20 June, Statement delivered by APTN at the 59th Human Rights Council session
Elyn, a trans man from South Asia delivered a statement on behalf of the APTN, in collaboration with trans and gender diverse activists from the Global South and East, welcoming IE SOGI report and expressed concerns about the underrepresentation of trans people from Asia Pacific in the report.
Elyn highlighted that the majority of countries in Asia Pacific have limited-to-no access to legal gender recognition and gender affirming health services exposing trans and gender diverse people to discrimination, violence, physical and mental health risks.
APTN urged for deeper investigation into how the lack of access to legal gender recognition and gender affirming care, and religious extremism act as driving forces of displacement of trans people.
At the end, Elyn appealed the States in Asia Pacific to ensure regional asylum and refugee systems to be accessible, inclusive, and rights-based, protecting trans people.
Listen to the statement below.