24 August 2020 Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus Director General World Health Organization Avenue Appia 20 1202 Geneva夀漀甀 愀爀攀 挀漀爀搀椀愀氀氀礀 椀渀瘀椀琀攀搀 琀漀 愀 猀瀀攀挀椀愀氀 攀瘀攀渀琀 Switzerland 椀渀 栀漀渀漀甀爀 漀昀 䰀䜀䈀吀䤀 䠀甀洀愀渀 刀椀最栀琀猀 Re: 䄀An洀 Open戀愀 Letter猀猀愀 搀to漀 World爀 漀昀 Health 䄀倀䌀 Organization伀䴀 to integrate effects of COVID-19 on the LGBTQI communities and for SOGIESC Inclusive strategies and response to COVID-19 䄀倀䌀伀䴀 椀渀 瀀愀爀琀渀攀爀猀栀椀瀀 眀椀琀栀 琀栀攀 䄀甀猀琀爀愀氀椀愀渀 䔀洀戀愀猀猀礀Ⰰ Dear Dr.椀渀 Ghebreyesus,瘀椀琀攀 礀漀甀 琀漀 愀 搀椀渀渀攀爀 椀渀 栀漀渀漀甀爀 漀昀 琀栀攀 䠀漀渀漀甀爀愀戀氀攀 䨀甀猀琀椀挀攀 We, the䴀 undersigned,椀挀栀愀攀氀 䬀椀 爀represent戀礀Ⰰ 最氀漀 戀civil愀氀 挀society栀愀洀瀀 organizations椀漀渀 漀渀 椀渀挀 氀working甀猀椀漀渀 Ⰰto 愀 挀advance挀攀瀀琀愀 渀the挀攀 rights of LGBTQI communities愀渀搀 愀in搀 瘀Asia愀渀 挀and攀洀 攀the渀琀 Pacific.漀昀 䰀䜀䈀 吀And䤀 栀 甀we洀 愀write渀 爀 椀to最栀 琀urge猀⸀ you to include aspects of sexual orientations, gender identities, expressions and sex characteristics (SOGIESC) into your polices, programs and response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic has highlighted, and in many instances exacerbated吀栀椀猀 the 猀瀀 discrimination攀挀椀愀氀 搀椀渀渀攀 and爀 眀 lack椀氀氀 搀 of椀猀 legal挀甀猀 protections猀 琀栀攀 爀漀氀攀 faced 漀昀 琀 by栀攀 LGBTQI 瀀爀椀瘀愀 people,琀攀 猀攀挀 communities琀漀爀 and their families.椀渀 猀甀瀀瀀漀爀琀椀渀最 挀漀洀洀甀渀椀琀椀攀猀 琀漀 愀搀瘀愀渀挀攀 䰀䜀䈀吀䤀 栀甀洀愀渀 爀椀最栀琀猀Ⰰ While the琀愀 挀COVID-19欀氀攀 䠀䤀嘀 pandemic⼀䄀䤀䐀匀 椀 渀affects 䄀猀椀愀 the 倀愀 general挀椀昀椀挀Ⰰ 愀population,渀搀 琀栀攀 椀 洀it disproportionately瀀愀挀琀猀 琀栀愀琀 affects vulnerable sectors,䌀 including伀嘀䤀䐀 LGBTQIⴀ㄀㤀 椀猀 communities,氀椀欀攀氀礀 琀漀 攀 昀due昀攀 挀to琀 SOGIESC-related琀栀攀 洀漀瘀攀洀攀 stigma渀琀 琀漀 眀and愀 discrimination.爀搀猀 琀栀攀 唀一 In a joint匀 甀statement猀琀愀椀渀愀戀 issued氀攀 䐀 攀by瘀 攀human氀漀瀀洀 rights攀渀琀 experts䜀漀愀氀猀 on ㈀ May㌀ 14,⸀ 2020, this disproportionate effect was highlighted as: “In all latitudes, LGBT persons are disproportionately represented in the ranks of the poor, people䄀倀䌀 experiencing伀䴀 眀愀猀 攀 homelessness,猀琀愀戀氀椀猀栀攀搀 椀and渀 ㈀ those 㜀 without愀猀 愀 挀漀 healthcare,洀洀甀渀椀琀 礀meaning 渀攀琀眀 漀that爀欀 they may be particularly affected as a result of the pandemic[..]” The statement also highlighted how COVID-19 and the responses眀漀爀欀 椀to渀 最address 椀渀 䄀猀 it椀愀 have 倀愀 挀contributed椀昀椀挀 爀攀最椀漀 to渀 ⸀existing 圀攀 眀 inequalities愀渀琀 愀 眀漀 爀and氀搀 discrimination.