On 5-15 October 2026 Warsaw hosted a Warsaw Human Dimension Conference (WHDC), organized by OSCE (Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe) Chairpersonship, with support from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR).
It provided a valuable opportunity for international advocacy for LGBTQI+ related issues, because when the space for LGBTQI+ activism shrinks nationally, international advocacy becomes especially important.
Recognizing the growing pressure on LGBTQI+ people and activism in Central Asia, the RESILIENT project* supported participation and events of community representatives from Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. ECOM, from other sources, also supported participation of community from Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan.
Thanks to this support and the joint efforts of human rights organizations, the side event provided activists with an opportunity to present the situation in the region and address the international community with concrete recommendations. International platforms provide opportunities to bring documented evidence to the attention of OSCE participating States, diplomatic missions, and international organizations, and to advocate for concrete changes.
On 7 October, a side event titled “Criminalization of LGBTQI+ People and Shrinking Civic Space in Central Asia” took place:
- Human rights defenders from Central Asia spoke about how legislative restrictions, criminalization, censorship, and pressure from law enforcement agencies affect the lives of LGBTQI+ people and the work of civil society.
- The event addressed the enforcement of the so-called “LGBTQI+ propaganda” ban in Kazakhstan, restrictions on the rights of transgender people in Kyrgyzstan, blackmail and breaches of confidentiality in Tajikistan, and the criminalization of same-sex relations between men in Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.
These presentations highlighted a common regional trend: opportunities for openly carrying out activities, defending rights, and bringing LGBTQI+ people together are shrinking, while risks for activists and organizations are increasing.
Ensuring that the voices of Central Asian activists continue to be heard, supporting independent civil society, and advocating for the protection of LGBTQI+ rights remain essential tasks that do not end when the conference concludes.
* The project “RESILIENT Communities & Securing Civic Space for HIV Response in EECA” (RESILIENT) is implemented by EHRA, ECOM, EWNA and SWAN with the support of Elton John AIDS Foundation.