Amnesty International has criticised new punishments for same-sex sexual acts in Brunei Darussalam.

Death by stoning is set to come into effect next week.

While a punishment of amputation for robbery is also set to become law.

The punishments are provided for in newly-implemented sections of the country's penal code, due to come into force on April 3rd.

That is according to a notice on the Attorney-General's website.

Brunei researcher at Amnesty International, Rachel Chhoa-Howard, said: "Pending provisions in Brunei's Penal Code would allow stoning and amputation as punishments - including for children - to name only their most heinous aspects.

"Brunei must immediately halt its plans to implement these vicious punishments, and revise its penal code in compliance with its human rights obligations.

"The international community must urgently condemn Brunei's move to put these cruel penalties into practice."

The Sultan of Brunei, Haji Hassanal Bolkiah, arrives for a summit of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) in Brussels in October 2018 | Image: Zheng Huansong/Xinhua News Agency/PA Images

She added: "To legalise such cruel and inhuman penalties is appalling of itself.

"Some of the potential 'offences' should not even be deemed crimes at all, including consensual sex between adults of the same gender."

Amnesty previously expressed grave concerns over the penal code when its first phase was implemented back in April 2014.

Brunei Darussalam has signed but not yet ratified the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.

It also rejected recommendations to this effect in its human rights review at the United Nations in 2014.

While Brunei retains the death penalty in law, Amnesty has said it is abolitionist in practice.

Brunei is an Islamic country with a Sharia criminal code, where homosexual activity is illegal.

The small state, which is located in South-East Asia on the north-west coast of the island of Borneo, is also a member of the British Commonwealth.

The most recent advice from the Department of Foreign Affairs has said Irish citizens should take 'normal precautions' in the monarchy.

Main image: The flag of Brunei flies with other flags from countries of the British Commonwealth in London in 2018 | Image: Jonathan Brady/PA Archive/PA Images