The small western Pacific nation of Palau has decriminalised sex between men, in a reform of its criminal laws. It has accepted recommendations from its last Universal Periodic Review at the UN Human Rights Council in 2011, where the delegates from France, Norway and Spain all made recommendations that Palau repeal its anti-gay laws. While only revealed today, the new criminal laws came into force at the end of July this year in the nation, which lies east of the Philippines. It’s made up more than 300 islands and has a population of around 21,000 people. Asia Pacific lgbti human rights advocacy organisation Kaleidoscope Australia has highlighted and welcomed the move, which is the first decriminalisation in Oceania since Fiji struck down its sodomy law in 2010. “This is wonderful news -giving a much need impetus to the process for reform in the Pacific,” says President Dr Paula Gerber. “It is especially pleasing to see that recommendations made during the UN Universal Periodic Review process appear to have had an impact. “Kaleidoscope Australia regularly submits shadow reports to UN review processes, calling for an end to the criminalisation of homosexuality. Kaleidoscope Australia will continue to work with LGBTI activists in Asia Pacific nations to follow the example recently set by Palau.” There are 79 countries globally that still treat gay men as criminals. Eight are in the Pacific region and 12 in Asia.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Wednesday, 15th October 2014 - 11:09am