O.N. and D.P. v. Russia (CEDAW, 27 March 2020): negative stereotypes against lesbian women

2.1    The authors are a lesbian couple, who have maintained a stable relationship for several years.

2.2    On the night of 19 to 20 October 2014, the authors were going home in Saint Petersburg when, at about 12.47 a.m., at a subway station, they noticed two unknown men following them. They continued on their way, followed by the men to the exit from the station, then along the street towards their flat. On their way, the authors openly demonstrated their relationship, hugging, kissing and holding hands. At one point, one of the men attacked the first author from behind, hitting her. He then hit both authors on the head, face and body, shouting homophobic insults and threatening to kill them if he met them again. Meanwhile, the second man filmed the attack with his mobile telephone. Shortly afterwards, the men left.

7.10  The Committee considers that the present case shows a failure by the State party in its duty to uphold women’s rights, particularly in the context of violence and discrimination against women on the basis of their sexual orientation and to eliminate the barriers that the authors faced in seeking justice in their case, in particular negative stereotypes against lesbian women, and to ensure that law enforcement officials strictly apply the legislation prohibiting gender-based discrimination against women.