ILGA ASIA

Get To Know Us
Our dedicated team is the driving force behind ILGA Asia’s mission to promote equality and support LGBTIQ+ communities across Asia.
Comprised of passionate individuals from diverse backgrounds, our team works passionately to advocate for human rights, eliminate discrimination, and empower our communities.

Board Members

For any official correspondence or governance-related matters concerning the ILGA Asia Board, please contact: [email protected] or [email protected]

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Aabyaz Mustafa

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Joyce Teng

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Aisha Mughal

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Tashi Tsheten

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Mahnoor Aka Moon

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Artemis Akbary

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Sean Sih-Cheng Du

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Phong Vuong

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Bechara Samneh

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Claire De Leon

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Jeff Cagandahan

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Our Team

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Furtengi Sherpa

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Yarinda Srisutat

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Nyein Pyae Sone

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Henry Koh

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Khine Su Win

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Pukar Bista

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Thae Su Su Thwe

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Keiko Carasig

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Shambawi Paudel

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Omair Paul

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Join Our Membership!

Join ILGA Asia and be part of a growing network committed to advancing LGBTIQ+ rights across Asia. As a member, your organisation will connect with activists, access resources, participate in regional advocacy, and contribute to global change. Membership is open to organisations that uphold the Constitution, Code of Conduct, Standing Orders, and values of ILGA Asia. Full membership is for non-profit organisations representing or supporting LGBTIQ+ people, including their branches and LGBTIQ+ groups within larger organisations such as trade unions or political parties

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Chitsanupong "Best" Nithiwana

(she/her)
SOUTHEAST ASIA and ILGA World 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.

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.

Sean Sih-Cheng Du

(he/him)
EAST ASIA and alternate ilga world 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.

Phong Vuong

(he/him)
SOUTHEAST ASIA REPRESENTATIVE and ILGA Asia Co-Chair

Phong Vuong (he/him) is currently working as the LGBTI Rights Program Manager at the Institute for Studies of Society, Economy and Environment (iSEE). As one of the leading LGBTI organizations in Vietnam since 2007, iSEE has conducted original research on contemporary Vietnamese LGBTI issues, supported LGBTI civil society organizations, facilitated the LGBTI movement and implemented successful social and policy advocacy campaign.

Along with his colleagues, Phong works closely with organizations on the ground, policymakers and the public to build resilient and capable communities, create knowledge and connect stakeholders to advance LGBTI rights in Vietnam through advocacy and social campaign. Some notable achievements include the legalization of legal gender recognition for transgender people (through Article 36 of the Civil Code 2015), the subsequent drafting of the Law on Gender Affirmation (with the Ministry of Health), the I Do campaign towards Marriage Equality and the Leave with Pride campaign that pushed a MOH’s Directive condemning conversion therapy in Vietnam. Phong also led iSEE’s work with regional and international human right mechanisms, and represent iSEE in various organizations and working group, such as ASEAN SOGIE Caucus, or C4TRANS (Coalition for Transgender Rights in Vietnam).

Aside from the work with iSEE, Phong also served as Secretary of The Organizing Board of Hanoi Pride, as Secretary for NextGEN Hanoi – a local LGBTIQ organization, and is a alumni of the YSEALI Professional Fellows Program.

Bechara Samneh

(he/him)
WEST ASIA REPRESENTATIVE

Bechara Samneh (He/Him) is an experienced humanitarian and development professional with a strong background in supporting marginalized communities, particularly in the Middle East. His expertise spans program design, project management, and advocacy, focusing on migrants, people living with disabilities, people with diverse SOGIESC, refugees, and the elderly. His work is through an intersectional lens that focuses, on gender, social and economic empowerment. Known for his collaborative approach, Bechara has worked closely with local and international organizations to implement impactful initiatives addressing mental health, gender equality, and community resilience such as MOSAIC, Acted, and ILGA Asia. He holds a deep commitment to advancing inclusive humanitarian responses and continues to drive projects that champion diversity, equity, and accessibility for vulnerable populations.

Claire De Leon

(she/they)
WOMEN REPRESENTATIVE and alternate ilga world representative

Claire De Leon is a lawyer working on gender equality and human rights. She has been involved in LGBTQI rights advocacy in the Philippines for over 10 years, previously serving as Executive Director of Babaylanes and as Secretary-General of Lagablab LGBT Network. Claire previously worked in human rights and transitional justice bodies in the Philippines, including the Human Rights Victims Claims Board and the Commission on Human Rights of the Philippines, where she contributed to the formation of the Analysis Unit and later headed the Center for Gender Equality and Women’s Human Rights. At present, Claire is working on gender equality policy reform under The Asia Foundation’s Coalitions for Change project. She also serves as the President of the Board of Babaylanes and as a Senior Lecturer at the University of the Philippines Department of Women and Development Studies.

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.

Henry Koh

(they/them)
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Henry Koh (they/them) is the Executive Director at ILGA Asia and a passionate advocate for human rights. They have extensive experience in research, strategy development, and training on LGBTIQ issues across the Asia Pacific region. Henry’s commitment to human rights stems from their personal journey and their vision to combat marginalization.

They have worked with various UN agencies and non-profit organizations, focusing on freedoms of expression, refugee rights, digital rights, and sexual health and reproductive rights. Henry is the co-founder of Beyond Borders Malaysia, which supports refugees, migrants and stateless persons groups. In addition to their human rights work, Henry is an accomplished classical violinist and pop pianist.

They hold a Bachelor of Laws, Postgraduate Diploma in International Arbitration and a Master of Laws specializing in international human rights law and feminist legal theory.

