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We invite all individuals and organisations, including advocates, activists, political, social and religious leaders, to join in our efforts and indicate their support for the Silom Manifesto so that they shall be added to the list of affirming signatories.
The Silom Manifesto is part of a series of joint declarations written by advocates, activists, theologians and researchers from around the world, and coordinated by GIN-SSOGIE. You may refer to the below text and our website for detailed information and/or email us if you wish to find out more about GIN-SSOGIE’s project and work around the world (victoria@gin-ssogie.org).
Preamble
From 20 to 22 November 2018 in Bangkok, Thailand, the Global Interfaith Network (GIN-SSOGIE) gathered LGBTIQ rights defenders, academics, and religious leaders from diverse family backgrounds and traditions, including Asian traditional religions, Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, Islam and Christianity, for its second dialogue on Family and Traditional Values. This was following our first gathering of February 2018, in Johannesburg, South Africa.
We, Asia-based and focused Members of the Global Interfaith Network reclaim and affirm the diversity of families in Asia, which include the families of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer (LGBTIQ) peoples and promote and defend these families locally, regionally and internationally.
Echoing the Johannesburg Declaration, we recognize that a whole range of individuals and families, including LGBTIQ families, have been excluded from the definition of ‘natural family’ promoted by certain religious groups in social and political contexts, locally, regionally, and internationally.
We strongly highlight the life-threatening impact of this discrimination and exclusion on our human communities, especially the most vulnerable people including children, single mothers, widows and LGBTIQ peoples. This impact is not only negative for certain individuals and communities, but it is also harmful to everyone of us and to our traditional values and national cultures.
Today, because of largely patriarchal and conservative societies, violence against LGBTIQ people has become a normal practice. This is often experienced within families who, in using force, aim to maintain a perceived social balance. Further, punitive laws against LGBTIQ people may translate to tacit permission to commit violence and bullying. As of November 2018, in 71 countries around the world, homosexual acts are punishable by imprisonment, including Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Malaysia and Singapore, according to the International Lesbian Gay Bisexual Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA). For example, section 377 of the penal codes of Malaysia, Myanmar and Singapore – a hangover from these countries’ history as British colonies – still outlaws sex between consenting male adults, and is often also known as the “sodomy law.” There are also laws prohibiting transgender people from changing their name and gender in Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand and the Philippines. Media regulations mean that there is a dearth of the kind of LGBTIQ characters and content that might improve social understanding and acceptance. Some studies have shown the multi-layered negative impact of such stigma and exclusion of LGBTQI people including on access to education and health, productivity, employment, costs of social services and economic output.
Today, we acknowledge the rich diversity of family experiences in Asia, currently and historically. We re-affirm the universality and indivisibility of Human Rights, as enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and the ASEAN Human Rights Declaration (AHRD).
Building upon their aspirations, we call for a deeply inclusive and accepting human-rights based approach, pushing beyond boundaries set by colonial processes and frameworks, and truly respectful of the dignity, values, views and faith of all human beings.
We, the participants in the second seminar on Family and Traditional Values of the Global
Interfaith Network hereby declare that:
”We need to anchor politics in the lived realities of all human beings and in the values that guarantee the life, dignity, and sanctity of all human beings. For this purpose, we must continue decolonizing our thinking and approaches.”
1. National sovereignty and the lived realities of LGBTIQ people
1. We must recognise that some states which are currently part of the international human rights system, were themselves products of colonial processes; states’ borders, legal foundations and even names are legacies of a time during which there was a large imbalance of power. As many states in the Global South declared their independence in the post-WW2 world, many individuals were left marginalised and invisible, including indigenous communities.
2. Today, we continuously see discrimination and violence happening within states, led by some state representatives, justified on the basis of the defense of the national interest.
3. We believe that the national interest, of all states in Asia and around the world, must be anchored in the respect of all individuals’ rights, and not only those of some groups of individuals holding more social, economic and political power.
