Trans Pre-Conference Statement: Asia Trans Conference 2025

Delivered by: Henry Tse


As we approach the Asia Trans Conference 2025, we unite in the fight for the rights, dignity, and justice of
trans and gender-diverse communities across Asia. While celebrating our progress, we acknowledge the
ongoing challenges we face. This statement reaffirms our commitment to a future where trans individuals can
live free from fear, violence, and discrimination. Our goal is to amplify trans voices, celebrate our victories, and
confront the threats posed by systemic inequalities and anti-trans movements.
I. Progress and Achievements
Asia has made significant progress in trans rights, with court victories and policy advancements, including
gender recognition reforms and increased visibility in media and politics in countries such as Nepal and access
to HRT (Hormone replacement therapy) for trans individuals in Thailand. However, many of these victories
remain incomplete or poorly implemented, leaving marginalized communities behind and We must celebrate
our achievements while acknowledging gaps in legal recognition, healthcare access, economic inclusion and
violence and hatred targeted towards transgender communities.
II. Challenges Ahead

  1. Global Backlash and Funding Cuts
    Across the globe, anti-gender ideologies are gaining traction, challenging the progress we have fought
    so hard for. These ideologies, often driven by conservative religious and political forces, threaten to roll
    back legal rights, ban gender-affirming healthcare, and criminalize trans advocacy. In Asia, these
    movements are gaining strength, creating an increasingly hostile environment for trans individuals.
  2. Economic and Healthcare Exclusion
    Economic disenfranchisement and healthcare disparities remain rampant among trans communities in
    Asia. Despite legal advancements, many trans individuals face discrimination in employment,
    education, and healthcare, often forced into precarious labor or excluded from basic services. Access
    to gender-affirming healthcare, including hormones and surgeries, remains inconsistent and
    unaffordable for many, while trans-inclusive mental health services are still limited in scope.
  3. Rise in Transphobic Violence
    The recent surge in anti-trans rhetoric has fueled violence against trans and gender-diverse individuals
    throughout countries around Asia. The recent unfortunate one event which happened in Nepal during
    ILGA Asia 2025 conference where a trans woman’s body was found lifeless after being brutally
    murdered. Not forgetting the Anti-gender campaigns running both online and offline specifically
    attacking trans individuals. From spreading misinformation about transgender communities to
    personally attacking trans advocates through news and media, these are only the few examples which
    initiates hate crimes and violence towards the community. This violences is compounded by a lack of
    adequate legal protections and the criminalization of gender-affirming practices in several countries.
    Governments and institutions must do more to address these issues and ensure accountability for
    perpetrators of transphobic violence.

IV. Call to Action

We call on all governments, civil society organizations, international institutions, and allies :


● Governments: Implement comprehensive legal gender recognition frameworks based on self-
determination; expand access to gender-affirming healthcare and HIV+ prevention programs; address
economic exclusion; enact strong anti-discrimination laws which protects transgender communities
from violence led by hate crimes. While supporting trans-inclusive employment initiatives.


● Donors and International Institutions: Reverse funding cuts to LGBTQ+ civil society organizations
and prioritize funding for grassroots, trans-led initiatives that address health, advocacy, and economic
rights.


● Allies and the Broader LGBTQ+ Movement: Stand in solidarity with trans communities across Asia,
amplify our voices, resist the global tide of anti-gender hate, and work together to create a future where
trans individuals are free to live authentically, with dignity, and without fear.


● Representation: Advocating for trans individuals to be represented in various policy-influencing
positions, decision-making bodies, UN spaces to ensure that trans people’s issues, challenges, and
voices are heard and addressed.


● Community Empowerment: Launching campaigns to raise awareness among governments,
healthcare providers, security forces, and the general public to foster inclusive and supportive
environments for trans individuals both in mainstream and grassroot level areas throughout Asia.


● Economic Empowerment: Working toward a more inclusive economy by implementing programs that
address discrimination in employment, education, and housing for trans people.


