There is an erosion of LGBTQIA+ rights and equality in both law and practice around the world. A global wave of discriminatory anti-LQBTQIA+ laws and policies have targeted and persecuted LGBTQIA+ individuals and communities, from criminalising LGBTQIA+ persons; to restricting freedom of assembly and association; to hindering access to healthcare and education. As a result, LGBTQIA+ individuals continue to face disproportionate risks of violence, stigma, and discrimination based on their sexual orientation and/or gender identity. This session will explore the historical and political context of the increasing criminalisation, examine the rise of populist governments attacking LGBTQIA+ persons, and call on the international community to resist the attacks against recent advances in LGBTQIA+ equality worldwide.