4. Our national sovereignty must be based on respect for diversity and inclusivity of all individuals on our lands.
2. Reclaiming our Tolerance, Dignity and Inclusivity
1. Homosexuality and trans identity are often depicted as imports from the West, attacks on the national sovereignty and culture of states including in Asia. Yet, if the acronym “LGBTIQ” is a Western umbrella term – in use in the United States, and later North America and Europe, since the late-1980s – the acceptance of diverse sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions is present in traditional values around the world, including in Asia, and has been the case for hundreds of years. For example, the Narada-smriti is a Hindu text from India put into writing sometime before the first century BCE. Portion 12.14-18 of the Narada-smriti acknowledges the existence of homosexual people and suggests they should not be forced into a heterosexual marriage.
2. For that matter, such traditional values are even more diverse and all-encompassing than the acronym “LGBTIQ”, which creates specific labels and boxes for individuals, thereby limiting the complex diversity of individuals around the world. These traditions are inextricably part of certain faith traditions – such as in Indian Hinduism which is accepting of “queerness”. The Sanskrit includes 68 words that speak of gender sexuality and identity. – Pre-dating some institutionalised religions, we see examples such as in Indonesia, before the spread of Islam or in the Philippines before colonial history. Indonesia holds, for example, a 13th century value called “Bhinneka Tunggal ika”. This term became an official state motto in 1950, when it was anchored in the country’s State Ideology after its independence in 1945. It translates to “Unity in Diversity” and is aimed at tying the diverse, island country together. Having such a motto compels Indonesia to honour diverse family forms. Another example includes the Babaylans in the Philippines, who were women Shayman who were very present and important within communities in pre-colonial times.
3. The concept of Traditional Values are not merely a few decades old, but go as far back as several millennia. Moreover, when discussing traditional values today, we need to define them as values that affirm the dignity of human beings and their right to form bonds of union based on love, consent, and mutually nourishing goals. These are the same values that underlie the construction of families and cooperation.
3. Reclaiming Our Faith and Religious Traditions
1. We believe that many of the more discriminatory interpretations of our various sacred texts are strongly influenced by the current patriarchal understanding in male dominated religious structures. This then perpetuates a religious discourse which does not respect the inherent dignity of every person regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity.
2. We believe that all religions and faith traditions, including the Abrahamic and Karmic traditions, are deeply anchored in a message of love, for all human beings, accepting of everyone equally.
3. We also believe that diversity and difference are at the core of the human community and that both are expressions of the beauty of Creation. For example, several Hindu scriptures explicitly describe people with a homosexual nature. Among these, three stand out—the Narada-smriti (a first-century BCE. text of religious codes attributed to the sage Narada), the Sushruta Samhita (a 600 BCE. medical text compiled by the sage Sushruta) and the Kama Sutra (a third-century CE. text on the art of lovemaking by the sage Vatsyayana). In Hinduism, the gods and sacred deities are not bound by human codes and can often be found breaking the above-mentioned restrictions. They commonly bend gender norms and manifest multiple combinations of sex throughout the sacred Hindu texts. There are Hindu deities that are male, female or third sex; deities that manifest all three; male deities who become female and female deities who become male; male deities with female moods and female deities with male moods; deities that crossdress; deities born from two males or from two females; deities born from a single male or from a single female; deities who self-manifest; deities that avoid the opposite sex, and deities with principle companions of the same gender. All of these different combinations demonstrate the remarkable gender diversity found among the Hindu gods and it is said that everything in this world is a reflection of the original subtle and spiritual reality.
4. Our faiths and religions are anchored in compassion, deeply caring for non-violence amongst human beings and the whole creation.
5. We believe that religious texts must be read in the contextual settings, and must be applied to our contemporary times; we believe that the interpretation of our religious texts must be anchored in inclusion and acceptance.
6. Our faith and religious practices do not circumscribe any other people’s practices. Our message of inclusion is not one that denies religious liberty, but in fact expands the scope of religious liberty to encompass the great compassionate potential of each religion to include more of humanity in all of its breathtaking diversity. Our message to faith communities is that we believe that religions have great power to be inclusive and affirming of all human lives, and this should not be undermined.