● Sustaining for the future: Urging every trans advocate, civil societies and organization throughout
Asia and globe to come together to combat the current anti gender movement while also collectively
creating a sustainability roadmap ahead for the future to ensure not a single trans individuals,
communities or trans led organization go through funding crisis and anti-gender attacks.


Together, we commit to this shared vision with a united and unwavering focus on advancing the rights,
health, and justice of trans and gender-diverse communities across Asia. We are taking back control
over our bodies and our rights, ensuring that no one pushes their opinions onto trans bodies and trans
rights unless they are trans themselves.”

Share the Post:

Latest Posts

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

Mahnoor Aka Moon​

(she/her/hers)
SOUTH ASIA REPRESENTATIVE

Mahnoor Ch, also known as Moon, is a prominent advocate for gender rights, HIV awareness, and social justice in Pakistan. As a development practitioner, social scientist, and gender rights expert, she brings extensive experience and a multidisciplinary approach to her work. In her role as Program Director at the Khawaja Sira Society, she has led impactful initiatives, including the Multi-Country South Asia Global Fund Project. Her contributions have earned her several accolades, such as the Community Hero Award and formal recognition from both the Governor of Punjab and the President of the United States.

Beyond her leadership in community-based projects, Mahnoor has served as a trainer and technical expert, providing guidance on national policy development for the National AIDS Control Program and conducting training sessions for law enforcement in Lahore and Rawalpindi. She also plays a key role on the steering committee of the Global Fund Advocates Network for the Asia-Pacific region, helping shape global strategies for health and rights advocacy. Currently, Mahnoor is a member of the Prime Minister’s Counsel in Pakistan, advising on high-level policy decisions. She also works as a community-based implementing partner with UNDP, ensuring HIV prevention and treatment services are accessible to marginalized populations. Her unwavering dedication to equality and justice continues to inspire meaningful change across Pakistan and beyond.

Shane Bhatla

(he/they)
Disability Representative

Shane (he/they) is a non-binary disabled activist and Gender Equality, Diversity, and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) consultant. They also serve on the advisory panel of Access For Everyone and are on the Global Advisory Board of a MHPSS and QMU project. Shane’s advocacy focuses on trans and disability issues, working to destigmatize conversations about mental well-being in these communities. Their journey reflects resilience and a commitment to breaking down societal barriers, with eight years of experience in the non-profit sector.

Shane’s notable projects include making regional LGBTIQ+ conferences more accessible, hosting a roundtable on the intersectionality of LGBTIQ+ and disability, creating a media publication featuring photos of LGBTIQ+ disabled individuals and a project to enhance the competency of suicide hotline crisis workers on LGBTIQ+ and disability issues.

With over a decade of work experience, Shane has been featured in the media, on blogs, podcasts and video interviews. Additionally, he has authored an e-book named A11y: A guide to accessibility for employers. Their expertise stems not just from their work experience, but also lived experience. In 2024, they were involved in developing the Kathmandu Charter for the rights of people with lived experience of mental health conditions, a never done before initiative.

Learn more on: shanebhatla.org

Tashi Tsheten​

(he/they)
SOUTH ASIA REPRESENTATIVE​

Tashi is an LGBTQIA+ advocate from Bhutan and a Co-Founder of Queer Voices of Bhutan (QVoB), a community-based platform supporting the rights and inclusion of the gender and sexually diverse community in Bhutan. With a focus on addressing social stigma and advocating for legal and economic opportunities, Tashi and their team continue to contribute to advancing LGBTQIA+ rights nationally and regionally. Currently serving as a Program Advisor at QVoB, Tashi is also engaged in regional efforts through Youth Voices Count (YVC) and ILGA ASIA. Passionate about social justice, community building, and policy advocacy, Tashi remains committed to fostering greater understanding and acceptance for the LGBTQIA+ community.

