Geneva: A landmark ruling in India to legalise gay sex could set an example for about 80 countries which still outlaw homosexual sex, a UN agency said on Thursday.

It would also encourage more HIV victims in India to come forward to seek treatment and information, added the United Nations joint programme on HIV and AIDS.

“We think this will set an important precedence throughout the world,” said Susan Timberlake, who heads Unaids’ human rights and law team.

She added that in almost all of the countries that outlaw homosexual sex, “both the law and the homophobia... results in both the denial of human rights of men who have sex with men, transgender people and lesbians, but also in the denial of health care services that they desperately need in the world of HIV.”

Several Commonwealth countries still view gay sex as illegal, including Malaysia, Singapore, Bangladesh, and many Caribbean islands.

In India, homosexual HIV sufferers would now find it easier to seek information and treatment, said Pradeep Kakkattil who heads Unaids’ technical support division.

“What this judgement could help in is encourage men who have sex with men to come out more and seek those services... and it will make much easier for people working in the field to provide that information,” he said.