An NHRI Guide on responding to COVID-19 impacts on LGBTI people Contents Section one: The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on LGBTI people in the Asia Pacific region 6 1. Health risks 6 2. Loss of income, food & housing 7 3. Lack of access to state support, services, or benefits 8 4. Stigmatisation, discrimination, scapegoating, hate speech, and violence 9 5. Domestic violence and abuse 10 6. Difficult access to health services 11 7. De-prioritisation of required health services 12 8. Social isolation and increased anxiety 13 9. Abuse of state power 13 10. Organisational survival, community support, and unity 14 Section two: Guidance on how NHRIs can address the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on LGBTI communities 1. Recognising LGBTI people as a vulnerable group in the context of the pandemic 15 15 2. Advising authorities on how to promote and protect the rights of LGBTI people in the context of COVID-19 17 3. Education and awareness raising 18 4. Monitoring the pandemic’s impact on LGBTI people 19 5. Complaints handling 20 6. Court interventions and monitoring 21 7. Advocating for laws, policies, and practices that alleviate the impact of the pandemic on LGBTI people 8. Cooperation and engagement 23 9. National inquiries 24 Resources 2 22 25