Aisha Mughal

(she/her)
TRANS REPRESENTATIVE

Aisha Mughal is a transgender rights expert working with the Ministry of Human Rights in Pakistan and as a UNDP Consultant. Since 2015, she has been actively advocating for transgender rights. In 2020, she made history as the first transgender person to represent any country during an official UN treaty review, participating in Pakistan’s national delegation to the UN CEDAW committee in Geneva. Aisha has contributed to peer-reviewed research on transgender issues and played a key role in the drafting and approval of the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2018. She has also served with the National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR) in Pakistan.

Joyce Teng

(she/her)
EAST ASIA REPRESENTATIVE

Joyce Teng is the Executive Director of Taiwan Equality Campaign (previously known as “Marriage Equality Coalition Taiwan”.) Before Taiwan Equality Campaign, she participated in some activist groups focusing on different issues like environment protection, women rights and transformational justice since 2010, and served as the Legislative assistant for the parliament of Taiwan between 2013 to 2015, and then dedicated herself to same-sex marriage legalization since 2016.

Joyce holds M.L. of National Taiwan University. With experience in the Parliament and her legal background, Joyce was responsible for the advocacy of LGBTI+ rights policies and legal reform. She advocated for inclusive political participation and representation since 2018, and acted as the Deputy Executive Director of Taiwan Equality Campaign. She then took the position as Executive Director in December 2022, leading Taiwan Equality Campaign on LGBTI+ rights advocacy.

Nyein Pyae Sone

(she/her)
Finance officer

Nyein Pyae Sone is the Finance Officer at ILGA Asia. She has been working in the international non-profit management sector since completing her first Bachelor’s degree in Accounting in 2010. With over 12 years of extensive experience, she specializes in budget management, month-end and year-end closing, partnership support for local partner organizations, grant and financial management, cash flow forecasting, and financial reporting.

Throughout her career, she has contributed to various projects within international NGOs and UN agencies in both Thailand and Myanmar. Nyein holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) with a focus in Business Administration and Management from UCSI University, Malaysia. Her solid background in finance and deep understanding of project operations make her a valuable asset to the organizations she works with.

Yarinda Srisutat

(she/her)
Senior Events and Admin officer

Yarinda Srisutat or you can call my nickname Kim (She/Her), Based in Krung Thep Mahanakhon (Bangkok), Thailand, Yarinda is an experienced nonprofit professional with a strong background in administration, finance, and event management. She currently serves as the Senior Admin and Events Officer at ILGA Asia, where she plays a key role in ensuring seamless operations, coordinating impactful events, and strengthening regional collaboration within the LGBTQ+ movement.

Yarinda has been deeply involved with ILGA Asia over the years. From 2019 to September 2023, she worked as a Senior Finance and Admin Officer, contributing to the organization’s operational growth. After a brief tenure at APCOM Foundation from October 2023 to August 2024, she rejoined ILGA Asia in a new capacity as Senior Admin and Events Officer, bringing her expertise in logistics, planning, and community engagement.

Her journey in the nonprofit sector began in 2016 when she volunteered and worked as a field staff member at the Rainbow Sky Association of Thailand (RSAT), engaging in grassroots LGBTIQ+ advocacy. In 2017, she became a Program Assistant at the Thai Red Cross AIDS Research Centre, where she supported clinical trials focusing on transgender women as a key population.
Beyond her professional work, Yarinda studies Mahayana Buddhism and finds joy in spending time with her pet cockatiel birds.

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.

Subscribe to our newsletter to recieve breaking LGBTIQ news from across Asia, opportunities and resources, and updates from ILGA Asia.

Khine Su Win

(she/her)
STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR

Khine Su Win is a health professional, medical doctor, researcher, trainer and human rights advocate with a profound focus on Global Health. Her career is anchored in the cause of capacity building among marginalized communities in various regions of Asia including South East Asia, South Asia and East Asia.

With a passion for social justice, she works to enable and uplift marginalized groups, including People Living with HIV (PLHIV), Women Living with HIV (WLHIV), members of the LGBTIQ community, sex workers, People Who Use Drugs (PWUD), and opium farmers. By promoting their rights and advocating for their well-being, she strives to create a more inclusive and equitable society, where every individual’s voice is heard and respected.

