Database of Domestic Legislation Protecting LGBT Human Rights

Partner Organization: International Commission of Jurists (Geneva)

Student Leaders: Azeezah Kanji, Hayley Ha 

Building on the work of the Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Working Group (2008-2012), this working group involved a partnership between the IHRP and International Committee of Jurists (ICJ) to create an online, free, and searchable database of domestic legislation from around the world that protects the rights of LGBT individuals. This project was conceived of by the ICJ based on the real need for a comprehensive resource for legislative precedents and based on consultation will leading human rights lawyers.  A searchable and publicly accessible database with primary source materials will make it easier for advocates and policy makers to access appropriate precedents upon which to base positive change in other jurisdictions.

We identified 24 countries from around the world whose laws in one or more of the following areas would be collected and summarized by IHRP student volunteers: gender recognition, hate crimes, non-discrimination, parenting, refugee and immigration, civil partnership/union and marriage, and health. Student volunteers drafted country reports setting out the relevant legislation and focused on obtaining the entire legislation in a searchable pdf format.

The database is housed on the ICJ’s website to ensure maximum impact, and can be accessed here.