From 20–22 November 2024, over 100 participants from 10 countries gathered at The Sukosol Hotel in Bangkok for the APCOM Community Summit 2024, a powerful regional convening that reaffirmed the central role of community leadership in advancing HIV responses and LGBTQI+ human rights across Asia and the Pacific.
“This was one of the few spaces where I could be fully myself while learning. Thank you, APCOM, for creating that environment.”
Participant, Cambodia
The Summit, themed “Our Lived Experiences, Our Leadership,” served as a space for learning, collaboration, and collective visioning. Across three days of plenaries, workshops, and dialogues, participants shared lived experiences, explored community-led approaches, and strengthened cross-country solidarity to address health inequities and structural barriers to inclusion.
Key discussions focused on scaling up community-led monitoring (CLM), expanding PrEP access, integrating person-centred care (PCC), and advancing mental health support for LGBTQI+ communities. Partners also renewed calls for decriminalisation, gender recognition, and sustainable domestic financing for community-led initiatives. The event featured special moments such as the Transgender Day of Remembrance reflection, which honoured lives lost to violence and reaffirmed commitment to equality and safety for all.
“The discussions on PrEP and chemsex were practical and sensitive… finally, real conversations that reflect our lived realities.”
Participant, Indonesia
Participants rated the Summit highly for its inclusivity and impact, describing it as “one of the few spaces where I could be fully myself while learning.” The final report compiles highlights, key recommendations, and next steps to sustain the momentum toward a more inclusive and equitable HIV and human rights response.
Looking ahead, APCOM will reconvene from 5–7 November 2025 at the Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20 for the next APCOM Community Summit: PrEPARING Asia 2025. This year’s edition will bring together government representatives, APCOM community partners, regional caucuses, academics, funders, service providers, and PrEP users to deepen collaboration and strengthen the regional HIV prevention ecosystem.