Jeff Cagandahan

(he/him)
INTERSEX REPRESENTATIVE

Jeff Cagandahan is a pioneering Filipino intersex man and human rights activist known for his landmark legal victory in 2008, when the Supreme Court of the Philippines recognized his right to change his name and gender marker, making him the first intersex person in the country to gain legal gender recognition. Born in 1981 and assigned female at birth, Jeff was diagnosed with congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH), a condition that led to the development of male physical traits during adolescence. His case emphasized the right to self-determination and became a cornerstone for intersex rights in the Philippines. He is the Co-founder of Intersex Philippines and a Board Member of Intersex Asia, playing key roles in advancing intersex human rights across the region. Jeff has been outspoken about the need for awareness, healthcare access, and societal inclusion for intersex people.

Sean Sih-Cheng Du

(he/him)
EAST ASIA REPRESENTATIVE

Sean Sih-Cheng Du is the Secretary-General of the Taiwan Tongzhi (LGBTQ+) Hotline Association. He joined Hotline as a volunteer in 2002 and has been since actively involved in the work on LGBTI+ and PLWHIV’s rights. He became Hotline’s Director of Policy Advocacy in 2011 and the Secretary-General in 2021.

His work includes social education, workplace equality, gay men’s sexual health, and international affairs. He was a crucial member of the Marriage Equality Coalition Taiwan and a board member of the Persons with HIV/AIDS Rights Advocacy Association of Taiwan.

He is currently the East Asian Representative of the ILGA Asia Executive Board, a board member of the Taiwan Equality Campaign, and a member of the Taipei City Committee of Gender Equality. He has a master’s degree in Sociology from National Taiwan University.

Artemis Akbary

(all pronouns)
NON-BINARY REPRESENTATIVE

Artemis Akbary is the Executive Director of the Afghanistan LGBTIQ+ Organization (ALO), a leading advocacy organization dedicated to the rights of LGBTIQ+ individuals, particularly in conflict and post-conflict settings, with a main focus on Afghanistan. Their work involves engaging with international accountability mechanisms to ensure justice and accountability for LGBTIQ victims and survivors. With extensive experience advocating for LGBTIQ+ refugees at the EU level, Artemis is a recognized voice for marginalized communities. They have also worked as a consultant with various international organizations and NGOs on forced displacement issues. Artemis has addressed global human rights issues at forums such as the UN Human Rights Council, the UN Security Council, and other international platforms. Artemis holds an academic background in International Relations and European Politics, with expertise in Queer, Peace, and Security.

Chitsanupong "Best" Nithiwana

(she/her)
SOUTHEAST ASIA REPRESENTATIVE

Founder and executive director of Young Pride Club, Chitsanupong “Best” Nithiwana (she/her) is a human rights defender for the rights of LGBTIQ+ youth and gender equality in Thailand. Absolutely dedicated to her career path, she started out as a public information assistant consultant at the UN headquarters. She supported the digital campaign of Youth Peace Security to gain the meaningful participation of women and youth in peace processes worldwide. In 2018, she became the first transgender participant in the US Exchange programme, YSEALI Academic Fellows.

An outspoken advocate for the LGBTIQ+ community, she now runs her own community in Chiang Mai, Thailand, Young Pride Club, which is a safe learning community for young people interested in gender equality and the LGBTIQ+ community. Established in 2018, the community provides on-the-ground activities and online content to develop leadership and participation in gender equality advocacy. Young Pride Club was also a main organizer of the Chiang Mai Pride 2019-2022 and the 2022 Youth Pride Thailand, the country’s first pride organized by LGBTIQ+ youth for LGBTIQ+ youth. In 2022, it reached over 40,000 followers and developed 50 young leaders across the country.

Recently, Best also became an APCOM Hero Award Honouree (Community Hero) under the theme “Unity & Diversity ” in recognition of her inspiring work.