SECTION ONE: The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on LGBTI people in the Asia Pacific region • LGBTIQ people in Oceania, francophone Africa and French overseas territories, reported limited access to HIV medication.88 8. Social isolation and increased anxiety LGBTI people are generally at disproportionately high risk of social isolation, depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts, and suicide as compared to the general population89. These issues have been aggravated by the pandemic. In addition, many have lost access to peer groups, community spaces, psycho-social support services, and non-governmental organisations (NGOs). The demand for mental health support has escalated in LGBTI communities across the globe, with organisations struggling to provide enough support.90 Regional examples: • In Singapore, 88% of lesbian, bisexual, trans men, and queer communities reported increased mental health problems, due to violence experienced at home, stress caused by income loss and unemployment, loneliness, and other factors. They reported anxiety, panic attacks, suicidal thoughts, and being unable to access mental health support.91 Similar trends were reported by LGBTI organisations in Myanmar and Singapore.92 • Intersex Human Rights Australia noted that many people with intersex variations live with some degree of social isolation, both from other intersex people and distance from family members. Together with experiences of trauma and stigma, this created additional risk for poor mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic.93 9. Abuse of state power A number of States have used COVID-induced state emergencies to roll back human rights or target civil society, including LGBTI organisations and people in particular.94 For instance, blanket police powers have been used to justify raids and attacks against human rights defenders.95 Bans on gatherings have been used for prolonged periods to prevent LGBTI organisations and other human rights groups from coming together.96 UN human rights mechanisms have documented at least one country that has used COVID-19 regulations to restrict trans people’s right to access legal gender recognition.97 Arbitrary arrest, detention, and police harassment and abuse have been widely documented during the pandemic98 have particularly affected those who live in countries that criminalise LGBTI people.99 Trans and gender-diverse people have been heavily policed and 88 ALFO survey: LGBTI individuals in Oceania struggle with multitude of Covid19 related challenges, APCOM. 89 Ibid. 90 A/75/258, para. 15. 91 Quoted in ASEAN SOGIE Caucus, The Impact of COVID-19 on LGBTIQ+ Organizations in Southeast Asia, p.14. 92 ASEAN SOGIE Caucus, The Impact of COVID-19 on LGBTIQ+ Organizations in Southeast Asia, p. 15. 93 Carpenter Morgan, Intersex people and COVID-19. 94 UN News, ‘Stand up against hate’ towards LGBTI people, UN human rights chief urges. 95 OHCHR, COVID-19 and the Human Rights of LGBTI people and A/75/258, para. 24. 96 ASEAN SOGIE Caucus, The Impact of COVID-19 on LGBTIQ+ Organizations in Southeast Asia, p. 3. 97 OHCHR, COVID-19 and the Human Rights of LGBTI people. 98 A/75/258, para. 1. 99 UN News, ‘Stand up against hate’ towards LGBTI people, UN human rights chief urges. 14