眀栀攀爀攀 In relation to the LGBTQI瀀攀漀 communities,瀀氀攀 漀昀 搀椀瘀攀 the爀猀 攀statement 猀攀砀甀愀氀 outlined漀爀椀攀渀琀 that愀琀椀漀 criminal渀Ⰰ 最攀渀 laws搀攀爀 add 椀搀 攀to渀 the琀椀琀 礀vulnerabilityⰀ of LGBTQI because最 攀of渀 搀police攀爀 攀 砀abuse瀀爀攀猀 猀and椀漀渀 arbitrary愀渀搀 猀攀 砀arrest 挀栀愀 爀愀and挀琀 攀detention爀椀猀琀椀挀猀 挀in愀渀 relation 昀甀氀氀礀 to the restriction of movements. Also, LGBTQI people who are required to stay at home experience prolonged exposure to unaccepting瀀愀爀琀椀挀 椀family瀀愀琀攀 椀members,渀 愀渀搀 愀 挀and栀椀 攀this瘀攀 exacerbates猀甀猀琀愀椀渀愀戀 rates氀攀 搀 攀of瘀 攀domestic氀漀瀀洀攀 violence渀琀 椀渀 and physical and emotional愀氀氀 abuse. 愀猀瀀攀 Without挀琀猀 漀昀 a琀 栀doubt,攀椀爀 栀 this攀愀 affects氀琀栀Ⰰ 爀椀 their最栀琀 猀physical 愀渀搀 眀 and攀氀 mental氀戀攀椀渀 最health.⸀ 1 The UN Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights also outlined the effects of COVID-19 to LGBTQI 䐀 people愀琀攀㨀 and 䴀 communities漀渀搀愀礀 ㄀㘀 in 䴀 its愀 guidance爀挀栀 ㈀ document㈀ on COVID-19 and the human rights of LGBTQI people.吀椀洀攀 The㨀 document㄀㠀㨀 highlightedጠ ㈀ 㨀 that the existing stigma and discrimination based on SOGIESC while seeking health services, laws which criminalize same-sex relationships and those which target transgender 嘀攀 and渀甀 gender攀㨀 䄀 diverse甀猀琀爀愀 persons氀椀愀渀 䄀 due洀戀 to愀 their猀猀愀 搀gender漀爀✀猀 identities刀攀猀椀搀攀 and渀挀 expression攀 “can elevate the risk for LGBTI people from ㄀ COVID-19.”㠀㄀ 圀椀爀攀 The氀攀猀猀 same 刀漀愀 document搀 䈀愀渀最欀 also漀欀 highlighted㄀ ㌀㌀ the possibility of interruption and de-prioritization of health services in the context of overload on healthcare systems as a result of COVID-19.2 倀氀攀愀猀攀 刀匀嘀倀 戀礀 吀栀甀爀猀搀愀礀 ㄀㈀ 䴀愀爀挀栀 ㈀ ㈀ 戀礀 爀攀瀀氀礀椀渀最 琀漀 眀愀琀琀愀渀愀欀䀀愀瀀挀漀洀⸀漀爀最 Page: 1 / 3 These scenarios, together with present and possible effects of COVID-19 on LGBTQI people and