On the occasion of the 2021 Human Rights Day, APCOM, along with 14 community partners from 10 territories in the Asia Pacific region; Bandhu, CSBR, DAST, GAYa NUSANTARA, GWL-INA, Humsafar, Inclusive Bangladesh, Lighthouse, MHSS, Pink Alliance, RoCK, Taiwan Equality Campaign, Tonga Leitis Association, and Young Pride Club, in collaboration with the ASEAN Centre for Sustainable Development Studies and Dialogue, Mahidol University, launches the regional survey targeting LGBTQ communities in the Asia Pacific region.
The rational for this initiative to survey LGBTQ communitieson human rights violations and abuses experienced in the region since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, is to gather more evidence to the community letter which APCOM coordinated and submitted to WHO last year (see here, and the response from the WHO Director-General here) which will be important for future policy improvement regarding human rights for LGBTQ in the Asia Pacific region.
“We are living in a data driven world and without data on the effect of Covid-19 on LGBTIQ+ community, it is not possible to frame policy or adopt sustainable strategy to safeguard the community from future pandemic-like situation. This survey data and information will assist all of us to have a deeper understanding on the current needs and help shape the supporting methods.”
Md Firoz Miah, Project Associate, Inclusive Bangladesh
“The pandemic has worsened human rights violations, social inequity and vulnerability of the LGBTIQ+ community who already bear the brunt in the region. The survey is vital as a guideline for us to address the impact of COVID-19 and similar incidents in the future. Remember the goal of ‘leaving no one behind’? This is the time to keep that promise.”
I Ketut Purba Widnyana, Secretary GAYa NUSANTARA, Indonesia
“It is important to collect data to help policymakers and stakeholders to get a fuller picture on whether pandemic-related measures have been applied in a discriminatory manner. While special measures might be required to combat COVID-19, it is counterproductive if they are applied in ways that discriminate against LGBT+ persons.”
Jerome Yau, Chief Executive of Pink Alliance, Hong Kong
“SOGIESC communities have faced numerous dimensions of newly emerged or intensified issues and problems during Covid-19. Many of those might not get well reflected through generalised surveys. This community focused survey will be helpful to bring out more in-depth insights of those troubles and sufferings.”
Mohammad Rezwanur Rahman, Asia Regional Coordinator, Coalition for Sexual and Bodily Rights in Muslim Societies (CSBR)
“With the documentation of cases of human rights violations in the Gay, men who have sex with men, and trans community due to the Covid-19 pandemic, it is an effort to advocate to the government so that our community can be treated properly.”
Wawa Akwa Reswana, Project Officer, GWL-INA, Indonesia
LGBTQ Community Survey
on Human Rights Violations and Abuses
during COVID-19 Pandemic Survey
Click below!
The survey is in English, and takes between 10-15 minutes to complete.
The survey is open now until 31 January 2022. The results of the findings will be launched on 1 March 2022, Zero Discrimination Day, an annual worldwide event that promotes diversity and recognises that everyone counts.
Please feel free to spread the survey and encourage others to take part!
Thank you very much in advance for your support!
APCOM wishes to thank the following 14 community organisations for their support in reviewing the questionnaire, disseminating and encouraging their networks to participate in the survey.
- Bandhu Social Welfare Society, Bangladesh
- Coalition for Sexual and Bodily Rights in Muslim Societies (CSBR)
- DAST, Sri Lanka
- GAYa NUSANTARA, Indonesia
- GWL-INA, Indonesia
- Humsafar Trust, India
- Inclusive Bangladesh, Bangladesh
- Lighthouse, Vietnam
- MHSS, Cambodia
- Pink Alliance, Hong Kong
- Rainbow Community Kampuchea Organisation (RoCK), Cambodia
- Taiwan Equality Campaign, Taiwan
- Tonga Leitis Association, Tonga
- Young Pride Club, Thailand
For more information on APCOM’s initiatives on providing a platform for community voices, research and generating evidence for advocacy on the effects of Covid-19 amongst our communities in the Asia Pacific region, which we began with the Covid-19 newsletter series launched on 3 April 2020 called ‘Reflecting the Current Realities Faced by the Communities We Serve’, please see below:
– APCOM Special COVID-19 Newsletter Series: One Year On
– Virtual Powwow with Thai LGBTQI and HIV community on the effects of COVID-19
– The Last Mile First: Safeguarding Communities During HIV and COVID-19
– Looking good, feeling great: HIV prevention during lockdown
– ‘Khormoon’: Surveying LGBTQI+ situation in Thailand during Covid-19 Pandemic
