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The International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA) launched the 13th ^edition State- Sponsored Homophobia Report , authored by Lucas Ramón Mendos.

“As of March 2019, 70 states continue to criminalize consensual same-sex activity. In 44 of these states, the law applies to people regardless of their gender ,” Mendos notes. “There has been significant progress in the last two years: India, Trinidad and Tobago, and Angola were the latest to repeal such laws. We hope this will contribute to further change in their regions. However, this global progress is also accompanied by setbacks: in 2017, Chad criminalized consensual same-sex sexual acts, a worrying example of legal backsliding.”

[READ ALSO: IACHR on alert due to wave of attacks against LGBT+ people in Latin America]

This launch comes as ILGA is holding its World Conference in Aotearoa New Zealand , where more than 500 people from 100 countries have gathered to celebrate ILGA's 40th anniversary, as well as the progress made by the global LGBTI movement.

The maps of sexual orientation laws accompanying the State- Sponsored Homophobia Report , and a new approach to viewing the different legislations has been designed. The color scheme has also been modified to make it easier for colorblind people to read.

“In the past, we viewed laws as a continuous spectrum ranging from the death penalty at one end to marriage equality at the other. This year, the upper end of the spectrum represents places with constitutional protection against discrimination based on sexual orientation. The constitutions of nine countries explicitly mention sexual orientation as a protected ground against discrimination. This demonstrates the extent of change that is truly taking place around the world, with increasing protection in all regions, although a simple glance at these maps is enough to see how many states deny rights to our communities and how much work remains to be done,” commented André du Plessis, Executive Director of ILGA.

Currently, six UN member states impose the death penalty for consensual same-sex sexual acts, and five other states where such punishment is technically possible. In 26 other countries, the maximum penalty can range from 10 years to life imprisonment.

At least 32 UN Member States have established provisions that limit people's freedom of expression , including propaganda laws that prohibit the promotion of "homosexuality" or "non-traditional" sexual relations; 41 States put barriers in place for NGOs working on sexual orientation issues to be registered or operate regularly, further endangering human rights defenders.

[READ ALSO: Argentina: 147 hate crimes against LGBT people in 2018]

On the other hand, legislation protecting lesbian, gay, and bisexual people from discrimination and violence has expanded in recent years, although at a slower pace than we had hoped.

The number of United Nations member states that prohibit “ conversion ” therapies remains at three, but there is also progress at the subnational level, where local legislatures have banned such practices. Legal provisions protecting against employment discrimination are now in place in 38% of states.

When it comes to protecting and recognizing our relationships and families, marriage equality has gained 4 more states in recent years, while another 27 guarantee the recognition of civil partnerships.

“These are not just numbers, but laws that truly impact the daily lives of people of diverse sexual orientations around the world ,” commented Ruth Baldacchino and Helen Kennedy, Co-Secretaries General of ILGA. “Positive laws make a difference: they can help change public attitudes and, specifically, tell people that they are equally deserving of rights.”

Key figures (as of March 2019)

• In 123 UN member states, consensual same-sex sexual acts between adults are legal .
• 70 UN member states still criminalize consensual same-sex sexual acts between adults (68 through explicit provisions of law, 2 de facto).
• The death penalty for consensual same-sex sexual acts is imposed in six UN member states. In four of them (Iran, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, and Sudan) it is applied statewide; in two (Somalia and Nigeria) it is applied only in specific provinces. There are five other states (Pakistan, Afghanistan, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Mauritania) where this penalty remains a possibility.
• 32 states have laws that restrict freedom of expression on matters of sexual orientation and gender identity.
• 41 States pose barriers to the formation, establishment or registration of NGOs related to sexual orientation
• 73 states have laws that protect against workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation
• Nine states contain constitutional provisions that specify sexual orientation in their protections against discrimination.
• 39 States have laws that punish acts of incitement to hatred, discrimination, or violence based on sexual orientation ; 42 States impose harsher penalties for crimes motivated by hatred toward the victim's sexual orientation
• 26 States recognize same-sex marriage recognition of same-sex partnerships
• 28 states have joint adoption laws , while 30 states allow second parent adoption .