Towards inclusive and intersectional women’s rights: Stories from ILGA World members in Albania, Mongolia and Sri Lanka
Summary:
Together with our members and regions, ILGA World is at the forefront of advocating for an inclusive and intersectional approach to women’s rights — one that centres the diverse experiences of women of all sexual orientations, gender identities, gender expressions and sex characteristics (SOGIESC).
We believe that women’s rights are for all women — women in all their diversity, including those who are lesbian, bisexual, trans, intersex, and queer.
“The path toward inclusion has been marked by resistance, as recognition of diverse sexual orientations, gender identities, gender expressions, and sex characteristics has continually had to be fought for.”
At ILGA World, we are extensively advocating for inclusive women’s rights in international human rights fora, specifically in the feminist and sexual reproductive health rights (SRHR) spaces.
Together with our members and regional partners, we have worked to make this vision a reality across global human rights systems, feminist movements, and spaces related to sexual and reproductive health and rights.
Even today, there are only 12 states which have constitutional protection based on sexual orientation, five based on gender identity and one based on gender expression. In contrast, no state provides protection based on sex characteristics.
These are some of the wins achieved through the long-term efforts of our grassroots member organisations.
UN member States with constitutional-level protection against discrimination on the grounds of SOGIESC (source: ILGA World Database)
Advocating for an inclusive understanding of women’s rights in Albania and Mongolia
LGBT Centre Mongolia (LGBTCM) is the first and sole organisation in Mongolia specifically dedicated to ensuring that LGBTQI+ people can enjoy their rights.
It was established in 2007. Since its inception, LGBTCM has undertaken significant work to defend the rights of LGBTQI+ people through its core programmes, including legal advocacy and justice, as well as other community and advocacy initiatives.
Over the last couple of years, LGBT Centre Mongolia has participated in the reviews of their country by the UN Committees on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR) and on Discrimination Against Women and Girls (CEDAW). Through various international advocacy efforts, LGBTCM has consistently demanded their national government establish a vision of rights that is more inclusive of LGBTQI+ individuals — especially those in rural areas, with a focus on their education, health, and employment.
Something historic at the global level happened during this work. As a result of LGBTCM’s engagement, the CESCR Committee referred to the ICD-11 (the latest International Classification of Diseases, which declassified trans identities as a mental disorder) as it issued a recommendation to Mongolia on trans persons.
A long journey still lies ahead, but LGBTCM has planted the seeds for change – nurtured by local LGBTQI+ communities. Listen to our podcast to dig deeper.
Aleanca LGBTI Alliance, or the Alliance Against LGBTI Discrimination (Aleanca Kundër Diskriminimit LGBT), is an not-for-profit from Albania organisation that, for over a decade, has been working towards empowering the local LGBTI community, protecting its rights, and fighting discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
The group was established in 2009 when a group of LGBTI volunteers began designing programs and activities for the community. They have been an ILGA World member since 2012.
Since their inception, Aleanca LGBTI Alliance has actively participated in policy advocacy at both national and international levels. They contributed to regional working groups during the second and third cycles of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of their country, attended the 42nd session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, and published a spotlight report in 2020 on implementing the 2030 Agenda from an LGBTI perspective, alongside engaging with treaty bodies mechanisms.
Aleanca LGBTI Alliance’s advocacy efforts have resulted in significant achievements, notably to improve anti-discrimination legislation in their country to include sexual orientation and gender identity as protected grounds.
Dea Nini of Aleanca LGBTI Alliance delivers a statement at the United Nations
Currently, the Aleanca LGBTI Alliance, in partnership with ILGA World, is engaging deeply with the CEDAW committee to advocate for equal rights same-sex couples.
Notably, the CEDAW committee has recommended that Albania recognise same-sex marriages and the adoption of children by these couples, aligning with the recommendations of the Aleanca LGBTI Alliance.
Challenging criminalisation in Sri Lanka
Based on colonial-era law, Sri Lanka still criminalises consensual same-sex sexual acts between two consenting adults, including in the privacy of their homes, with a fine and/or imprisonment for up to two years.
In 1995, Sri Lanka amended its criminalising provisions, which previously applied only to men, to include sexual conduct between women — just by replacing the earlier term “male person” with “person”. Also, the Sri Lankan Constitution explicitly prohibits any constitutional challenge to the validity of enacted legislation. This was further reinforced in 2016, when the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka confirmed the validity of criminalising provisions and upheld the conviction of two men.
A long-standing ILGA World member, EQUAL GROUND has emerged as a leading force in the fight against the discrimination facing the LGBTI community — with work spanning advocacy, litigation, and education. They have dedicated efforts in providing support to the LGBTI community while simultaneously advocating for equal rights in the country.
EQUAL GROUND’s Executive Director and former ILGA World co-Secretary General, Rosanna Flamer-Caldera, became the first person to challenge the country’s criminalisation of same-sex sexual acts before CEDAW in the landmark case Flamer-Caldera v Sri Lanka. This four-year case marked a historic moment for our LGBTI communities in the country and beyond, bringing issues of sexual orientation into the purview of international women’s rights mechanisms.
In its recommendations, CEDAW called for the decriminalisation of consensual same-sex sexual acts between women and urged the State to
“provide effective protection against gender-based violence against women, including by adopting comprehensive legislation prohibiting discrimination against [LBTI] women.”
Rosanna Flamer-Caldera delivers a training during a community event
Similar to the previous cases in Albania and Mongolia, the national implementation of this recommendation continues to remain a challenge, as highlighted in the 2025 shadow report submitted by EQUAL GROUND and in their participation in the CEDAW’s 2025 review of Sri Lanka.
They strongly advocated for decriminalisation and greater legal recognition. The CEDAW committee listened up and issued strong recommendations on the case, affirming that
“the criminalisation of consensual same-sex relations violates women’s rights under international law.”
This precedent paves the way for future advocacy at the national level towards challenging criminalisation in Sri Lanka and reinforces the legitimacy of SOGIESC-based claims under CEDAW.
Reimagining ‘women’s rights for all’
At ILGA World, we continue to empower and collaborate with our membership to create and seize opportunities to bolster advocacy on the ground.
These stories — from Mongolia, Albania, and Sri Lanka — are a testament to the power of local movements influencing global standards. Through sustained advocacy, legal action, and coalition-building, ILGA World’s members are transforming international women’s rights frameworks to reflect the full diversity of lived experiences.
Inclusive and intersectional feminism is not a future aspiration — it is happening now. And while the struggle continues, each step forward redefines what it means to ensure rights for all women, everywhere.
As members, if you are interested in sharing some of your stories with us, please do reach out at programmes (a) ilga (dot) org.