communities, have been identified in various surveys conducted by organizations working on LGBTQI rights and health issues. For example, a survey conducted by APCOM,3 a regional organization based in Bangkok representing and working with a network of individuals and community-based organizations across Asia-Pacific, indicated that organizations and communities were concerned about the effects of COVID-19 on the delivery of health services, including HIV-related services. Access of LGBTQI people to mental health夀漀甀 services, 愀爀攀 挀for漀 those爀搀椀 愀who氀氀礀 need 椀渀 them,瘀椀琀攀 has搀 been 琀漀 affected愀 猀瀀攀 by挀 the椀愀 pandemic.氀 攀瘀攀渀 These琀 issues are in addition椀 渀to the栀漀 stigma渀漀甀 and爀 discrimination漀昀 䰀䜀䈀吀 experienced䤀 䠀甀洀愀 by渀 service 刀椀最 users栀琀猀 during normal times. The effect䄀 洀of COVID-19戀愀猀猀愀 to搀 the漀爀 livelihood 漀昀 䄀倀 of䌀 LGBTQI伀䴀 people has also been identified in anOutRight Action International paper, which stated that LGBTIQ people are predominantly engaged in the informal sector, reliant on daily wages and without the safety nets of protections in many countries, they are especially 4 susceptible䄀倀 䌀to 伀the䴀 effects 椀渀 瀀 of愀爀 economic琀渀攀爀猀栀 椀slowdowns瀀 眀椀琀栀 琀 栀and攀 䄀limitations甀猀琀爀愀氀椀 愀on渀 movement. 䔀洀戀愀猀猀礀Ⰰ There are椀渀瘀 also椀琀攀 narratives礀漀甀 琀漀 愀 where 搀椀渀渀 攀LGBTQI爀 椀渀 栀 漀couples渀漀甀爀 and漀昀 琀families栀攀 䠀漀 are渀漀 甀not爀愀 戀able氀攀 䨀to甀 猀access琀椀挀攀 programs and responses䴀 which椀挀栀愀攀 aim氀 䬀 to椀爀 alleviate戀礀Ⰰ 最氀漀 the戀愀 effects氀 挀栀愀 of洀 the瀀椀漀 pandemic渀 漀渀 椀渀 as挀氀 these甀猀椀漀 programs渀Ⰰ 愀挀挀攀 and瀀琀愀 responses渀挀攀 are designed with heteronormative assumptions about what constitutes families. A survey conducted by Marriage For All Japan愀渀搀 愀5 suggested搀瘀愀渀挀攀 洀fear攀 渀of琀 same 漀昀 䰀 䜀sex-couples䈀吀䤀 栀甀洀 about愀渀 爀not椀最 栀being琀猀⸀ able to participate in making medical decisions in cases related to COVID-19 due to the absence of legal recognition of same-sex relationships. This illustrates吀栀椀猀 猀 worries瀀攀挀椀愀 氀among 搀椀渀渀 LGBTQI攀爀 眀椀氀 