Who We Are

ILGA Asia is the Asian Region of ILGA World, representing more than 200 members.

Vision In Advancing
Equality.

Our vision is for an inclusive Asia where everyone enjoys freedom, equality, access to justice, and respect for diversity.

01.

Promote universal respect for human rights and eliminate discrimination based on SOGIESC in Asia, in alignment with UN conventions and ILGA’s Constitution.

02.

Advocate for equality regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, or sex characteristic, and strive to end discrimination..

03.

Empower and support LGBTQIA+ communities, organizations, and individuals in Asia through community building and networking.

Together for an inclusive Asia,
where rights matter.

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Our History

ILGA Asia to date represents over 200 member organizations across Asia.

Established in 2002 in Mumbai, its biennial conferences address LGBTIQ+ issues. Despite challenges, including internal conflicts and security threats, the organization persists in promoting LGBITQ+ rights and solidarity in the region.
2002
Established in 2002 in Mumbai, its biennial conferences address LGBTIQ+ issues. Despite challenges, including internal conflicts and security threats, the organization persists in promoting LGBITQ+ rights and solidarity in the region.

Anna Leah Sarabia from the Philippines, then the female co-secretary of ILGA World, organized a small ILGA Asia Regional Conference in Cebu. During this conference, Myo Min (from Myanmar, based in Thailand) and Myra Ofreneo (the Philippines) were chosen as the Asian representatives to the ILGA World board.

The ILGA Asia Regional Conference was held in Chiang Mai, Thailand, organized by Myo Min and Myra Ofreneo, with support from two gay-run HIV/AIDS organizations, M-Plus (based in Chiang Mai) and Rainbow Sky Association (from Bangkok). A hundred and twenty delegates attended, and for the first time, a board was elected, and a decision was made to establish an office in Hong Kong.

The ILGA Asia Regional Conference in Surabaya, East Java, Indonesia, was canceled due to threats from the Islamic Defenders Front and other opponents, despite delegates already being in the city. Consequently, no election was held that year.

The ILGA Asia Regional Conference was organized by M-Plus and Rainbow Sky Association Thailand in Bangkok from 29-31 March. The theme “Phoenix Rising” symbolized the revival of ILGA Asia after the Surabaya incident. A new board was elected, with delegates from 22 countries and 25 new participants from Myanmar. The first ILGA Asia office was established in Hong Kong in 2014, supported by Lala Alliance, and a full-time coordinator was recruited.

The 7th ILGA Asia Regional Conference took place in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, hosted by Rainbow Community Kampuchea (RoCK). The 5-day conference in December attracted 281 participants and was themed “United for Love,” symbolizing regional solidarity amid growing adversity against the LGBTQI community in Asia. This included issues such as the murder of gay activists in Bangladesh, violence against trans people in Malaysia and the Philippines, police raids of community gatherings in Iran and Indonesia, and harmful government policies in Singapore. The conference addressed emerging issues such as the marriage equality movement and rising religious fundamentalism, homophobia, and transphobia. Ten members were elected to the Asian Executive Board, including the first West Asian, trans, and intersex representatives. The Constitution was also amended to reflect the relocation of the ILGA Asia office to Thailand.

ILGA Asia Constitution

The constitution of ILGA Asia was updated and incorporated at the 9th ILGA Asia Conference in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, in 2022. To read the constitution, download it with the link below. See here for a summary of the changes made through discussion and voting by our member organisations.
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Strategic Plan

Our strategic plan encompasses multifaceted initiatives aimed at advancing the rights and representation of LGBTQ+ communities across the Asian region. It includes strengthening civil society through United Nations (UN) engagement and rights documentation, increasing public understanding via religious engagement and ally empowerment, and establishing a knowledge hub with a dedicated platform.
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Address

ILGA Foundation
7th Floor, Office Room 07-128
88 The PARQ Building, Ratchadaphisek Rd, Khlong Toei, Bangkok 10110, Thailand

Contact Us

[email protected]
+62 999 888 555

Shambawi Paudel

(she/they)
Research Associate
Shambhawi Paudel is a feminist advocate with a research interest in critiquing intersectional application of human rights standards. She completed her LLM in Human Rights Law specializing in International Justice.She is involved in policy research and has written and published on a range of issues, including gender, queer rights, education policy, and digital rights and privacy concerns. She believes it is important to have long conversations about navigating oppressive social power relations rooted in care and community. She enjoys reading and crocheting in her free time.

Omair Paul

(he/him)
Research and global advocacy program manager

Omair Paul is the Program Manager at ILGA Asia. He joins the team with almost a decade of UN advocacy experience, previously serving as the UN Representative for Muslims for Progressive Values (MPV) since 2014. He led the organisation’s UN advocacy strategy and campaigns, represented MPV in various high-level UN meetings & processes, and forged working relationships with diplomats, UN agencies, and civil society organisations (CSOs) and networks.

He focuses on countering fundamentalist religious ideologies and protecting the rights to free expression, freedom of religion and belief, and the economic and social rights of women, girls, and ethnic, religious, and SOGIESC minorities in Muslim societies.

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