Tencent's WeChat social media network has banned dozens of LGBTQIA+ profiles owned by university students, claiming that some had violated internet information guidelines, raising fears of a crackdown on gay content online. The social media platform has banned accounts associated with the LGBTQIA+ community and LGBTQIA+ groups in universities. Many student LGBTQIA+ groups have issued statements in response to the closure of their accounts. Fudan University's Zhihe Society said that "Our activities will not stop due to the closure. On the contrary, we hope to use this opportunity to start again with a continued focus on gender and society, and to embrace courage and love."
The rights of members of the LGBTQIA+ community have been at risk in China. While homosexuality was decriminalised in 1997, it was classified as a mental illness until 2001 and same-sex marriage is still not recognised under Chinese laws. In 2019, China agreed to five recommendations on LGBTQIA+ issues made under the UN Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Review, including adopting legislation banning discrimination within a year, however, this legislation is yet to be adopted. The release of information for and about the LGBTQIA+ community may be considered illegal under China's Cybersecurity Law, which prohibits the publication of information that disrupts the "social order". The Universal Declaration on Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights recognise the inherent right to equality of all peoples and the duties of states to respect, ensure and promote this right. This includes the right against discrimination on the basis of gender or sexual orientation. The UN human rights council has been very vocal against violence and discrimination committed against individuals because of their sexual orientation and gender identity from its resolution 17/19 on Human rights, sexual orientation, and gender identity in 2011. Wechat's deleting profiles based on sexual orientation would come under the scope of discrimination and unequal treatment. States are obligated to take actions to prevent such violations of the right to equality, making it incumbent on the government of China to ensure such discrimination does not go unnoticed. Preventing homophobic actions of private organisations which worsen the lives of members of the LGBTQIA+ community is the next step towards ending the discrimination and bringing everyone closer together. Suggested Readings: 1. The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Right's statement on "Combatting discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity" Available at: https://www.ohchr.org/en/issues/discrimination/pages/lgbt.aspx 2. Protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity : note by the Secretary-General (UN Doc. A/74/181) Available at: https://digitallibrary.un.org/record/3823802?ln=en 3. Outright Action International's page on China, Available at : https://outrightinternational.org/region/china
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