The Commonwealth is a voluntary association of 56 independent countries, home to around 2.7 billion people across Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Europe and the Pacific.
Most are former territories of the British Empire, connected today through shared institutions, cooperation and the Commonwealth Charter, which commits member states to democracy, human rights, equality and respect for diversity.
For many LGBTIQ+ people, however, these shared values remain far from reality.
Across the Commonwealth, consensual same-sex relationships continue to be criminalised in about 28 (50%) member states. In many cases, these laws are not indigenous in origin, but derive from criminal legislation introduced during British colonial rule. While a growing number of Commonwealth countries have repealed these laws, others remain in force today, contributing to discrimination, exclusion and, in some cases, imprisonment.
The continued existence of these laws represents one of the most enduring human rights legacies of colonialism.
At the same time, the Commonwealth is also home to remarkable movements for change. Across every region, activists, community organisations, lawyers, politicians and ordinary citizens continue to work towards greater freedom, dignity and equality. Recent years have seen important legal reforms in several Commonwealth countries, demonstrating that progress is possible and continues to gather momentum.
The Zero Flags Project seeks to encourage reflection on the impact of laws that criminalise consensual same-sex relationships and the people whose lives continue to be affected by them. The Commonwealth provides an important lens through which to understand how history continues to shape contemporary human rights, while also recognising the courage and determination of those working to create a more equal future.
The Commonwealth Charter affirms that member states are committed to human rights, tolerance, respect and understanding, and equal dignity for all people.
Zero Flags Project invites everyone to consider how those shared aspirations compare with the lived experiences of LGBTIQ+ people across today’s Commonwealth.