7. We also believe that our modern religions are and must be compatible with pre-existing spiritual belief systems, which are themselves tolerant and accepting. We must allow for the expression of all faiths and spiritualities, including a certain complementarity between institutionalised religion and spiritual traditions. Such traditions have much to teach us, including the acceptance of LGBTIQ people, their families, and their communities. In Indonesia for example, within interpretations of Islam in many parts of the country is the notion that modern religions are compatible with pre-existing spiritual belief systems. For instance, there is a subject position in Indonesian, referred to as bissu, who have until very recently wielded incredible political and spiritual power on the basis of the fact that they combine female and male elements.
8. We wish to pursue interfaith dialogue, understanding and tolerance for people from all traditions, including indigenous communities, which are often the targets of violence and discrimination.
4. Reclaiming our Families, our Rights and our Values
1. Our international human rights system must respect all nations equally, and these same nations must respect everyone’s rights, values, opinions and faiths, and this includes the communities and families individuals choose to build and be part of.
2. Asia has a family-centric culture, inclusive, including of non-binary genders. Our families are anchored in love and the respect for all individuals within the family unit. Moreover, our families are widely diverse, as our societies are affected by migration, internal displacement, divorce, separation, monastic life etc. Diversity of family and community models is central to our Asian traditions and must be reflected within the human rights system.
3. It is our family-centric culture which is in need of protection. Families – biological and chosen – have been the foundation of social organization, cohesion and care for centuries, ensuring that all individuals are loved and taken care of, whatever their conditions and situations. This is what we want to cherish, celebrate and protect.
Developed and affirmed by the following signatories:
Ankit Bhuptani, India, Queer Hindu Alliance
Tashi Choedup, India
Small Luk, Hong Kong, Intersex Activist and Acupuncturist/Health therapist
Shirley Lam, Hong Kong, Covenant of the Rainbow
Aisha Mughal, Pakistan, Wajood
Rev. Kakay Pamaran, Philippines, GIN Board Member and Union Theological Seminary
Revelation Velunta, Philippines, Union Theological Seminary
Sanjay Sharma, Nepal, Blue Diamond Society
Sukhdeep Singh, India, Galaxy Magazine
Aan Anshori, Indonesia
Sharyn Graham Davies, New Zealand, Researcher
Jerry Johnson, India, Author and Researcher
Dede Oetemo, Indonesia, APCOM
Marly Bacaron, Thailand, Independent Consultant
Jape Mokgethi-Heath, Sweden, Church of Sweden
Shine Wara Dhammo, Thailand, Buddhist Monk
Joel Barredos, Thailand, Independant Consultant
ASEAN SOGIE Caucus
Simon Petitjean, France, GIN-SSOGIE
Pierre Buckley, South Africa, GIN-SSOGIE
Toni Kruger-Ayebazibwe, South Africa, GIN-SSOGIE
Mark Grenville, South Africa (6th Oct 2020)
GIN is an international membership-led non-profit organisation that promotes safety and inclusion for all people of faith and spirituality, especially for people that often are discriminated against on the basis of their sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or gender expression. GIN advocates for safe spaces, policy inclusion and for the support and acceptance of all sexual and gender minorities for whom their faith is an important life-giving source.
Speaker on the panel of the event “Ethics of Reciprocity Event“, October 2017, New York
Speaker on the panel of the side event “Reclaiming Faith and Family by the LGBTIQ Community“, March 2018, CSW62, New York
Moderator on the panel of the side event “Religious Communities Affirming LGBTI People Around the World“, July 2019, HRC41, Geneva
Speaker on the panel of the side event “Recognition and Respect for Family Diversity“, July 2020, HRC44, Geneva (online).
