The 28th ILGA World Conference took place from November 28 to December 2, 2016 in Bangkok, Thailand, only the second one held in Asia, after the 2003 Manila conference. It was the time for ILGA World to return to Asia, home to 60% to the world’s population, and thus, anecdotally, to 60% of the world’s LGBTI population.
Playing a home field, APCOM was proud to announce the following extensive engagement and activities throughout the ILGA World Conference week. You can now watch the live stream of our events through our Facebook page or YouTube channel.
Nov 27, 17.00 – 18.30 hrs / British Ambassadors Residence of Bangkok
In partnership with Stonewall and the British Embassy in Bangkok, “LGBT Rights in Asia” panel discussion explored challenges and windows of opportunity in empowering LGBTI persons in the region to exercise their basic rights. The panel included human rights activists Nada Chaiyajit (Thailand) and Dédé Oetomo (Indonesia), moderated by Alisa Tang (Thompson Reuters).
Nov 27, 18.30 – 20.30 hrs / British Ambassadors Residence of Bangkok
Commemorating a decade of advocating the rights and well-being of the community members in Asia and the Pacific, APCOM kickstarted its 10 years anniversary celebration with the British Embassy in Bangkok and Stonewall. New knowledge products, upcoming projects as well as the new branding will be unveiled before the eyes of our supporters, partners and funders. A screening of “From Yogyakarta with Love” our animation video to commemorate the 10 years anniversary of the Yogyakarta Principles was premiered here.
+ See the Photo Gallery of the Reception
Nov 28, 13.00 – 14.30 hrs / Sukosol Hotel – Room Kamolmart (Level 6)
Supported by UNDP through Multi-country South Asia Global Fund HIV programme, “My Sexuality My Faith” was a safe-space for all community advocates to exchange knowledge regarding experiences in protecting the rights of the people of sexual minorities through faith-based advocacy. The panel consisted of faith leaders and faith-based community advocates from various Asian countries.
Nov 28, 15.00 – 16.30 hrs / Sukosol Hotel – Room Kamolmart (Level 6)
Supported by UNDP through Multi-country South Asia Global Fund HIV programme and partnering with Youth Voices Count, this was a discussion forum among young gay and bisexual men, as well as young trans persons on the topic of the latest HIV prevention method PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis). The panelists included well-known PrEP advocates Lie Anh Vu (Vietnam), Jonas Bagas (Philippines) and Tanzil Rahman (Pakistan), as well as Director of Partnerships and Programs at Asia Catalyst, Gareth Durant.
Nov 28, 18.00 – 20.00 hrs / Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Thailand
Supported by UNDP through Multi-country South Asia Global Fund HIV programme, the session discussed sexual violence cases faced by the gay, bisexual and trans communities in South Asian countries, presented directly by the victims and/or the grassroots community advocates from Nepal, Pakistan and India (other South Asian countries are TBC). The findings from UNDP’s latest study on the topic was also launched on this session.
Nov 29, 13.00 – 16.00 hrs / Sukosol Hotel – Room Baan Thai 2 (Level 2)
Collaborating with UPR Info, ASEAN SOGIE Caucus, ILGA Asia and the Embassy of Canada in Bangkok, this panel session aims to help LGBT community advocates in Asia understand the impact of SOGIE recommendations on the ground through a recent research conducted by ILGA and ARC, and how to engage with the UPR and the importance to continue engaging with other UN mechanisms to build credible evidence for SOGIE issues and hold governments to account.
Nov 29, 17.00 – 19.00 hrs / Bangkok Art and Cultural Centre, SEA Junction, Room 408 (Level 4) / Open for Public
New York Times honoured him as a Happy Warrior in a Faltering Battle for Indonesian Gay Rights. In partnership with SEAJunction and Heinrich Böll Stiftung, Indonesia’s most notable LGBT advocacy leader Dede Oetomo held a two-hours session for the LGBT advocates to converse with him in regards to Indonesia’s increasing violence against LGBTI people, along with a proposed bill to criminalise same-sex sexual acts and/or orientations. You don’t have to be ILGA World Conference participant to attend this event.
