As part of the inaugural 2016 ILGA Oceania Human Rights and Health Conference in Wellington, New Zealand, Pacific Sexual Diversity Network (PSDN) and APCOM are proud to be hosting the “Pacific LGBTI Health” workshop on 10 March 2016, 3pm-4:30pm. The workshop aims to bring together advocates from the Pacific region to discuss the health needs of the Pacific LGBTI community.
A broad overview of the Pacific LGBTI context will be given through two presentations. This first presentation will focus on sexuality, spiritualty and access to health services, and in particular Christianity as the most prominent faith in the Pacific. The second presentation will focus on transgender health needs, using the Asia Pacific Trans Health Blueprint as a health reference document. A panel discussion on the country perspective of LGBTI health needs in Papua New Guinea, Tonga and Vanuatu will follow the presentations.
The workshop will be moderated by Isikeli Vulavou, Founder and Executive Director of the Rainbow Pride Foundation, Fiji, Deputy Chair of the PSDN, and Regional Advisory Group member of APCOM, drawing on his experience in diverse multisectoral areas of education, environment, health, youth and now protection. The workshop will draw upon the collective expertise and experience from the following presenters and panellists:
- Ken Maola, founder of the Samoa AIDS Foundation and co-founder of PSDN
- Sulique Waqa, founder of House of Khameleon Fiji, and Asia Pacific Transgender Network Regional Steering Committee member
- Gigi Khaleezi Baxter from VPride Foundation
- Elizabeth Taylor from Save the Children Australia, and
- Joleen Mataele from Tonga Leiti’s Association and chair of PSDN.
