Publication from Caroline Russell: Advertising on TfL by countries with death penalty for same sex acts

Dear Sadiq,



Thank you for relaying TfL’s commitment to removing the advertising of Brunei on TfL’s network. Brunei is not the only country where homosexuality has been defined as a crime punishable by death.



According to the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA) in their March 2019 report, State-Sponsored Homophobia, there were six countries with effective death penalties for consensual same-sex sexual acts between adults and five with probable.



Effective:

• Iran
• Nigeria
• Saudi Arabia
• Somalia
• Sudan
• Yemen

Probable:

• Afghanistan
• Mauritania
• Pakistan
• Qatar
• United Arab Emirates

Source: https://ilga.org/state-sponsored-homophobia-report



Please can you confirm if any of the countries or state-owned entities from countries on this list are or have tried to advertise on TfL property? I am concerned to ensure that human rights are respected, and that TfL is not accepting advertising from countries on this list.



I understand that the cable car has a sponsorship deal with Emirates until 2022, which was awarded in 2011. Emirates is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Emirates Group, owned by the Investment Corporation of Dubai, UAE. When this sponsorship opportunity comes up for renewal will you ensure that countries or state-owned entities from countries on the ILGA list are not eligible to bid.



Yours sincerely,

Caroline Russell

Green Party Member of the London Assembly