ASEAN SOGIE Caucus
Inclusive and diverse ASEAN
ASEAN SOGIE Caucus
Inclusive and diverse ASEAN
Inclusive and diverse ASEAN
Inclusive and diverse ASEAN
We the undersigned call on all donors, international organizations, humanitarian agencies, and governments to roll out -- proactively and without delay -- emergency and solidarity support for LGBTIQ activists and their communities. Resources must be made available and accessible to strengthen the resilience of LGBTIQ organizations and activists in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, to buffer against the losses already suffered, and to let effectively and quickly respond to the rapidly developing needs of LGBTIQ communities they work with.
This pandemic is hurting everyone. And everyone, as one voice, must insist that our only responsibility now is to preserve each-other's health and safety. And while we do what we can to help and continue advocating for our rights, we must repeat: we are living through a crisis that directly impacts our own existence. Talking merely about work-from-home arrangements, disinterested calls for self-care, extending deadlines, and moving outcomes to online spaces is irresponsible and inadequate. Treating this as anything less than a global emergency is a gross miscalculation of what is at stake.
This joint publication of the ASEAN SOGIE Caucus (ASC) and the Human Rights Working Group (HRWG) tackles the issue of sexual orientations and gender identities and expressions (SOGIE) and Islam in the context of Southeast Asia.
“This is another historic victory, not only for communities of diverse sexual orientations and gender identities, but for humanity as a whole.”
(Geneva, July 12, 2019) - In a defining vote, the United Nations Human Rights Council adopted a resolution to renew the mandate of the Independent Expert focusing on the protection against violence and discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.
The resolution was adopted by a vote of 27 in favour, with 12 voting against and 7 abstentions.
The campaign calling on the Council to renew the mandate of the UN Independent Expert on SOGI was supported by 1,312 non-governmental organizations from 174 States and territories.
ASC and Save the Children recently organized a regional learning session on child rights and SOGIESC. The activity aimed to foster dialogue between LGBTIQ and child rights advocates, to identify the common points between child rights and LGBTIQ advocacy, and to generate recommendations for collaborative actions.
This activity is one of the steps done by ASC to mainstream SOGIESC issues within key human rights issues relevant to the region. Ryan Silverio, Regional Coordinator of ASC said, "the principle of intersectionality is at the core of our work, it drives us to learn the perspectives and practices of diverse social justice movements, it inspires us to build synergies".
We, the undersigned civil society organizations in the ASEAN region, urge the government of Brunei to immediately halt the full implementation of the Sharia Penal Code (SPC). The said law entails provisions that contradict international human rights standards, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT), the ASEAN Human Rights Declaration (AHRD) and the ASEAN Charter. Brunei has signed and ratified these instruments, and thereby must show commitment to respect, protect and fulfill its obligations. Moreover, Brunei should recognize the importance of progressive development of human rights therefore moving away from corporal punishment and death penalty.
To all Southeast Asian LGBTIQ advocates:
ASEAN SOGIE Caucus, with support from the Swedish Federation for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Rights (RFSL) is organizing its second ASEAN Queer Leadership Week in Bangkok, Thailand from 10 June 2019 to 14 June 2019. This program – the first of its kind to be organized by and for Southeast Asian activists – will bring together participants to an intensive one-week program where they will learn, discuss, and practice core concepts and skills in leadership in advocacy within the LGBTIQ movement in the Southeast Asian region.
Delegates from last month’s groundbreaking conference in Bangkok on improving the inclusion of LGBTIQ people in the Asia Pacific response to conflicts and natural disasters have issued a call to action for the region’s humanitarian sector.
The Pride In The Humanitarian System conference was produced by a range of Asia Pacific HIV and LGBTIQ community networks as well as various international agencies, and the organising coalition this week released the final call to action which was developed by delegates during the conference.
Timor Leste’s well respected LGBT activist, Bella Galhos, wrote an open letter addressed to her country’s Prime Minister, urging his government to undertake “proper measures to protect, to be impartial with everyone without discrimination”. Bella further lamented how the situation of LGBT persons in her country remains problematic; many still face violence, sexual abuse and even denial of social services.
Her letter further emphasized how vital is social inclusion of LGBT persons towards nation building. According to her, “no country is able to reach their full potential, without giving the importance to its people, particularly vulnerable groups to participate in the process of development… [t]o isolate some group[s] of people is to negatively affect their lives, and resulting in a fragile nation that is without resources, without opportunities, life under constant discrimination, violence and ignorance.”
The full text of her open letter can be read below.
Inclusive and diverse ASEAN
Legally Registered in the Philippines as Southeast Asia Sexual Orientation,
Gender Identity and Expression Caucus (ASC), Inc. The organization is in
Special Consultative Status with the UN ECOSOC since 2021.
Quezon City, Philippines
Email: communications@aseansogiecaucus.org
ASEAN SOGIE Caucus © 2025
