ASEAN SOGIE Caucus
Inclusive and diverse ASEAN
ASEAN SOGIE Caucus
Inclusive and diverse ASEAN
Inclusive and diverse ASEAN
Inclusive and diverse ASEAN
We, the undersigned, are deeply saddened by the senseless murder of Sameera Krishnan, a young transgender woman on 23rd February 2017 at about 3:30 a.m. in Kuantan, Malaysia. Not only was she attacked with a knife and slashed in the hands, arms, head and legs, she was also shot three times. Sameera worked as a florist in Kuantan and is described by family and friends as a soft-spoken and a down-to-earth person. Her funeral was held on Friday, 24th February, which happened to be her birthday.
ASEAN SOGIE Caucus is pleased to announce the publication of "Bata at Bahaghari: Experiences of LGBT Children in the Philippines", the first of its ongoing Discussion Series tackling various issues in LGBTIQ advocacy in the Southeast Asian region.
February 22 to 23, 2017 | Brentwood Suites, Quezon City, Philippines
The ASEAN SOGIE Caucus, in cooperation with ICS[1] of Vietnam, organized the "Regional Workshop to Promote Family Acceptance of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex and Queer (LGBTIQ) Persons in ASEAN" from 22 to 23 February 2017 in Brentwood Suites, Quezon City. The workshop brought together LGBTIQ organizations from across Southeast Asia and featured members of Vietnam’s PFLAG (Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) as key resource speakers. One of the key objectives of the workshop was to provide a space to share good practices in promoting family acceptance for LGBTIQ persons, and help participants develop plans of action at the national and regional levels.
The Universal Periodic Review (UPR) is a peer review process that covers all UN member states. It offers a unique opportunity to advance the realization of human rights worldwide.
According to the research conducted by ILGA and ARC, UPR was one of the most-used UN mechanisms by SOGIESC advocates (95 respondents have engaged with it and 81% of the survey respondents felt that the UPR was the most useful UN mechanism supporting their work). However, not so many local communities especially LGBTIQ within the global south familiar about the process. Local communities perceive misconception about the UPR that is a complex procedure and need certain expertise. However, the fact is in contrary with this myth and in fact the local communities should be in the centre of the overall advocacy process of the UPR.
ASEAN SOGIE Caucus (ASC) in partnership with Chinese Lala Alliance (CLA) and SAYONI conducted a workshop titled: “Engaging CEDAW and CRC: Regional Workshop to Strengthen LGBTIQ Engagement with the UN Human Rights Treaty-Bodies”. The workshop aimed to facilitate learning exchanges between activists, representatives of UN and other INGOs, on experiences and good practices in engaging the CEDAW and CRC monitoring and reporting processes.
Government, civil society organizations and academics joint forces to address SOGIE-based bullying in schools. All have one common vision, i.e. to make all schools safe for all including LGBTI children and youth.
Recently, the National Consultation on SOGIE-based Bullying in the Philippine Education Setting was held last August 23 to 24, 2016 in Quezon City, Philippines. This event was jointly organized by the Philippine Civil Society Coalition on the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CSC-CRC), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Department of Education, ASEAN SOGIE Caucus and TLF Share. Around 80 participants from the government, civil society organisations, private educational institutions, academe and LGBT organisations from all over the Philippines gathered for this two-day national event.
The first day focused on information exchange on the current situation, existing laws, policies and programs of government, civil society and private sector in addressing SOGIE-based school bullying. On the government’s side, Department of Education Undersecretary Albert Muyot presented a collection of the agencies interventions and achievements in addressing the issue at hand. Usec. Muyot emphasized that child protection policy frameworks exists and these can be used as a basis to protect children from SOGIE-based discrimination and violence. On the other hand, Rep. Kaka Bag-ao discussed the salient features of the Anti-Discrimination Bill and requested support from the participants to advocate for the passing of the bill. Ging Cristobal of the QC Pride Council provided a glimpse on how the Quezon City local government crafted its anti-discrimination ordinance and subsequent implementation. Civil society experts from Galang Philippines, ChildFund and TLF-Share Collective presented their current programs in response to the issue. As one of the highlights of the day children were also invited to share their own experiences of SOGIE-based bullying and contribute their own recommendations to the public and private sector.
The second day puts a spotlight on a series of workshops that seek to indentify gaps, challenges, good practices and lessons learned on SOGIE-based bullying. At the end of the day, participants were able to generate input and develop recommendations on policy, legal and regulatory environment on SOGIE-based bullying; awareness-raising and capacity building activities for key stakeholders; support for learners to address SOGIE-based bullying and other SRGBV (school-related gender-based violence) and Institutional Partnerships; research agenda, performance monitoring and documentation of good practices and teacher training, support and school curriculum to eliminate SOGIE-based bullying in the education setting. The end of the national consultation marked the beginning of a nationwide, multi-sectoral commitment on the prevention and elimination of SOGIE-based bullying. The technical working group that will ensure commitments on the elimination of SOGIE-based bullying and other forms of SRGBV are acted upon opened its doors for more members for increased participation.
ASEAN SOGIE Caucus (ASC) once again engaged critically with the ASEAN Civil Society Conference/ASEAN People’s Forum (ACSC/APF) 2016. The conference was held from August 2nd to 5th 2016, at the Dili Convention Center, Dili, Timor Leste. It was a remarkable moment because for the first time ASC have established connection and networking with LGBTIQ community and allies in Timor Leste.
Apart from the active participation of ASC members within the drafting committee and program committee to ensure that SOGIE issues are incorporated in the conference, ASC conducted two side events in collaboration with local community and other organizations.
ASEAN SOGIE Caucus together with Human Rights Working Group (HRWG) and Arus Pelangi Indonesia had successfully organized the first ASEAN Advocacy Week on June 17th to 23rd 2016 in Jakarta, Indonesia. The event was successfully held without any hindrance, despite of increasing hostility toward LGBTIQ community in the country.
The event brought together 15 LGBTIQ activists from countries of Southeast Asia to share their experiences and thoughts regarding issues related to LGBTIQ community in the region.
Inclusive and diverse ASEAN
Legally Registered in the Philippines as Southeast Asia Sexual Orientation,
Gender Identity and Expression Caucus (ASC), Inc. The organization is in
Special Consultative Status with the UN ECOSOC since 2021.
Quezon City, Philippines
Email: communications@aseansogiecaucus.org
ASEAN SOGIE Caucus © 2025
