Country Overview
Maldives
At a glance
Same-sex Relations for Men Legal Throughout the Country?
Same-sex Relations for Women Legal Throughout the Country?
Legal Gender Recognition Possible?
LGBTI Orgs Able to Register?
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The Maldives Criminal Code criminalizes anyone who engages in same-sex sexual intimacy, with punishments that include lashes and imprisonment. Additionally, the Maldives criminalizes marriage between same-sex couples. Such laws have exacerbated LGBTIQ-phobic sentiment in the Maldives and put LGBTQ individuals at higher risk of blackmail, extortion, harassment, and political manipulation. In 2022, crackdowns on LGBTIQ people led to the arrest of four men and the investigation of dozens of others. LGBTIQ activists face challenges and obstacles in their work, as well as harassment and violence threats by conservative groups, especially on social media platforms.
Global Impact
Sub-Saharan Africa
Outright supports LGBTIQ organizations in Sub-Saharan Africa and works with mainstream human rights organizations to respect human rights and influence positive changes in laws, policies, attitudes and beliefs that cause discrimination against LGBTIQ people.
United Nations
Our work at the United Nations centers around advocating for the advancement of the rights of LGBTIQ people.
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In the Southwest Asia and North Africa, we partner with local groups in various countries as part of our international solidarity work. We also work with our local partners on different topics through capacity building, advocacy, research and holistic security.
Europe and Central Asia
Outright International partners with activists to fight for an end to human rights violations based on sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression in Europe and Central Asia, where most of our work involves emergency responses to harassment, discrimination, violence, and most recently, Russia’s brutal and expanded invasion of Ukraine.
Americas
Our work in the Americas continues to build on the fundamental and positive transformation of human rights protections in recent years. We partner with groups in the Caribbean that focus on ending gender-based violence and eradicating discrimination against trans people.
Pacific
Our work in the Pacific aims to increase the visibility of activists, respond to human rights emergencies, and actively bridge local, regional, and international activism to achieve equality and justice.
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Human Rights Research
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