氀couples 搀椀猀挀甀 where猀猀 琀栀 they攀 爀漀 will氀攀 漀be昀 denied琀栀攀 瀀 the爀椀瘀 ability愀琀攀 猀 to攀挀 care琀漀爀 for and make decisions for each other in times of emergencies. Trans and gender diverse people can also experience exclusion椀渀 in 猀 state-sponsored甀瀀瀀漀爀琀椀渀最 挀 漀health洀洀 programs甀渀椀琀椀攀猀 due琀漀 愀to搀 requirements瘀愀渀挀攀 䰀䜀 䈀of吀 legal䤀 栀 甀identification洀愀渀 爀椀最栀 琀documents猀Ⰰ 6. 琀愀挀欀氀攀 䠀䤀嘀⼀䄀䤀䐀匀 椀渀 䄀猀椀愀 倀愀挀椀昀椀挀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 琀栀攀 椀洀瀀愀挀琀猀 琀栀愀琀 We are also cognizant that LGBTQI communities and organizations bring with them a wealth of knowledge about their䌀伀 situations嘀䤀䐀ⴀ㄀㤀 and 椀猀 氀experiences椀欀攀氀礀 琀漀 攀 which昀昀攀挀琀 can 琀栀 be攀 洀 instrumental漀瘀攀洀攀渀 琀in 琀 crafting漀眀愀爀搀 inclusive猀 琀栀攀 唀 responses一 to the pandemic.匀甀猀琀愀椀渀愀戀氀攀 䐀攀瘀攀氀漀瀀洀攀渀琀 䜀漀愀氀猀 ㈀ ㌀ ⸀ It is in this context, we, the undersigned individual activists; organizations; and networks working on LGBTQI䄀 and倀䌀 health伀䴀 issues, 眀愀猀 ask攀猀琀 the愀戀 World氀椀猀栀攀 Health搀 椀渀 ㈀ Organization 㜀 愀猀 愀 挀 to:漀洀洀甀渀椀琀礀 渀攀琀眀漀爀欀 眀漀爀欀椀渀最 椀渀 䄀猀椀愀 倀愀挀椀昀椀挀 爀攀最椀漀渀⸀ 圀攀 眀愀渀琀 愀 眀漀爀氀搀 眀栀攀爀攀 • Ensure瀀攀 漀that瀀氀攀 the 漀昀 challenges 搀椀瘀攀爀猀攀 being猀攀砀甀 faced愀氀 漀 爀by椀攀 渀LGBTQI,琀愀琀椀漀渀 MSMⰀ 最攀 渀and搀攀 people爀 椀搀攀渀 and琀椀琀 礀communitiesⰀ of diverse SOGIESC during the COVID-19 pandemic will be given due attention, and policies, programs, and responses最攀渀搀 are攀爀 攀inclusive砀瀀爀攀猀 猀and椀漀 渀do 愀 not渀搀 add 猀攀 砀to 挀 the栀愀 爀exclusion愀挀琀攀爀椀 猀and琀椀挀 discrimination猀 挀愀渀 昀甀氀氀礀 experienced by LGBTQI people,瀀愀爀 communities琀椀挀椀瀀愀琀攀 椀 渀and 愀 渀families.搀 愀挀栀 椀攀瘀攀 猀甀猀琀愀椀渀愀戀氀攀 搀攀瘀攀氀漀瀀洀攀渀琀 椀渀 • Integrate a SOGIESC-inclusive approach in their COVID-19 related guidance documents, situation reports,愀氀氀 愀 briefs,猀瀀攀挀 strategies琀猀 漀昀 琀栀 and攀椀爀 response. 栀攀愀氀琀栀 Ⰰ 爀椀最栀琀猀 愀渀搀 眀攀氀氀戀攀椀渀最⸀ • Work closely with LGBTQI organizations and communities towards a more inclusive responses to the pandemic. 