Outcome Report >> Liberia, Comment, 36th Session, May 2020

The International Lesbian and Gay Association and the International Service for Human Rights (video statement) regretted that Liberia noted all the recommendations regarding LGBT persons and that no action plans in this regard had been developed yet. They were concerned that the Penal Code criminalized consensual same sex between adults, and that the LGBTI community and persons living with HIV still faced major obstacles to access basic services, particularly health services. They noted that the COVID-19 pandemic had aggravated their situation; and two bills seeking to increase penalty for same sex relations and explicitly prohibiting same sex marriage were before the house of parliament. They urged Liberia to amend its legislative and institutional framework in order to decriminalize same sex consensual acts between adults; prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, and protect, promote and fulfil the human rights of LGBT persons. [Para 768]