The ILGA Asia Conference hosted at the New World Saigon Hotel in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City from November 28th to December 2nd, 2022, with extensive support from ICS Centre stood out as a remarkable achievement for the LGBTIQ community. The conference, titled "Our Trials, Triumphs, and the Future We Demand," brought together LGBTIQ activists, community leaders, and a wide range of changemakers, including human rights defenders, civil society organisations (CSOs), community-based organisations (CBOs), government representatives, and donors.
Throughout the conference, our objectives remained clear and focused: raise awareness on pressing human rights issues affecting Asian LGBTIQ communities, foster regional solidarity, strategize against the influence of anti-rights forces, provide learning opportunities for activists, and amplify firsthand accounts of violence during political and military conflicts.
The thematic focus, seamlessly woven into the sessions and side events, included high-priority topics such as "LGBTIQ People in Crisis and Conflict: Stories of Survival and Resilience," "Faith, Culture, and LGBTIQ Inclusion: Reclaiming Spaces and Narratives," "Influencing Laws and Policies: National, Regional, and International Advocacy for Legal Equality and Justice,""Solidarity, Alliance, and Network Building: Establishing Inroads with Human Rights Movements Across Asia," and "Leaving No One Behind: Mainstreaming the Human Rights of LGBTIQ People throughout the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development."
The conference provided a strong platform for dialogue and served as an incubator for strategy development, exchange of crucial insights, and provided a platform for alliance building and network development. Additionally, our gathering provided a forum to discuss the numerous challenges confronting the Asian LGBTIQ community, illuminating pathways to legal equality, social inclusion, and justice.
The impact of our conference echoed deeply with our community members and pitched a collective mission toward a future in which the rights of all Asian LGBTIQ people are recognized, respected, and celebrated. The 9th ILGA Asia Conference illustrated our movement's strength, the power of our solidarity, and unwavering commitment in shaping an equal and inclusive future.
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