MSM Country Snapshot Series: MONGOLIA

This snapshot provides information on the current situation for HIV and LGBT rights and advocacy in Mongolia. Mongolia hosts one of the region’s smallest HIV epidemics. It remained hidden until around 2007 when serological surveillance was performed after indications of rising incidence. From then until 2012, 75 HIV diagnoses were added to the HIV registry, bringing the total cumulative number?of infections between 1992 and the end of 2011 to 100. Among these cases, 66 percent were reported cases among MSM. Given that between 1992 and 2007, data on sexual orientation were not collected, the 66 percent is probably an underestimation.

Similar to in neighbouring countries, MSM in Mongolia remain largely hidden because of widespread and institutionalised prejudice. Societal and family pressures lead many Mongolian MSM to marry and live secret ‘double lives’ with both male and female sexual partners. One survey meant to gauge levels of discrimination against MSM in Ulaanbaatar and Darkhan-Uul found that 53 percent of respondents thought of MSM as healthy people whose sexual behaviour is abnormal, meanwhile 14 percent thought MSM are mentally ill. Arbitrary detentions and physical abuse by law enforcement authorities have also been recorded.

A 2012 study discovered that stigma and discrimination against LGBT populations and MSM is common in Mongolia and creates significant barriers to health service access, employment, and social acceptance. The same study reported that 77.4 percent of MSM in Ulaanbaatar had experienced at least one of the following incidents in the last three years: forced sex or rape (14.7 percent); verbal harassment (54.8 percent); and physical harassment or beating (10.4 percent). Other key issues included: loss of employment upon discovery of sexual orientation or HIV status; being tested for HIV without consent; and blackmail by law enforcement.

The snapshot provides more information about priorities for Mongolia reaching the three zeros, the most recent epidemiological data, behavioural information and programmatic information.