China this week accepted United Nations resolutions demanding it protect the rights of its LGBTI population.

UN members states urged China to adopt anti-discrimination legislation.

The UN’s Human Rights Council Universal Periodic Review made five recommendations regarding LGBTI rights.

In response, China accepted all five. In fact, it claimed they had already been implemented.

Significantly, the Netherlands urged China to adopt legislation to prohibit legislation within one year.

‘This fully demonstrates China’s determination and its active, open attitude toward promoting and protecting human rights’ China wrote in its response to the rights council.

The UN also made recommendations regarding free speech, democratic reforms, and treatment of ethnic and religious minorities. China rejected the majority of these suggestions.

China legalized gay sex in 1997 and removed it from the list of mental illnesses in 2001.

But, in a conservative and family-orientated society, many LGBTI Chinese live in the closet. There is no anti-discrimination legislation and Same-sex marriage is also illegal.

In fact, the last few months have seen a squeeze on LGBTI group and activists.

China’s Netcasting Service Association (CNSA) officially banned LGBT content from China’s internet in June 2017. CNSA labeled homosexuality ‘abnormal sexual behavior’.

Crackdown on LGBTI groups

LGBTI activists in China will likely be suspicious of the government’s promise.

Earlier this year, authorities in China shut down two LGBTI organization.

The Municipal Affairs Bureau in the southern metropolis Guangzhou labeled the Guangzhou University Rainbow Group and the Guangzhou Gender and Sexuality Education Center as ‘illegal social organizations’.

The organizations provided sexual diversity education in universities and support for sexual harassment cases respectively.

Many LGBTI activities have been stopped recently, according to an LGBTI advocate based in Guangzhou.

What’s more, he said it was ‘very difficult’ for LGBTI groups to register.

The same month, Chinese police detained Hong Kong LGBTI activist Cheung Kam Hung for three days last week.

Local media linked Cheung’s arrest to his previous involvement with pro-democracy groups in Hong Kong.