In Highlight: ILGA World Database

The ILGA World Database has a multifaceted approach to educating and empowering users navigating legal and human rights issues pertaining to sexual orientation, gender identity, expression, and sex characteristics (SOGIESC). Beyond catalogIuing laws, legal instruments, and United Nations human rights mechanism recommendations, it offers clear, plain-language explanations alongside direct links to original legal sources and thus serves also as an educational tool. Beyond offering a carefully curated dataset, it is a dynamic hub that allows learning about recent developments, progress and backtracking, and fosters deeper understanding, critical analysis and informed engagement with SOGIESC issues.

The ILGA World Database prioritises user comprehension and engagement. By providing comprehensive yet easily digestible explanations, it bridges the gap between legal intricacies and lay understanding, empowering users from diverse backgrounds to navigate complex legal landscapes.

A useful feature of the ILGA World Database is the ‘Advanced Search’ tool, which allows users to refine their queries and access the information they seek. Users can specify criteria such as country, legal category, and keywords, effectively narrowing results. The ‘Topics’ search filter is particularly convenient, enabling cross-category searches and providing topic-specific results across domestic legal frameworks and UN data (treaty bodies, special procedures, and UPR). Sorting and filtering options allow users to prioritize results based on relevance, date, country, or region.

The website of the Database is available in English and Spanish. Furthermore, under the “Jurisdiction” entry, which allows users to access all data concerning one specific country, they can read the latest news referring to each country also in its national language.

Recognized for its contribution to sharing knowledge and providing access to key data, the ILGA World Database received a silver medal for ‘Best Use of Data‘ at the esteemed Anthem Awards in January 2024.

Yes, the ILGA World Monitor, which is a data aggregator developed by ILGA World’s Research Programme to complement the database's functionality.

The ILGA World Monitor operates in close-to-real-time, capturing daily legal news on LGBTI issues across 70 languages through 153 classifiers/keywords. It facilitates weekly debriefs on unfolding events and provides a constant influx of data for regular updates to the ILGA World Database. By significantly reducing the time and effort traditionally required for research, the ILGA World Monitor enhances ILGA World’s capacity to advocate for LGBTI rights globally.

Suppose a human rights organization aims to monitor a country's compliance with international human rights obligations and recommendations regarding sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or sex characteristics, such as those issued by treaty bodies, special procedures, or those accepted during their Universal Periodic Review. In such a scenario, the ILGA World Database can be used to track relevant laws, policies, and legal developments within that country. Furthermore, the database keeps up with not only the enacted legislation, but also the debates and discussions brought to political domestic fora, the introduction of bills, and ongoing strategic litigation. By examining entries related to specific legal categories in the ILGA World Database, such as anti-discrimination laws, hate crime legislation, or gender recognition policies, researchers can assess the extent to which national laws align with international human rights standards, as well as the extent to which action has been taken in response to UN recommendations.

This analysis enables organisations to identify gaps, discrepancies, or areas of concern in national legal frameworks and advocate for necessary reforms to ensure compliance with international human rights obligations.

The ILGA World Database caters to a diverse range of users, including:

1. Legal professionals: Lawyers, judges, legal scholars, and human rights advocates rely on the database for legal research, analysis, and litigation strategies related to SOGIESC issues.
2.  Activists and advocacy groups: they utilise the database and the ILGA World Monitor to support their advocacy efforts, monitor legal developments, and formulate evidence-based campaigns for policy change.
3. Media professionals: Journalists, reporters, and media organisations leverage the database to access accurate and up-to-date information for reporting, analysis, and awareness-raising on SOGIESC issues.
4. Researchers and academics: Scholars, researchers, and students access the database for academic research and policy analysis.
5. Government officials and policymakers: Especially in countries where there is political will to advance the cause for LGBTI equality, government agencies, policymakers, and other stakeholders use the database to inform policymaking, legislative reforms, and human rights reporting related to SOGIESC issues.
6. Asylum seeker legal aid providers: Organisations providing legal aid to asylum seekers track enforcement of relevant laws through the database, aiding in their efforts to support LGBTQI+ individuals seeking asylum.

ILGA World is continuously working to enhance the ILGA World Database and expand its capabilities to better serve the needs of users globally. Regular updates and additions ensure the database reflects legal and policy developments affecting LGBTI rights worldwide.

In 2024, ILGA World plans to expand the database's coverage to include additional legal categories, such as explicit legal protections against school bullying. This expansion aims to provide more comprehensive and diverse insights into the field of protection against discrimination in education.