
Sydney WorldPride Human Rights Conference
Asia Caucus presented by
APCOM, ANTRA and AGCM
in partnership with
APTN, ILGA Asia, Intersex Asia, ASEAN LBQ Network, ASEAN SOGIE Caucus
in collaboration with
GANDA Filipinas, Kyrgyz Indogo, ShanghaiPRIDE, T-Track
special Thank You to
Sydney WorldPride, Equality Australia
27 February 2023
10:00am – 12:00pm
Karstens Sydney
Level 1 – 111 Harrington Street Sydney NSW 2000
APCOM is proud to be one of the official Community Partners of the Sydney WorldPride Human Rights Conference 2023. We are, in fact, the only non-Australia based Community Partner.
APCOM is also proud to be hosting the Asia Caucus prior to the Human Rights Conference. In the lead up to the Conference, we have had a regional consultation to inform What LGBTQI in Asia would like to see at the Human Rights Conference that fed into the main programme of the Conference.
The Asia Caucus is a safe space for our community to gather and connect, build relationships, and engage in important conversations with people from around the world that share a common identity and/or experience.
Our speakers will share information and discuss issues and challenges, create opportunities for collective collaboration, as ways forward to advance LGBTQI rights in Asia.
Panel 1:
Setting the Scene from our Community
The Asia Region is vast, we shall hear from prominent activist on issues, challenges and opportunities to advance LGBTQI rights in their sub-region:
Moderated by
Ryan V. Silverio (they), Executive Director, ASEAN SOGIE Caucus
Central Asia
Amir Mukambetov (he/they), Chair, Kyrgyz Indigo
East Asia
Charlene Liu (she/her), Co-Founder, ShanghaiPRIDE China
Southeast Asia
Naomi Fontanos (she/her), Executive Director, Gender and Development Advocates (GANDA) Filipinas, the Philippines
South Asia
Jannat Ali (she/her), Executive Director, T-Track, Pakistan
Reflection by
Jean Chong (she/they), Executive Director, ASEAN LBQ Network
Panel 2:
Opportunities for advancing LGBTQI rights in Asia
Our community already has some entry points to sustain our movement for equality. This panel features prominent LGBTQI envoys and their role in supporting LGBTQI equality in Asia.
Moderated by
Bryan Choong (he/him), Regional Advisory Group Chair, APCOM
Victor Madrigal-Borloz (he/him)
UN Independent Expert on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity, United Nations
Jessica Stern (she/her/they/them/he/him)
Special Envoy to Advance the Human Rights of LGBTQI+ Persons, U.S. Department of State
Lord Nick Herbert (he/him)
UK’s Special Envoy on LGBT rights
Ambassador Chantale Wong (she/her)
U.S. Director, Asian Development Bank (ADB)
Reflection by
Joe Wong (he/him), Executive Director, APTN
Agenda
Time | Topic |
10:00 – 10:05 (5 mins) | Welcome and Introduction Dr Judy Tang (she/her), Board Advisor of ANTRA |
10:05 – 10:15 (10 mins) | Keynote #1 (5 mins) Bryan Choong (he/him), Regional Advisory Group Chair, APCOM Keynote #2 (5 mins) Hiker Chiu (he/her), Executive Director, Intersex Asia |
10:15 – 10:55 (40 mins) | Panel 1 Moderated by Ryan V. Silverio (they), Executive Director, ASEAN SOGIE Caucus Speakers: Central Asia Amir Mukambetov (he/they), Chair, Kyrgyz Indigo East Asia Charlene Liu (she/her), Co-Founder, ShanghaiPRIDE China Southeast Asia Naomi Fontanos (she/her), Executive Director, Gender and Development Advocates (GANDA) Filipinas, the Philippines South Asia Jannat Ali (she/her), Executive Director, T-Track, Pakistan |
10:55 – 11:00 (5 mins) | Reflection from Panel 1 Jean Chong (she/they), Executive Director, ASEAN LBQ Network |
11:00 – 11:40 (40 mins) | Panel 2 Moderated by Bryan Choong (he/him), Regional Advisory Group Chair, APCOM Speakers: Victor Madrigal-Borloz (he/him) UN Independent Expert on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity, United Nations Jessica Stern (she/her/they/them/he/him) Special Envoy to Advance the Human Rights of LGBTQI+ Persons, U.S. Department of State Lord Nick Herbert (he/him) UK’s Special Envoy on LGBT rights Ambassador Chantale Wong (she/her) U.S. Director, Asian Development Bank (ADB) |
11:40 – 11:45 (5 mins) | Reflection from Panel 2 Joe Wong (he/him), Executive Director, APTN |
11:45 – 11:50 (5 mins) | Summary of the session and ways forward Henry Koh (they/them), Executive Director, ILGA Asia |
11:50 – 11:55 (5 mins) | Closing Alexander Teh (he/him), President – Australian GLBTIQ Multicultural Council Inc. |
11:55 – 12:00 (5 mins) | Group photos Midnight (he/him), Executive Director, APCOM |
APCOM would like to say a big rainbow thank you to


