The struggle to confront and overcome violence is a daily reality for women, transgender persons, and gender-diverse persons.Violence manifests in different ways direct and indirect forms of violence. It limits human potential and impedes one's enjoyment of a life with dignity.

This reality is fueled by a deep seated patriarchal and heterosexist culture, and reinforced by social institutions. It works through religious, cultural, and state institutions, embodied in policies that govern in the public and private spheres; legislative products, political attitudes, social norms, language systems, knowledge, technology, economy, belief, and arts.

Southeast Asian women remain the victims of violence that reoccurs beyond physical form. Lesbians expericene forced marriaged as well as lesbophobic rape. Transgender persons get expeled from schools, being sexaully harrassed or even murdered.

Other manifestations of violence against women take place by the virtues of the economic system which makes women secondary, of the politics which institutionalizes women, of the culture which regulates women, of the religion which sermonizes against women, and of gender roles which restrict women. This systemic violence creeps into lives of many, ignored by governments, authorities, and persons of power.

Today March 8, 2020, on the occasion of the International Women's Day #IWD2020, we stand firmly and strongly with the affected communities urging that:

1. ASEAN member states must undertake all measures to end all forms of gender-based and sexual violence, and to strengthen redress for women who have been victims of violence.

2. ASEAN Commission on Women and Children (ACWC) must engage LGBTIQ person in developing regional approaches to prevent and address all forms of gender-based and sexual violence.

3. All civil society organizations and social movements, especially those advocating for women's rights and gender equality, to create an inclusive and affirmative spaces for lesbian, bisexual, queer women, transgender, and gender-diverse persons.

ASEAN SOGIE Caucus
March 8, 2020