䐀愀琀攀㨀 䴀漀渀搀愀礀 ㄀㘀 䴀愀爀挀栀 ㈀ ㈀ Integrating 吀 椀a洀 SOGIESC攀㨀 ㄀ framework㠀㨀 ጠ ㈀ will 㨀 contribute to our collective goal of addressing impacts of COVID-19 on vulnerable 嘀攀渀 populations甀攀㨀 䄀甀 and猀琀爀 愀take氀椀愀 us渀 closer䄀洀戀 towards愀猀猀愀搀 the漀爀 goal✀猀 刀 of攀 “leaving猀椀搀攀渀挀 no攀 one behind” as envisioned by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable㄀㠀㄀ 圀椀爀 Development.攀氀攀猀猀 刀漀愀搀 䈀愀渀最欀漀欀 ㄀ ㌀㌀ Sincerely,倀氀攀愀猀攀 刀匀嘀倀 戀礀 吀栀甀爀猀搀愀礀 ㄀㈀ 䴀愀爀挀栀 ㈀ ㈀ 戀礀 爀攀瀀氀礀椀渀最 琀漀 眀愀琀琀愀渀愀欀䀀愀瀀挀漀洀⸀漀爀最 Page: 2 / 3 Name Position Organization Territory Midnight Poonkasetwattana Executive Director APCOM Asia Pacific Ryan Silverio Regional Coordinator ASEAN SOGIE Caucus Southeast Asia Joe Wong Executive Director Asia Pacific Transgender Network Asia and the Pacific 夀漀甀 愀爀攀 挀漀爀搀椀愀氀氀礀 椀渀瘀椀琀攀搀 琀漀 愀 猀瀀攀挀椀愀氀 攀瘀攀渀琀 Shale Ahmed Executive Director Bandhu Social Welfare Society Bangladesh 椀渀 栀漀渀漀甀爀 漀昀 䰀䜀䈀吀䤀 䠀甀洀愀渀 刀椀最栀琀猀 Suben Dhakal (Manisha) Executive Director Blue Diamond Society Nepal 䄀洀戀愀猀猀愀搀漀爀 漀昀 䄀倀䌀伀䴀 Esan Regmi Executive Director Campaign for Change Nepal Coalition for Sexual and Bodily Rights Rima Athar Coordinator Asia and North Africa in Muslim Societies 䄀倀䌀伀䴀 椀渀 瀀愀爀琀渀攀爀猀栀椀瀀 眀椀琀栀 琀栀攀 䄀甀猀琀爀愀氀椀愀渀 䔀洀戀愀猀猀礀Ⰰ Lieu Anh Vu Executive Director ILGA Asia Asia 椀渀瘀椀琀攀 礀漀甀 琀漀 愀 搀椀渀渀攀爀 椀渀 栀漀渀漀甀爀 漀昀 琀栀攀 䠀漀渀漀甀爀愀戀氀攀 䨀甀猀琀椀挀攀 International Women's Rights Action Ishita Dutta Program Manager Asia Pacific 䴀椀挀栀愀攀氀 䬀椀爀戀礀Ⰰ 最氀漀戀愀氀 挀栀愀洀瀀椀漀渀Watch 漀渀 Asia椀渀挀 Pacific氀甀猀椀漀渀Ⰰ 愀挀挀攀瀀琀愀渀挀攀 Prashant愀 Singh渀搀 愀搀瘀愀渀挀攀洀Coordinator攀渀琀 漀昀 䰀䜀䈀吀䤀 栀甀洀Intersex愀渀 爀 Asia椀最栀琀猀⸀ Asia Intersex India Forum Gopi Shankar Madurai Coordinator Srishti Madurai LGBTQIA Student India 吀栀椀猀 猀瀀攀挀椀愀氀 搀椀渀渀攀爀 眀椀氀氀 搀椀猀挀甀猀猀 Volunteer琀栀攀 爀漀 Movement氀攀 漀昀 琀栀攀 瀀爀椀瘀愀琀攀 猀攀挀琀漀爀 Jeff Cagandahan椀渀 猀甀瀀瀀漀爀琀椀渀最 挀Officer漀洀洀 in甀 Charge渀椀琀椀攀猀 琀漀 愀Intersex搀瘀愀渀 Philippines挀攀 䰀䜀䈀吀䤀 栀甀洀愀渀 爀椀Philippines最栀琀猀Ⰰ Hiker Chiu琀愀挀欀氀攀 䠀䤀嘀⼀䄀䤀䐀Founder匀 椀渀 䄀猀椀愀 倀愀挀椀昀椀挀OIIⰀ 愀 Chinese渀搀 琀栀攀 椀洀瀀愀挀琀猀 琀栀愀琀 Taiwan Isabelita䌀 B.伀 Solamo嘀䤀䐀 ⴀ㄀㤀 椀猀 氀椀Executive欀攀氀礀 琀漀 Director 攀昀昀攀挀琀 琀栀攀PILIPINA 洀漀瘀 Legal攀洀 攀Resources渀琀 琀漀眀 Center愀爀搀猀 琀栀Philippines攀 唀一 匀甀猀琀愀椀渀愀戀氀攀 䐀攀瘀攀氀漀瀀洀攀渀琀 䜀漀愀氀猀