LGBTIQ rights groups urge new Govt. to decriminalize same-sex affairs between SL women
Posted on February 13th, 2025
KURULU KOOJANA KARIYAKARAWANA Courtesy The Daily Mirror
Colombo, February 14 (Daily Mirror) – Social activist groups lobbying for LGBTIQ rights yesterday urged the new government to make necessary legal reforms to decriminalize same-sex relationships between consenting adult women in Sri Lanka, as stated by the NPP policies to improve welfare of the LGBTIQ community.
In 2022, the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) of the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (UN OHCHR) stated that the criminalization of same-sex relationships between consenting adult Sri Lankan women violated the CEDAW treaty. The Government of Sri Lanka was urged to make the necessary legal reforms.
Independent lobby group for LGBTIQ community Equal Ground issuing a statement said the original case, which was put forward by Rosanna Flamer-Caldera, Executive Director of Equal Ground, supported by Human Dignity Trust, set a major legal precedent stating that the criminalization of lesbian and bisexual women violates the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women.
However, at present neither the required amendments have occurred nor has Ms. Flamer-Caldera been compensated. Despite the change of government and with the new government stating in their policies their intent to improve the welfare of the LGBTIQ community, reforms are yet to be seen.
Furthermore, in September 2023 written replies to the List of Issues, the GoSL claimed (at para 135) that Legal gender recognition could be obtained by transgender persons in 3-5 days per existing regulations.” However, the reality is contrastingly different to their claims. As per the circular issued by the Ministry of Health, the Gender Recognition Certificate (GRC) will be issued by a psychiatrist.
This evaluation process differs for each psychiatrist, at times the process would take months to complete. This directly hinders transgender persons from changing their legal documents such as the National Identity Card as the GRC is required for them to change all legal documents.
Stark contrasts exist between what has been either claimed or promised by the Sri Lankan state versus the current realities. We urge the GoSL to promptly and fully comply with the recommendations made by the CEDAW Committee in the name of good governance, the statement read.