UN human rights experts have called for the release of 21 lesbian, gay, bisexual, Trans and gender-diverse (LGBT+) activists detained last month.

The LGBT+ rights defenders were arrested two weeks ago while attending a conference in south-eastern Ghana and were detained on charges of unlawful assembly.

The UN human rights experts in a statement expressed “deep” concern and condemned the arrests and detention which they said were based on discriminatory grounds including sexual orientation.

“All evidence available to us points to the fact that they were detained while they were peacefully exercising their rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association.

“The Government of Ghana must release them immediately and unconditionally,” they said.

The activists are due to appear in court on Friday.