The Australian Volunteers Program strives to provide a safe, supportive and equitable environment for LGBTQIA+ volunteers, approved accompanying dependents, partner organisations and all program staff. The Australian Volunteers Program has supported queer volunteers in all program countries and has ongoing connections with community organisations in many countries and regions in which the program operates.
This guide introduces a snapshot of the local context for queer and gender diverse people. LGBTQIA+ program participants must be aware of the country context before undertaking an assignment. If you are an LGBTQIA+ volunteer, you will need to:
- do your own research and understand what the local law says you can and can't do when in-country
- follow the local laws, even if you disagree with them
- be aware of the legal protections for LGBTQIA+ people in your destinations
- consider if you’re comfortable living and working in a place where you may not be able to live as openly as you can in some parts of Australia.
Language
Terminology may differ across urban and rural contexts, provinces or ethnic and cultural groups. Information sourced online can be outdated or inaccurate. For current and accurate information, please confirm with an appropriate civil society organisation (CSO) or ask your in-country team.
Legal and policy context
Same-sex sexual acts were decriminalised in Mongolia in 1961 and a 2017 Criminal Code reform explicitly outlawed discrimination based on diverse gender and sexual identities. However, an exclusionary national legal framework denies the equal rights and protections of queer communities. Same-sex marriage and civil unions are not recognised by the state.
Citizens over the age of 18 can apply for a registration of sex change if they submit a birth certificate, citizenship identity card and medical verification. Although this presents progress for transgender people, the law is not clear on the type of ‘medical verification’ required.
Discrimination
Some legal protections exist for LGBTQIA+ in Mongolia, and discrimination based on a person’s sexual orientation is prohibited. These penalties are more severe if the acts are committed by public officials, but do not include protections based on gender identity. Hate crimes based gender and sexual orientation can result in a life sentence for crimes that result in death, or 12 years’ imprisonment for serious bodily injury. As is the case in many countries, there are no constitutional protections for LGBTQIA+ people in Mongolia.
Cultural and societal attitudes
Gender roles and patriarchy underpin some of the negative attitudes toward queer communities in Mongolia. Sexual violence and harassment in public towards LGBTQIA+ people is the most common type of sexual violence. The queer community may also experience blackmail to avoid public disclosure of their sexual orientation and violence at the hands of police. Intimate partner violence between LGBTQIA+ couples is also an issue but is not addressed by the state.
Despite some legal protections, harassment or loss of employment is possible when a person’s diverse gender or sexual identity is disclosed in the workplace.
Many people conceal their gender or sexual identities from family for fear of physical or psychological violence or being kicked out of home. When queer communities have experienced violence, some feel they are unable to speak to their families for fear of being blamed for “tempting” the perpetrator.
The non-recognition of same-sex couples means that parents and other family members often overrule a same-sex partner’s wishes about their partner, such as medical treatment and asset management.
Health and wellbeing
Although the government has mandated free primary healthcare, services are under-resourced and inaccessible. For LGBTQIA+ people, accessing services is even more difficult. A lesbian reflecting on her experiences stated:
'When I go to see a doctor, I am always told ‘you should be having [heterosexual] sex’. It is scary that doctors do not respect the privacy of clients at all.'
Mongolia is a low HIV-risk country, but actual rates may be lower than official numbers predict. Together Center is the only CSO that ensures confidentiality in HIV testing. MSM (who make up most HIV positive cases in Mongolia) are subjected to HIV-related stigma in the public healthcare system.
Gender-affirming surgery and psychological assistance are inaccessible in Mongolia for transgender communities. One transgender woman stated:
'I have never received medical service and treatment as a woman. I really don’t know where to go because there is no specialist in the country who knows the special health needs of transgender people. We cannot afford hormone therapy and associated surgeries because they are not covered by health insurance.'
While hormone replacement therapy is legal, is it costly and difficult to access. Mental health psychosocial services are not readily available for the queer community.
Sexual education is part of the school curriculum and includes LGBTQIA+ topics, but these are taught at the teacher’s discretion. Bullying of LGBTQIA+ students by peers and teachers is common. Transgender girls are at particular risk of leaving school prematurely because of harassment and stigmatisation.
Media
Media coverage of sexual assault against MSM and transgender women has historically victimised the queer community.
The Pride Guides were developed in 2022 and updated in 2025 by consultants and experts based in countries in which the program operates.
