APCOM Meeting with PSGDN and its members

25 April 2024

Taking the rare opportunity of being in the Pacific and catching up with partners which APCOM rarely get to meet in person, we arranged a lunch meeting PSGDN and its partners to catch up.

Selvan (APCOM capacity development officer) provided some background on the project that APCOM is currently implementing in five countries in Southeast Asia – Supporting LGBTQI+ Rights in Pacific: Connecting Voices for LGBTQI Socio-Economic Inclusion and Human Rights in the Pacific. Connecting Voices for LGBTQI Socio Economic Inclusion and Human Rights in Asia.

Supporting LGBTQI+ Rights in Pacific:
Connecting Voices for LGBTQI Socio-Economic Inclusion and Human Rights in the Pacific

Duration: 36 months

Aims:

To Improve organizational management, programming and sustainability of 15 LGBTQI organizations and 1 regional organization to advance gender equality and empowerment of women and girls in Asia
Improved effectiveness of platforms, advocacy, networks, and alliances of 15 LGBTQI or- ganizations & 1 regional organization in influencing gender-responsive socioeconomic policy and programs in Asia

More information here:

Summary of sharing from the Pacific delegates:

Diversity of issues with LGBTQI in the Pacific, and with the vast geography and small populations, we have to be able to work intersectionality with other movements in the region
Recognise the diversity of identities within the LGBTQI in the Pacific, such as indigenous LGBTQI, and Indo-Fijian LGBTQI
Understanding that within the Pacific culture – we have to strengthen relationship the government, church, and local leaders to be able to advocate to them effectively
Community outreach and community education (through the organisations) is important for societal change
Space to learn (physically) from others is important to innovate our work
Core funding for skilled and capacity building for staff is important for organisational sustainability
Integrate advocacy in the work that the community is already doing (such as through cultural/arts/crafts and beauty pageant
Translation of UN documents into local languages
Development of organisational policies