SECTION TWO: How NHRIs can address the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on LGBTI communities GOOD PRACTICE EXAMPLE The Philippines Commission on Human Rights called on the government to launch immediate and full investigations on anti-LGBTI hate crimes and murders during the pandemic, and bring perpetrators to justice.131 The Commission reiterated its stance and called for the speedy adoption of the SOGIE Equality Bill, which would provide LGBTI people with legal protection from discrimination and violence.132 8. Cooperation and engagement NHRIs should work in cooperation with state institutions, NGOs, and other key stakeholders.133 This collaboration can be part of the NHRI’s advocacy or training work, and could mean that NGOs could deliver internal training for NHRI staff. Many NHRIs in the Asia Pacific regions work closely with NGOs, including, as part of their COVID-19 response work. Regular meetings with LGBTI civil society can support NHRIs in keeping up to date on how the pandemic impacts LGBTI communities, and specific subgroups in it. It is important that NHRIs are in touch with a wide range of groups and organisations that may represent different groups within the broader community. For instance, some organisations might focus on trans migrant sex workers, others may represent LGBTI people with disabilities. There may also be an intersex group in your country or youth groups for LGBTI adolescents. All these groups will be affected by the pandemic and similar crises, in different ways. POSSIBLE ACTIONS • Build and maintain collaborative relationships with diverse LGBTI organisations and networks to inform the work of the NHRI in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. • Ensure joint strategising between the NHRI and LGBTI organisations in developing responses to the COVID-19 pandemic, that reflect their distinct roles and mandates. • Arrange regular meetings for exchange of information on how the pandemic affects LGBTI people in your country. GOOD PRACTICE EXAMPLES Fiji’s Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Commission held its first national consultation with LGBTIQ NGOs and the community in 2018, to listen and learn about their specific situation. This consultation helped the NHRC to establish a network and communication channels with the relevant NGOs. The NHRC was then able to quickly learn from these NGOs about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on LGBTIQ people. The National Human Rights Commission of Thailand held a civil society seminar in 2021, where they learned that many LGBT people with disabilities 131 Information shared with APF for the purpose of this report. 132 See for instance, Philippines Commission on Human Rights, Statement of CHR Spokesperson, Atty Jacqueline Ann de Guia, on the killing of transgender man Ebeng Mayor, May 22, 2021, https://chr.gov.ph/statement-of-chr-spokesperson-atty-jacqueline-ann-de-guia-on-the-killing-of-transgender-man-ebeng-mayor/ and Philippines Commission on Human Rights, Statement of CHR Spokesperson, Atty. Jacqueline Ann de Guia, on the killing of transgender woman Cindy Jones Torres, August 6, 2021, https://chr.gov.ph/statement-of-chr-spokesperson-atty-jacqueline-ann-de-guiaon-the-killing-of-transgender-woman-cindy-jones-torres/. 133 Promoting and Protecting Human Rights in relation to Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, and Sex Characteristics, APF, p. 184. 24