STATEMENT BY ORGANIZATIONS OF THE BELARUSIAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMUNITY
on the inadmissibility of criminalizing freedom of expression and discrimination against LGBTQ+ people
July 11, 2025
We, representatives of the Belarusian human rights community, strongly condemn the draft law On Amendments to the Codes of Administrative Responsibility, which introduces Article 19.16, Propaganda of Homosexual Relations, Sex Reassignment, Childlessness, and Pedophilia, which stipulates responsibility for "the dissemination of information in any form in order to shape citizens' ideas about the attractiveness of homosexual relations, gender reassignment, and childlessness."
We view this legislative initiative as an open attack on human rights and personal freedoms, including freedom of expression, the right to non-discrimination, and the right to privacy. The planned changes not only contradict the Constitution of the Republic of Belarus but also the international human rights obligations of the State, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
The prohibition on "shaping ideas about the attractiveness" of certain aspects of personal life (sexual orientation, gender identity, reproductive choice) indirectly states their incorrectness and, essentially, illegality.
We are particularly worried that the category of "propaganda" may include, if arbitrarily interpreted, public displays of LGBTQ+ identity by individuals or even their public existence, any statements in support of equality, educational materials, and works of art devoted to discrimination and the promotion of equality. This creates the ground for mass censorship, harassment of independent media, activists, and entire communities, including their representatives.
In addition, including pedophilia in the same line with homosexuality, transitioning, and childlessness is a clear attempt to discredit and demonize entire social groups, which is unacceptable in a state governed by the rule of law.
At the same time, we emphasize the consistent and purposeful nature of the state's policy on discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, and reproductive choice. In 2024, the first formal regulatory framework appeared, creating the ground for systemic discriminatory practices and systemic harassment against members of the LGBTQ+ community: amendments were made to the Instructions of the Ministry of Culture, which arbitrarily expanded the definition of the term "pornography". Also in 2024, amendments were made to the Law on the Rights of the Child (adopted in the second reading in June 2025), which expanded the list of information harmful to the health and development of a child: information "aimed at promoting homosexual relations, sex reassignment, pedophilia, and childlessness" was added. The proposed norm on administrative responsibility for "propaganda of homosexual relations, sex reassignment, and childlessness" strengthens these unlawful provisions of sectoral legislation with a tool of administrative liability and, consequently, strengthens the repressive mechanism in this area.
We draw the attention of the House of Representatives, as well as the international community, to the inadmissibility of the adoption of such laws. They do not protect public morals, but, on the contrary, stimulate hatred, hostility, and repression against minorities in society.
In this regard, we demand:
from the Council of Ministers
- to withdraw the part of draft Article 19.16 concerning homosexuality, sex reassignment, and childlessness;
from the National Assembly
- to stop the practice of adopting legislation that restricts freedom of speech and divides citizens on the grounds of belonging to different groups;
- to ensure compliance with international human rights obligations, including non-discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, and reproductive choice.
Human Rights Center Viasna
Belarusian Helsinki Committee
PEN Belarus
Lawtrend
Human Constanta
Legal initiative
Respect-Protect-Fulfill
Belarusian Association of Journalists.