Henry is also interested in the study of memetics science and decolonization movements across Asia.

Pukar Bista

(he/him)
Coordinator

With a remarkable dedication spanning several years, Pukar has collaborated with dynamic organizations, placing a strong emphasis on empowering historically marginalized communities, particularly diverse SOGIESC minorities and migrant workers.

Having obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from a prestigious U.S. university, Pukar commenced his career with a labor union in Washington, D.C. There, he has coordinated national labor campaigns and orchestrated impactful workers’ movements. Deepening his understanding of the intricacies around these matters, Pukar pursued graduate studies at the University of Massachusetts–Amherst, immersing himself in labor history, queer and feminist theories.

Thae Su Su Thwe

(she/her)
Consultant

Thae Su Su Thwe (Ma Thae Su) is the Finance Manager of ILGA Asia. Ma Thae Su has more than 20 years of working experience in the finance & HR departments of non-profit and for-profit organizations, including Medicine Du Monde, Association of Medical Doctors of Asia, International Organization for Migration (Myanmar Mission & Nigeria Mission), Cardno Myanmar, Women Voice and Leadership Program under Nordic International Support Foundation and PEN Myanmar.

She holds a B.A (Business Science), and Masters degree in Development Studies at the Yangon University of Economics in 2016. She has contributed her finance and HR knowledge in post emergency response, maternal and child health, migrant health, migrant protection, disaster risk reduction and disaster management program, national community driven development program and human rights program across Myanmar and also in Nigeria by coordination with humanitarian and development partners and donors.

Bilguun Batjargal

(he/him)
CAMPAIGN COORDINATOR

Prior to joining ILGA Asia, he worked as a Campaign Coordinator for the United Nations Free & Equal Campaign in Mongolia where he supported designing and implementing campaigns to promote SOGIESC rights under the guidance of the United Nations Human Rights. Bilguun is also a licensed lawyer in Mongolia and has been providing pro bono legal advice related to SOGIESC rights to members of the LGBTIQ community since 2018.

Bilguun says: “I’m very excited to join ILGA Asia and to work with the wonderful and vibrant team members to achieve our common goal of promoting universal respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms, including the elimination of all forms of discrimination and stigmatisation based on SOGIESC in Asia.”

Bilguun holds a Bachelor of Laws (National University of Mongolia) and Master’s in International Economic Law (University of Barcelona). He speaks Mongolian, English, Japanese and Korean. When not working, Bilguun enjoys learning new languages, traveling and clubbing.

Keiko Carasig

(he/she/they)
COMMUNICATION OFFICER - DESIGN

Keiko is an independent queer filmmaker and multimedia artist from the Philippines. They are the outgoing president of UP SAMASKOM, a premiere student-led media performing organisation that celebrates and empowers queer performers, and a proud member of UP Babaylan, the longest-existing LGBTIQ+ student organisation in Asia.

They also work as a multimedia artist for Babaylanes, a non-government organisation that capacitates queer Filipino youth and pioneers programs on human rights education.

Keiko says: “Queer people walk to search for more reasons to walk. ILGA Asia is my way to meet others who walk the same path as me.”

Keiko is a film student at the University of the Philippines Diliman. They make films on eroticism and the sociological concerns of queer people. They are a huge devotee of Leslie Cheung.

Nadine Kamila Hassan

(she/her)
SENIOR COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER

Introducing Nadine Hassan, ILGA Asia’s Senior Communications Officer with a Masters of Science in Sustainable Development from the University of Sussex. With extensive experience at UNDP, UN Women, and GIZ, Nadine is a seasoned communications consultant and advisor. Beyond her professional achievements, Nadine’s passions extend to music, writing, and travel during her spare time. She is driven by a deep commitment to human rights and firmly believes in the power of community-based narratives for effective advocacy work.

Nadine’s expertise lies in crafting compelling messages that resonate with diverse audiences. Her ability to engage and collaborate with local communities from the ground up is a testament to her dedication to social change. By encouraging a spirit of unity, she empowers others to join her in creating a fairer and more inclusive world, one impactful message at a time.

Furtengi Sherpa

(he/him)
MONITORING, EVALUATION, LEARNING  (MEL) ASSOCIATE

Master’s degree in Public Health, earned on a full scholarship, and brings years of experience in monitoring, evaluation, learning, and advocacy across community-based initiatives. His work is guided by a deep belief in social justice and equity. Over the years, he has collaborated with LGBTIQA+ communities, people living with HIV and women living with HIV, working to expand their access to health services, challenge stigma, and strengthen community resilience. Beyond his technical expertise, Furtengi finds meaning in supporting grassroots organizations, building capacity, and amplifying community-led solutions. He is driven by the vision of a society where everyone can live with dignity, equality, and respect, regardless of their identity or circumstances.

Aabyaz Mustafa

(he/they)
Youth REPRESENTATIVE

Aabyaz Mustafa (he/they) is a finance professional, human rights defender, and fashion model from Pakistan. He is the CEO and Co-Founder of Gender Rights Watch (GRW), a nonprofit providing mental health and suicide prevention support to marginalized communities in the Global South. With over a decade in minority rights advocacy, Aabyaz has worked with Rainbow Railroad during the Afghan-Taliban crisis and was instrumental in advancing Pakistan’s Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2018.

Driven by a belief in collective action, Aabyaz mobilizes communities and allies for a more inclusive world. In their free time, they enjoy traveling, nature, and fitness as part of a holistic approach to well-being.

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 and ILGA World 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 and ILGA Asia Co-Chair

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)
Coordinator

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)
Coordinator

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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Khine Su Win

(she/her)
Coordinator

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.