Tuisina is a survivor of institutionalised discrimination, spousal gender based violence, racial profiling, and trans violence, discrimination and persecution. She lives her truth as a proud faafafine and trans woman of colour from Samoa, a human rights defender and a former corporate In-house Counsel. She practices in trade marks and intellectual property law, and holds a Masters of Intellectual Property Law and a Masters of Law (Inhouse Practice). Born, raised and educated in Samoa, she currently works and lives in Brisbane Australia as a single parent with two adopted sons. She has over 15 years of volunteer experience in international NGOs where she leverages her specific skillset from the private sector and corporate Australia to help NGO’s she is involved with. Not only is she a fierce advocate for LGBTIQ communities with a focus on the intersectionality of indigenous, trans, interfaith, environment, and economic justice issues, she navigates her Catholic core in her absolute belief in the Gospel of Matthew: 7 where “by their fruits you will recognise” – seeding and planting fruits of safety, refuge and salvation, by sharing her truth, her journey. She is a former Co-Chair of GIN-SSOGIE helping it to flesh out the need as an LGBTIQ affirming space for different theologies for our rainbow communities across the globe, believing this to be especially ever more so important in the current times when our LGBTIQ communities all over the world face increasing and continued State sponsored criminalisation, violence, discrimination, and oppression justified by religious rhetoric and persecution and cultural and customary laws.
Speaker on the panel of the side event “Reclaiming Faith and Family by the LGBTIQ Community”, March 2018, CSW62, New York
Speaker on the panel of the side event “Pre-Colonial Societies on gender and Sexuality“, September 2019, HRC42, Geneva
Yvette Abrahams holds a Ph. D. in Economic History from the University of Cape Town. She has consulted for government and various NGO’s on issues relating to gender equality in policy and practice, while publishing widely both locally and internationally on gender equality, queer theory, climate change as well as the history of First Nations South Africans. She served as Commissioner For Gender Equality where she headed their programmes on poverty, energy and climate change. She subsequently worked as Advisor to Project 90 by 2030, an NGO which focuses on food security, energy, and promoting renewable energy and energy efficiency entrepreneurship in the context of climate change, She served as Commissioner on the University of Cape Town’s Institutional Reconciliation and Truth Commission. Today she runs a small business making organic carbon neutral soaps and body products on her smallholding east of Cape Town. Her blog is www.khoelife.com, and she can be contacted at khibomsis@gmail.com
Speaker on the panel of the side event “Pre-Colonial Societies on gender and Sexuality“, September 2019, HRC42, Geneva
Executive Director, Blue Diamond Society (BDS)
President of the Board, Federation of Sexual and Gender Minorities Nepal (FSGMN)
Former Co Chair of ILGA Asia
Founder Member of the Board, Asia-Pacific Transgender Network (APTN)
Manisha Dhakal is transgender womsn (male to female). She is LGBTI rights activist from Nepal. She has been involved in Nepal’s LGBTI rights movement since 2001 through different projects on HIV/AIDS, human rights activism, constitutional campaigns, advocacy, capacity building, academic research, and others. Manisha is currently the Executive Director of Blue Diamond Society (BDS), Nepal’s leading LGBT rights organization. Regionally, Manisha is one of the founder member of the Asia-Pacific Transgender Network representing South Asia. She is one of the former Co-Chair of ILGA Asia Board. She is also board member of IRGT; A Global Network for Trans women and HIV. She was awarded the “Nai Ram Laxmi” National award in 2010 for her contributions to the LGBTmovement in Nepal. On 21 December 2007, the Supreme Court of Nepal issued a landmark verdict directing the government to enact laws enabling equal rights to LGBT citizens. Manisha was involved in court pleadings on this case on behalf of LGBT people before the SupremeCourt. Manisha possesses a master’s degree in finance from Shanker Dev Collage, Kathmandu.
Speaker on the panel of the side event “Pre-Colonial Societies on gender and Sexuality“, September 2019, HRC42, Geneva
A French Muslim born in Algeria in 1977, Imam Ludovic is known as Europe’s ‘gay imam’. An acknowledged intellectual, he is an expert on the Quran and an AIDS activist. As a young child he was delicate, slender and shy. His father called him a pansy and eventually stopped even looking at him. At school in France teachers would ask if he was a boy or a girl. When he was 12 years old he turned to a mosque for answers and became a staunch Muslim. He later entered a Salafist brotherhood and studied in Mecca to become an imam.
