Burma/Myanmar IDAHO Report 2013

For the second year running, LGBT rights activists in Burma/Myanmar held events to mark May 17. Actions for 2013 spanned seven different cities (Yangon, Mandalay, Pathein, Monywa, Kyaukpadaung, Pyay and Kawthaung). 4,000 people joined actions nationwide. Events were supported by the Myanmar National Human Rights Commission, the British Council and UNAIDS.

Local activists sent the following summary report

International Day Against Homophobia (IDAHO): The event was jointly organized by Colors Rainbow and Myanmar LGBT Rights Network in 7 cities, namely Yangon, Mandalay, Pathein, Monywa, Kyaukpadaung, Pyay and Kawthaung, in the country. Press statement was released to Myanmar Human Rights Commission and the general public in 7 locations during the event and the media. Approximately 4000 people attended the event in the areas. In Monywa, a transgender organizer petitioned local authorities who approved her application, made it the first LGBT event held in open space with government approval inside Burma and gained great public interest. Local authorities in the areas were supportive and participated in event organizing process.

 Two young women kiss at commemorations in Yangon May 17, 2013. Source.

Yangon and Mandalay IDAHO events appeared in different media providing decent information of the event and LGBT issue in the country. Promotional items such as umbrella, back pack and towels were provided with the message “LGBT Rights are Human Rights”. Mandalay included talent show in the programme in order to disseminate intended message through different forms. The first IDAHO event was organized in Pyay with the support of local authorities, officials from education sector, INGOs, NGO, local lawyers group and people from private sectors.

Participant Mummy Sein, 79, arrives for event in Yangon May 17, 2013. Source.

Participants at the event in Yangon, May 17, 2013. Source.

In Yangon, a commissioner of Myanmar National Human Rights Commission, Deputy Head of the Mission of British Embassy, and Country Coordinator of UNAIDS attended the event and delivered speeches showing their strong support. United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in Myanmar also provided translated message from Director General of UNESCO and distributed. Colors Rainbow managed to put Burmese subtitle on a special video message, The Riddle, which was released on 14th May, by the office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and included in the programme. The video features people of diverse background, identities and ethnicities posing simple questions to camera designed to reveal the kinds of human rights violations experienced by LGBT people around the world. It also includes strong expressions of support from UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay and the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. Video with Burmese subtitles available here: video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYFNfW1-sM8
Local government authorities, influential persons, community leaders, political party leaders, and women leaders provided opening speeches in other areas and could provide effective message “LGBT Rights are Human Rights” and non-discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. General public were introduced to background of the event, SOGI issue and LGBT rights in areas. The levels of community acceptance were impressively high after proper disseminating of messages in all locations. Despite the events were organized differently according to local culture, intended messages effectively penetrated to the general public as programmes were carefully tailored to break the stereotypical culture of LGBT in the country context.
Colors Rainbow organized a press conference on the research “Facing 377: Discrimination and Human Rights Abuses Against Transgender, Gay and Bisexual Guys in Myanmar”. The report will be used as a platform for the movement of abolishing Myanmar Penal Code 377 – anti-sodomy legislation dating to the colonial period.
For further coverage of the event, see also:
https://youtube.com/watch?v=videoseries%3Findex%3D5%26list%3DPLR_FCs9AgxHYdwFZB_Hq5bnbj4N_Ckml6+Category%3A+CIS_streaming+
The Myanmar Times
Myanmar Human Rights Commission
India Times
For speeches given on May 17 in the capital, see Section I for British Embassy and Section II for UNAIDS, below.
I: British Embassy
Matthew Hedges
Chargé d’Affaires, British Embassy
Good evening, I am Matthew Hedges, Chargé d’Affaires at the British Embassy and I am very pleased to be here this evening to congratulate Colours Rainbow and Myanmar LGBT Rights Network on the occasion of this International Day Against Homophobia Event. The British Embassy was pleased to be able to support attendance by some of the network at an international conference on LGBT rights in Thailand recently and we look forward to further opportunities to support the rights of LGBT people in this country. We do this as part of the UK government’s support for the LGBT community worldwide and its commitment to battling this and other forms of discrimination. I am glad to be here both as a British diplomat and more personally as a gay man to be able to share with you that commitment of support on behalf of my government. I wish your network every success in your work to raise awareness that LGBT people are entitled to exactly the same fundamental human rights as everyone else. Congratulations and good luck.
II: UNAIDS
Talking Points for Mr Eamonn Murphy, UNAIDS Country Coordinator
Distinguished guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Mingalarbar!
· It is an honour to speak on behalf of the United Nations at the opening of this important event. The International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia is the culminating point of the annual campaign for the fight against homophobia. This event is organized annually on May 17 to commemorate the date on which the WHO decided to remove homosexuality from the list of mental disorders in 1990. Today at least 100 countries are celebrating this event with meetings, prayers, rallies and vigils like us. This is the second ceremony to be held in Myanmar and is bigger and better than the last.
· The theme of this year’s campaign is “LGBT Rights are Human Rights”.
· In Myanmar, homophobia can be seen in our daily lives. Today we will hear the findings from the research paper: “Facing 377: Discrimination and Human Rights Abuses Against Transgender, Gay and Bisexual Men in Myanmar.” Sadly, it is often the case that negative attitudes and behaviours come not only from strangers – but also from family members, and from providers of health care, law enforcement authorities and other social services – the people we all look to for support.
· The right to health belongs to everyone. As the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki Moon said in his message for IDAHO, “Ending homophobia is a matter of personal security, dignity and even survival for countless individuals. The fight against homophobia is a core part of the broader battle for human rights for all. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights promises a world that is free and equal, and we will only honour that promise if everyone – without exception – enjoys the protection they deserve.”
· To fight homophobia and all forms of discrimination, we need to make everyone, from all walks of life and various cultures aware of all aspects of this reality. We need to call on political and community leaders to cast aside discriminatory laws and social practices. We need to ensure that more work is done to provide essential HIV prevention and treatment services to all LGBT. The coverage of prevention interventions has expanded, but more will need to be done to better target those who are the most at risk in these groups. While prevalence for most key affected populations has declined, men who have sex with men continue to have high prevalence of 9%.
· In his statement UNAIDS Executive Director, Mr Michel Sidibe re-affirmed that, “Today and every day, UNAIDS stands with our fellow LGBT brothers and sisters for a world without homophobia and transphobia. Let us work together to realize our vision: a world with zero new HIV infections, zero discrimination, and zero AIDS-related deaths.”
· I would like to congratulate the Colors Rainbow and the Myanmar LGBT Rights Network and the brave representatives of the MSM community for the remarkable effort in organizing this event; for being here today, speaking out for the rights of those who do not feel empowered to do so.
· I am very encouraged to see Myanmar’s LGBT community growing stronger, and engaging in constructive dialogue with the Government, as well as the wider public. This is vital in order to be better understood, to reduce social prejudice and stigma based on sexual orientation and gender identity, and to contribute to development of relevant legislation to ensure the rights of the community are protected.
· I would like to end my remarks by thanking you for your commitment to the cause and to encourage you to continue to ensure that all forms of discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity are removed so all Myanmar people can enjoy their human rights and have access to the educational, socio-economic, and health care opportunities they need.
· Chezu Tin Bar Deh