The United Nations (UN) has today urged the Kyrgyz Parliament to withdraw the draft legislation that would discriminate against LGBT people in Kyrgyzstan.

In June, the Parliament of Kyrgyzstan’s Human Rights Committee approved the bill banning the dissemination of information “aimed at forming positive attitudes toward non-traditional sexual relations.”

Spokesperson for the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) Ravina Shamdasani said: “We call on the Kyrgyz Parliament and authorities to refrain from passing draft legislation that would embed in law discrimination against people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT).”

She added: “The proposed law would also violate fundamental human rights, including the rights to liberty, security and physical integrity and to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association. These rights are protected by human rights treaties ratified by Kyrgyzstan.”

In January, leading human rights group the Human Rights Watch reported widespread physical and sexual abuse of gay men by Kyrgyz police.