Speaker on the panel of the side event “Religious Communities Affirming LGBTI People Around the World“, July 2019, HRC41, Geneva
Bochra Bel Haj Hmida is a Lawyer at the Court of Cassation, co-founder of multiple associations and networks, activist for human rights and women’s rights, former President of the Tunisian Association of Democratic Women, former member of the Assembly of People’s Representatives, chairwoman of the Committee on Individual Liberties and Equality, Member of several regional and international networks including Chair of the Committee on Violence against Women G7.
Speaker on the panel of the side event “Religious Communities Affirming LGBTI People Around the World“, July 2019, HRC41, Geneva
Fr Thomas Ninan is a Priest of the Indian Orthodox Church, working with the National Council of Churches in India, Nagpur as the General Coordinator of the ESHA Project which engages churches, theological colleges and other faith communities across India in the area of Human Sexuality and Gender Identities. As Coordinator of the National Ecumenical Forum for Gender and Sexual Diversities of the NCCI, he engages a passionate group of champions, striving for a gender neutral, inclusive society in India. He is a member of the World Council of Churches Reference Group on Human Sexuality and the Global Interfaith Network.
Speaker on the panel of the side event “Religious Communities Affirming LGBTI People Around the World“, July 2019, HRC41, Geneva
Ankit Bhuptani is an LGBTQI Rights activist, seasoned Public Speaker and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) professional with 10+ years of experience in the diversity and inclusion space, Recognized for working well with people from different backgrounds with a primary focus on LGBTQIA+ community. He was awarded ‘Global Diversity & Inclusion Leadership Award’ by the World HRD Congress. Ankit has been a member of core committee organisation Mumbai LGBT Pride since 2011. He is passionately working for inclusion in education, workplace & faith through the LGBTQI lens. He founded ‘Queer Hindu Alliance’ which connects to dots between Hinduism & LGBTQIA+ Community from an Indic lens
Speaker on the panel organised by the UN Task Force on Religion – led by Office for Prevention of Genocide with UN Women; UNAIDS and UNFPA; ACT Alliance – “Preventing gender based violence: the role of religious actors”, March 2019, CSW63, New York
Rev Nokuthula Dhladhla is an ambassador of Global Interfaith Network (GIN), works for South African Network of Religious leaders living with or aftected by Hiv and Aids ( SANERELA+),as a project officer for the UN women trust project. She is a member of the Circle of Concerned African Theologians Women, and a committee member of Association of Christian Religion Practitioners and a founding member of the association called Ashes to Purpose: a healing space for lesbians and gender non conforming people to integrate sexuality and spirituality. The life and experiences of Rev Nokuthula have been documented in several book chapters, and documentaries, including Miriam Dancing by Elise van Wyk, to have and to hold by Melanie Judge, Faces and Phases by Zanele Moholi and different magazines DVD and also at an exhibition “Journeys of Faith – Navigating Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity” held at the Apartheid Museum in Johannesburg. She has a Diploma in Theology and creates Gender Justice theological resources. Nokuthula has participated in a wide range of religious dialogues, especially with faith leaders working towards greater understanding and tolerance for LGBTIQ people in the faith sector. In 2019 alone, she has spoken at the Commission on the Status of Women and the Human Rights Council in Geneva.
Speaker on the panel of the side event “Religious Communities Affirming LGBTI People Around the World“, July 2019, HRC41, Geneva
Yulia Dwi Andriyanti (She/her), is based in Indonesia. She is a queer Muslim feminist. She co-founded Youth Interfaith Forum on Sexuality (YIFoS) in 2010, an inclusive space for young people from diverse faith and sexual identities to build dialogue on diverse faith and sexuality. She documented her struggle as Muslim and queer woman through a collective film making, titled Children of Srikandi (2012). She is also a co-founder of Qbukatabu (2017), a feminist and queer collective. She loves to archive feminist-queer activism and thoughts; to practice self-care and collective well-being; and to experiencing a vegan life.
Prepared an official statement for the Interactive Dialogue of the Special Rapporteur on Cultural Rights, March 2019, HRC40, Geneva.
Prepared a statement during the 44th HRC session, on the worsening human rights situation in the world due to Covid-19 (June/July 2020).
