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Homosexuality is in the criminal code in 63 countries*. A quarter of the world’s population, around 2 billion people, live in a country where homosexuality is punishable by law. In 11 of these countries the penalty for homosexuality is death and in 2 countries the death penalty has recently been carried out.
The Zero Flags Project is a countdown to zero flags. In this we work together with organisations such as Pride Amsterdam, ILGA, the UNHCR, Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International and the Equal Rights Coalition. We will continue our countdown until the only flag remaining is the rainbow flag and the whole world lives in sexual- and gender freedom.
*The Zero Flags Project follows the ILGA World State-Sponsored Homophobia report which is a fundamental resource for those interested in accessing the core information on legislation affecting people on the basis of their sexual orientation. See https://database.ilga.org/criminalisation-consensual-same-sex-sexual-acts
LATEST EVENTS
2024 | Amsterdam | WorldPride 2026 kickoff
Amsterdam is hosting the WorldPride 2026 event, 25 years after the Netherlands was the first country in the world to legalise same-sex marriage.
During Amsterdam Worldpride 2026 the Zero Flags Project will be present and therefor we were part of the Kick-off event in Amsterdam last June.
Touria Meliani, the Amsterdam alderman for Inclusion and anti-discrimination policy, shared her personal wish that during the WorldPride 2026 at least 5 flags of the Zero Flags Project can be lowered because these countries have changed their laws.
2023 | Amsterdam | Queer & Pride | July 22 – August 6
During the Amsterdam Queer & Pride event, the Museumplein (Museum Square) is home to the Monument of Visibility of the Zero Flags Project.
On Saturday, July 22, the Pride Walk made its way from Dam Square to the Museumplein, where the Queer Amsterdam event took place.
The Monument of Visibility attracted a multitude of visitors, and our dedicated volunteers, some of whom are refugees from the countries involved in the project, graciously answered numerous questions about the initiative.
The impact of the project was undeniable, with many attendees expressing their appreciation and sharing how it deeply resonated with them. Interestingly, most visitors were previously unaware of the challenging situations faced by individuals in these countries, making the experience all the more enlightening for them.
If you missed the chance to visit; The Monument of Visibility will remain accessible on the Museumplein throughout both pride weeks in Amsterdam, from July 22 until August 6. Don’t pass up this opportunity to gain insight into an important cause and be a part of the movement for visibility and understanding.
2022 | Amsterdam | Pride Walk | July 30
When the Pride Walk entered the main entrance of the Vondelpark the participants were greeted by the flag carriers lining the path on both sides. The flag carriers were holding a flag and a sign with the name of the country and the punishment for homosexuality.
After the Pride Walk had passed they joined the Pride Walk as a closing group and delivered the flags to the Zero Flags Project spot in Pride Park which was visited all day by passersby informing themselves about the fact that in too many countries it is still illegal to be homosexual.
Afak Shahoud – Syria/Lebanon
Mohamed Koroma – Sierra Leone
Zee Salem – Egypt
2022 | Nijmegen | Monument of Visibility | July 26 – August 2
During the Eurogames Nijmegen the flags of countries where homosexuality is in the Criminal Code were hanging from 6 meter high flagpoles along the Waalkade next to the site of the opening and closing of the EuroGames. Each flag pole carried a sign stating the name of the country and the punishment for homosexuality.
On July 26 during a short ceremony the Monument of Visibility was officially opened by Alderman Vergunst, on behalf of the Municipal Executive of Nijmegen.
