Fridae

The ASEAN SOGIE Caucus (ASC) yesterday launched its 'We are #ASEANtoo' campaign on its social media sites in the lead up to the ASEAN People's Forum that will take place in Burma from 21 to 23 March 2014. 

On October 14, a regional network of LGBT rights organisations launched a video in response to the exclusion of Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity/Expression (SOGIE) from the language of two recently adopted declarations protecting women and children from violence, and in the ASEAN Human Rights Declaration last year.

We now know what the draft ASEAN Human Rights Declaration will say. Is it good news or bad news for LGBTI? Douglas Sanders looks at the issues.

NGO representatives have rejected the draft of the ASEAN Human Rights Declaration as LGBTQs and other minorities get no mention at all in the draft which has been set for ratification by the regional bloc's 10 member-states at their summit in Cambodia this November.

31 LGBT groups from 8 Southeast Asian countries tell their governments: LGBTs being treated as "criminals" and "second class citizens" is not "acceptable", and the "recognition, promotion, and protection of LGBTIQ rights is long overdue".