed to donate blood |
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See also
External links
References
- ^ "Уголовное преследование мужеложства в РСФСР". Википедия (in Russian). 3 April 2017.
- ^ "Эрүүгийн хууль, 2015 он".
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|dead-url=(help) - ^ "Нүүр | ЛГБТ Төв | The LGBT Centre". ЛГБТ Төв | The LGBT Centre. Retrieved 20 September 2017.
- ^ Onon, Urgunge (2001) The Secret History of the Mongols: The life and times of Chinggis Khan. Abingdon: Routledge-Curzon. p.11. ISBN 978-0700713356. "And anyone found indulging in homosexual practices should be executed."
- ^ "Cross-Cultural Codes on Twenty Sexual Attitudes and Practices", Gwen Broude and Sarah Greene
- ^ "Монгол Улсын Үндсэн хууль".
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|dead-url=(help) - ^ Mongolia – Constitution
- ^ a b c "Inside Mongolia's Only Gay Bar". Gawker. 3 June 2016.
- ^ Gardener, Lisa (22 June 2014). "Mongolia plans anti-discrimination laws". aljazeera.com. Al Jazeera. Retrieved 21 January 2017.
- ^ Mongolia Considers Anti-Discrimination Law to Protect LGBT Citizens Human Rights Campaign
- ^ a b BEING LGBT IN ASIA: MONGOLIA COUNTRY REPORT
- ^ Shadow Report to the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights regarding Mongolia's Protection of the Rights of LGBTI Persons
- ^ Seidman, Lila (16 May 2016). "Mongolia celebrates 6th International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia".
- ^ "ТЭГШ ЭРХ, БАХАРХАЛ". LGBT Centre (in Mongolian).
- ^ "Over 80 Nations Support Statement at Human Rights Council on LGBT Rights » US Mission Geneva". Geneva.usmission.gov.
- ^ Mongolia backs UN watchdog for LGBT rights
