To mark the 75th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights under Human Rights 75 initiative, and to also commemorate the 2023 International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia (IDAHOBIT) under the theme, “Together always: United in diversity”, APCOM in partnership with the UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR) for South East Asia, with the support of Global Affairs Canada, and Voice has launched a series of videos to equip members of Civil Society Organisations(CSOs) with necessary knowledge of the UN human rights mechanism.
In his address to the Martin Ennals Award ceremony, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk stressed that
“[my] Office will (…) redouble efforts to bring voices of human rights defenders to the fore, and to celebrate them in all their diversity, together with our partners.”
Volker Türk, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
This series of six videos developed by OHCHR seeks to strengthen the engagement between civil society and the UN human rights mechanisms, and to support the work of APCOM in emphasizing the powerful voices of human rights defenders.
“We only just celebrated our 15th anniversary last year, and our partners since then have been more familiar with the HIV and health field. We’re grateful for the collaboration to ensure that our country partners are able to learn and expand their knowledge and skills in the LGBTQI human rights field, and these videos should help in that journey,”
said Midnight, Executive Director of APCOM.
Quick links to the videos:
By Victor Madrigal-Borloz, Independent Expert on sexual orientation and gender identity
By Prof. Vitit Muntarbhorn, Professor Emeritus of law at the Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok
By OHCHR
Main web page:
Click links below to watch the videos.
Under this collaboration, we are looking at ensuring the understanding among our community on these topics:
- The role of UN Human Rights on LGBTQI people and human rights
- Understanding the mandate of the UN Independent Expert on sexual orientation and gender identity
- Understanding the Yogyakarta Principles and YP plus 10
We are so grateful in this collaboration to also have the support from Victor Madrigal-Borloz, the UN Independent Expert on Protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity for the video on understanding his mandate.
“Your work is so important for the mandate of the Independent Expert. As you know, this was a Mandate that was created through the insistent work of civil society and the political capital States that understood that sexual orientation and gender identity are necessary points of entry into the analysis of discrimination and violence, and the provision of advice to States in relation to effective measures to address this scourges…
Victor Madrigal-Borloz, UN Independent Expert
I am so appreciative of the work of APCOM, and I am so thankful for the support for the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Southeast Asia. Let’s keep up the good work. There’ s still a lot to do. But we’ve come a long way!”
We also received support from Professor Vitit Muntarbhorn, Professor Emeritus of law at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, who was a co-chairperson for the Yogyakarta Principles and a committee member for the Yogyakarta Principles plus 10.
“The advocacy starts really with oneself internally in terms of a certain sense of care, understanding kindness against stereotypes. So initiation is not that difficult, let’s start at home – within ourselves. Let’s start at school. Let’s start within the community…Move against stereotypes and let’s recognize good leadership that can help with transformative change.
Professor Vitit Muntarbhorn
So everybody can be a leader irrespective of what we are. Anyone can be an example of empathy, and that is leadership. Not necessarily in material terms but in non-material terms carrying the torch of the spirit of kindness, consideration, and full respect for the rights of all, for all!”
At a time when hard-won advances for our LGBTQI communities around the globe are increasingly under threat, the power of solidarity, allyship and community across identities, borders, and movements has never been more necessary, and these educational videos will help our community to understand and utilize the mechanisms to its fullest potentials.
Learn more about
APCOM LGBTQI social and economic inclusion programme
| Global Affairs Canada supports the Connecting Voices for LGBTQI Socio-Economic Inclusion and Human Rights in Asia covering five countries with 15 organisations in Southeast Asia; Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, the Philippines and Thailand to improve organizational management, programming and sustainability of LGBTQI organisations, as well as improve effectiveness of advocacy platforms, networks, and alliances. APCOM is also strengthening its capacity to provide intermediary funding mechanisms for LGBTQI organisations in the region. |
| Voice supports APCOM’s multi-country LGBTQI social and economic inclusion project in Southeast Asia, targeting the private sector, and financial institutions including the Asian Development Bank (see our advocacy at the recent ADB Annual Meeting 2023). We work with our country partner organizations in Cambodia (Micro Rainbow International), Indonesia (Suara Kita), Laos (CHIas), and the Philippines (Babylanes) in order to contribute to improved access of persons of diverse SOGIESC to economic and social services specifically health, education and financial resources and services. |
Learn more about the UN Human Rights Office for South-East Asia
Visit: https://bangkok.ohchr.org/
For more information, please contact [email protected]
