OHCHR / IRAQ SAME SEX RELATIONSHIPS

The UN human rights office (OHCHR) is “alarmed by the Iraqi parliament’s passage of a new law criminalizing consensual same-sex relations and other forms of private consensual behaviour with jail terms of up to 15 years. The law runs contrary to several human rights treaties that have been ratified by Iraq. It should be shelved,” an OHCHR Spokesperson said. OHCHR

• Video Length: 00:01:31
• Production Date: 29 April 2024
• Asset Language: English
• Corporate Name: OFFICE OF THE UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS - OHCHR
• Subject Topical: HUMAN RIGHTS
• Geographic Subject: IRAQ
• MAMS Id: 3202188
• Parent Id: 3202188
• Alternate Title: unifeed240429d

Description

STORY: OHCHR / IRAQ SAME SEX RELATIONSHIPS
TRT: 01:31
SOURCE: OHCHR
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: 29 APRIL 2024, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND

Shotlist

1. Various shots, exterior, Palais Wilson- Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
2. SOUNDBITE (English) Ravina Shamdasani, Spokesperson for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR):
“We are alarmed by the Iraqi parliament’s passage of a new law criminalizing consensual same-sex relations and other forms of private consensual behaviour with jail terms of up to 15 years. The law runs contrary to several human rights treaties that have been ratified by Iraq. It should be shelved. Everyone, without distinction, is entitled to enjoy all human rights, including the right to privacy, to be treated as equal before the law and to protection from discrimination on various grounds including sexual orientation and gender identity. Under the new law, those found guilty of ‘establishing a homosexual relationship’ will face 10 to 15 years in jail, while anyone who ‘promotes homosexuality’ will be imprisoned for at least seven years. The law also criminalizes anyone accessing or performing gender-affirming medical treatments, and those dressing in clothing associated with the opposite gender. There is extensive evidence that such laws legitimize prejudice, expose people to hate crime, police abuse, harassment, intimidation, blackmail and torture.
And that they perpetuate discrimination and denial of access to basic services, including healthcare, education and housing.”
3. Wide shot, exterior, Palais Wilson- Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights

Storyline

The UN human rights office (OHCHR) is “alarmed by the Iraqi parliament’s passage of a new law criminalizing consensual same-sex relations and other forms of private consensual behaviour with jail terms of up to 15 years. The law runs contrary to several human rights treaties that have been ratified by Iraq. It should be shelved,” an OHCHR Spokesperson said.

Ravina Shamdasani, UN Human Rights Spokesperson today (29 Apr) said, “Everyone, without distinction, is entitled to enjoy all human rights, including the right to privacy, to be treated as equal before the law and to protection from discrimination on various grounds including sexual orientation and gender identity.”

She added, “Under the new law, those found guilty of “establishing a homosexual relationship” will face 10 to 15 years in jail, while anyone who “promotes homosexuality” will be imprisoned for at least seven years. The law also criminalizes anyone accessing or performing gender-affirming medical treatments, and those dressing in clothing associated with the opposite gender.”

Shamdasani said, “There is extensive evidence that such laws legitimize prejudice, expose people to hate crime, police abuse, harassment, intimidation, blackmail and torture.
And that they perpetuate discrimination and denial of access to basic services, including healthcare, education and housing.”