5th ISA Forum of Sociology

ISA Statement regarding concerns from LGBTQIA+ members 
about the 5th ISA Forum of Sociology
in Rabat, Morocco, July 6-11, 2025

Some ISA members have expressed concerns regarding the selection of Morocco for the location of our 2025 ISA Forum, based on the country’s historical record of policies concerning LGBTQIA+ groups. The ISA takes LGBTQIA+ issues, and human rights in general, very seriously, and we highly value the contributions of our association’s LGBTQIA+ members. 

The ISA Executive Committee discussed at length the selection of Morocco for the 2025 Forum. After extensive research and discussion with the Local Organizing Committee, we based our decision on two key criteria: (1) we are confident in our ability to ensure the safety and security of LGBTQIA+ Forum attendees while at the conference; and (2) we consider this a valuable opportunity for the ISA to be a contributor to what is currently an active and constructive global debate on sexual freedoms and politics. The 2025 ISA Forum will join a series of large international events held in Morocco, which reflect the country’s dynamic role in hosting diverse international events dealing with global issues ranging from climate change, global policies, and development to health, sports, and migration. These events attest to Morocco’s capacity to host and welcome people from diverse backgrounds.

In what follows, we provide more detailed information on Morocco’s progress in supporting LGBTQIA+ rights and related concerns.

Moroccan authorities have taken a series of positive steps to advance their commitment to human rights, including the 2011 adoption of a new Constitution that enshrines human rights. Morocco has also ratified the United Nations (UN) nine core human rights treaties and gives individuals in its jurisdiction access to five UN Treaty Bodies: the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD), the Committee against Torture (CAT), the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), the Human Rights Committee, and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) (as of April 2023). 

These steps place the country among those with the best record in the Middle East and North African (MENA) region in terms of human rights, and further steps have been taken as well. For example, a Regulator of Equality and the Fight against all Forms of Discrimination has been established, and a draft law establishing the Authority for Parity and the Fight against all Forms of Discrimination (APALD) has been prepared. 

The criminalization of physical acts of homosexuality remains part of the Moroccan Criminal Code, as in many countries with French and British colonial legacies. Therefore, we would like to describe the nature of these laws. First, the Moroccan Criminal Code does not criminalize LGBTQIA+ identity, nor expressing, displaying, or acknowledging these identities. Criminal Code limits itself to criminalizing physical “acts of homosexuality” between two people of the same born gender. Second, Article 489 of the Moroccan Penal Code, which was originally written by the French colonial administration, stipulates that “anyone who commits an act of homosexuality with a person of the same gender shall be punished by imprisonment from six months to three years and a fine of MAD 200 (about USD 20) to MAD 2,000 (about USD 200).”

The fact that this colonial penal code article remains in the books has become a target of active resistance in Moroccan civil society. Several associations and social movements in Morocco are currently demanding reforms and the abolition of Article 489. Activists and the National Human Rights Council (the official Moroccan state body) are advocating for the decriminalization of consensual same-sex sexual relations. Moreover, during the Universal Periodic Review celebrated in recent years by the UN Human Rights Council, Morocco announced its acceptance of international recommendations to enhance the protection of LGBTQIA+ rights. Despite these advances and a general tolerance of LGBTQIA+ identities in Moroccan society, we do recognize that mainstream society remains conservative.

Homophobia is a global issue. Gains in civil and legal rights have not always been accompanied by respect toward those individuals who express these identities. Indeed, many countries with progressive legislation are seeing a rise in anti-LGBTQIA+ violence and overtly LGBTQIA+-phobic political parties. These dynamics demonstrate the tensions and complexities involved in promoting diversity in gender identities and protecting human rights, which are at the heart of the issues of justice and knowledge that we will be discussing at the 5th ISA Forum in Morocco. At the ISA, we firmly believe that it is precisely our community that takes these issues seriously, both in our scientific work and in our engagement with social movements, and that we must not shy away from discussing these topics in countries where these issues may be contentious. The discussions we are engaged in and the support that we are receiving from the Local Organizing Committee have convinced us that we are at a pivotal moment in Moroccan history where there is a clear recognition of the need not only to discuss these issues but also to give the social sciences a greater voice in scientific debate and public policy.

As we prepare for this important event, the ISA will ensure that information and assistance are provided to all Forum attendees about how to navigate the myriad intersectionalities of identity when travelling to and being in Morocco. Our intention is for this Forum of Sociology to be a truly inclusive event. In this spirit of inclusivity and mutual respect that we practice when visiting any country around the world, we encourage all participants to learn about, engage with, and respect the people and laws of our host country during our Forum. Embracing this respectful approach will enrich our collective experience and foster a more meaningful and harmonious global dialogue.