Speaker on the panel of the side event “The impact of faith on LGBTI people during the COVID-19 pandemic“, September 2020, HRC45, Geneva (online).
Speaker during Outright International’s webinar “Connecting Faith and Advocacy” May 2020, Virtual
Ishmael Bahati is a Kenyan citizen. He is a social activist and a Human Rights Defender for the Sexual and Gender Minorities. He is a holder of a degree in Developmental studies, Religious studies among others. Ishmael is a trained public speaker under the speaker’s bureau of the Global Interfaith Network and also holds different positions locally and internationally, such as a board member of the Gay and Lesbians Coalition of Kenya and Global interfaith network.
His Human Rights work has been recognized by the Inner Circle (Currently Al-Fitrah Foundation) in South Africa and the Defenders Coalition of Kenya (Formerly National Coalition for Human Rights Defenders).
Speaker on the panel of the side event “Religious Communities Affirming LGBTI People Around the World“, July 2019, HRC41, Geneva
Rev. Dr. Brent Hawkes, C.M., is the Founder and Executive Director of Rainbow Faith and Freedom, and Senior Pastor Emeritus of Metropolitan Community Church of Toronto, where he was at the forefront of ministry to the LGBTIQ2S community for over 40 years. On January 14, 2001, he officiated at the first legal same sex marriages in the world. He received the Order of Canada, the Order of New Brunswick and three honorary degrees for his stand on social justice and human rights within the LGBTIQ2S communities.
Speaker on the panel “Gendering the debate on religious ‘hate speech’: What are gender-responsive strategies to tackle hatred on the basis of religion or belief? (organised by by Article 19), March 2019, CSW63, New York
Lini Zurlia is an Indonesian queer feminist activist. She has been involved with issues of women and sexuality, democracy, and human rights in Indonesia for many years. Graduated from Jakarta Islamic University. She was an advocacy co-ordinator for Arus Pelangi (Indonesian LGBTI Federation) and now she is serving us as an advocacy officer. Aside from her daily responsibility work with us, she is also a member of Arus Pelangi Board of Advisory until 2022, member of PurpleCode Collective and the co-founder and festival director of 16Film Festival.’
Speaker on the panel of the side event “The impact of faith on LGBTI people during the COVID-19 pandemic“, September 2020, HRC45, Geneva (online).
Pearl is director of Queer Theology Academy (Hong Kong) that publishes queer theologies in Chinese contexts, and promotes LGBTIQ+ rights in Hong Kong and Asia through advocacy and education. She is deputy convener of “Covenant of the Rainbow: Campaign toward a Truly Inclusive Church” in Hong Kong, that aims to stop discrimination against LGBTIQ+ in churches and religious communities. Pearl is a member of the Global LGBT+ Coalition Group, and also a regular speaker in international conferences on human sexuality, queer theologies, and Asia-Pacific Rainbow Families. Pearl was also one of the eleven global LGBTI religious leaders invited to speak at the 2017 Ethics of Reciprocity Conference at United Nations headquarters, New York, co-organised by GIN-SSOGIE. Pearl Wong holds a degree of bachelor of Divinity from the Divinity School of Chung Chi College, the Chinese University of Hong Kong.
Speaker on the panel of the side event “The impact of faith on LGBTI people during the COVID-19 pandemic“, September 2020, HRC45, Geneva (online).
Dr Leli Darling, Indigenous Fijian Transgender woman, a medical doctor, founder of Transgenders Fiji Network, an overseer organisation for the Human Rights of Trans/Queer/Non-binary/Gender diverse Fijians.
Speaker on the panel of the side event “The impact of faith on LGBTI people during the COVID-19 pandemic“, September 2020, HRC45, Geneva (online).
Noor Sultan has been an activist for 10 years in the area of sexual orientation and gender identity in Egypt and Sudan. In 2010, her co- founded Bedayaa Organization. She worked as Networking and Communication director at Bedayaa Organization for five years before she was elected to be the Executive Director of Bedayaa Organization in 2016. In the last two years Noor contributed to the advocacy movement in Egypt by becoming the general coordinator of the Alliance of Queer Egyptian Organizations. In December 2017, Noor awarded the Human Rights Prize of the French Republic for her great work that influenced the LGBTI movement in Egypt. Noor Sultan is also part of GIN-SSOGIE’s Board.
Speaker on the panel of the side event “The impact of faith on LGBTI people during the COVID-19 pandemic“, September 2020, HRC45, Geneva (online).
Misza Cherniak is an Orthodox Christian and LGBTI+ activist, musician and interpreter, born in Russia and living in Poland. He is a board member of the European Forum of LGBT Christian Groups involved in its advocacy, research and capacity-building work. In 2016, he sent an open letter on behalf of Orthodox LGBT persons to the Holy and Great Council of the Orthodox Church, pleading the Church leadership to acknowledge the existence of LGBT persons within the Church and establishing a dialogue.
Statements made during the Human Rights Council session: during the 45th HRC session, in the interactive dialogue with the indigenous special rapporteur (September 2020), and during the 44th HRC session, on the human rights situation in the Philippines (June/July 2020).
Speaker on the panel of the side event “The impact of faith on LGBTI people during the COVID-19 pandemic“, September 2020, HRC45, Geneva (online).
Rev Kakay Pamaran is a pastor, ecumenist, peace activist, gender justice advocate, and Bible teacher. She currently serves as Coordinator of Union Theological Seminary’s Field Education Office in Dasmarinas in the Philippines. She is also adjunct professor in Scripture and Interpretation. She has a degree in Psychology from Silliman University and a Master of Divinity from UTS. She is completing her course work for her Master of Theology in New Testament and Historical Jesus Research, and convenes the Center for Gender and Sexuality of the Union Theological Seminary.
Statements made during the Human Rights Council session: and during the 44th HRC session, on the worsening human rights situation in the world due to Covid-19 (June/July 2020).
Fidel Mauricio Ramirez Doctor and Master in Education, Human Rights and Citizenship. BA in Philosophy, BA in Theology. Expert in gender, sexualities and religion. Roman Catholic, leader of movements for the recognition and respect of people with diverse genders and sexual orientations in their faith communities.
Speaker on the panel of the side event “The impact of faith on LGBTI people during the COVID-19 pandemic“, September 2020, HRC45, Geneva (online).
Nicolas Panotto, Argentinean based in Chile. Theologian and PhD in Social Sciences. Director and Founder of the Multidisciplinary Study Group on Religion and Public Advocacy (GEMRIP).
Speaker on the panel of the side event “The impact of faith on LGBTI people during the COVID-19 pandemic“, September 2020, HRC45, Geneva (online).
Tarek is a sexual and bodily rights activist from Beirut, Lebanon advocating for the rights and protection of LGBT individuals and groups in the MENA region. He is the Executive Director of Helem, the first LGBT rights organization in the Arab world, founded in Beirut in 2001. Tarek is a specialist on teaching adaptive leadership and is working towards starting the first leadership laboratory in the MENA region focused exclusively on youth, civil society, civic engagement, and conflict transformation. He is a Ford Foundation global fellow, an ELI fellow at the Harvard Center for Public Leadership, and was a human rights fellow at the Carr Center for Human Rights Policy at Harvard. Tarek has previously worked as communications manager and director of strategic planning for the MENA region at both the Brookings Institution and the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace MENA offices respectively. He obtained his BA from the American University of Beirut, his MALD in international relations from the Fletcher School at Tufts University, and his MPA in leadership and advocacy from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government. He currently lives in Beirut with his partner and three cats, all of whom are adorable.
Speaker on the panel of the side event “Recognition and Respect for Family Diversity“, July 2020, HRC44, Geneva (online). Dr Nontando Hadebe is a woman theologian, Research Fellow at the Department of Historical and Constructive Theology, Faculty of Theology and Religion, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, and chair of the South African Chapter of the Circle of Concerned African Women theologians in South Africa. She is typical African with multiple ethnic backgrounds across countries – Botswana, Ndebele Zimbabwe and ancestors South Africa.