DAY 01: Snapshot of COVID-19 has led to Human Rights Violations
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Historical systemic and systematic discrimination against trans people stemming directly from harmful laws criminalising their identities and sexual behaviours and a lack of legal gender recognition across Asia and the Pacific region has further impacted trans people’s access to financial and health security throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
Social protection schemes are a lifeline in reducing further inequality and debt. Accessing social protection schemes are a human right and should be available for those in need without discrimination, but given that many are unable to change citizenship and national documents to reflect their gender identity, the linking of social protection schemes through national identification documents meant that many trans people who were not able to produce ‘authenticated’ documents could not access government support and relief efforts.
Read more at the link in our bio!
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DAY 02: Organisational Profile – Hetura
Over the last five weeks, APTN has been highlighting some of our #COVID19CommunitySupportFund partners who have stepped up to provide vital support to the community during the pandemic.
The last organisational profile is from Hetura, a national grass-roots #transorganisation in #PapuaNewGuinea. Hetura distributed basic food rations, cash, and phone cards for 40 trans community members who were displaced and most affected by the pandemic. Like many of our partner organisations, the funds were not enough to cover all of those affected – causing many of our organisations to receive criticisms from the community themselves. However, through their project Hetura has been able to grow their membership and boost the work they are doing in the #community.
Click the link in our bio to read more about how Hetura is navigating the challenges of the COVID #pandemic to continue the important work they do.
Read more in our bio.
DAY 03: Story from the Streets – National Transgender Network
The #transcommunity has always been and will continue to be resilient. For the last five weeks, APTN has been sharing the stories of Hope, Pain, and Survival of trans communities during the COVID-19 #pandemic.
In this last week of our campaign, APTN is sharing two stories from Sri Lanka. First is from a 35 year-old trans woman sex worker who shares her experience of being denied the government’s #COVID19 benefits due to her unchanged #genderidentity on her documents. When she questioned the government officer about this #discrimination, Singithi was arrestted and held in a male prison.
Given that many are unable to change #citizenship and national documents to reflect their gender identity, the linking of social protection schemes through national identification documents meant that many trans people who were not able to produce ‘authenticated’ documents could not access government support and relief efforts.
Thankfully, Singithi received food packages and hormones from the National Transgender Network, encouraging her to stay strong and motivated to survive this period.
To hear more of Singithi’s story, click the link in our bio.
Support and Follow @ntnsrilanka here:
https://www.ntnsrilanka.org/
DAY 04: Stories from the Streets Venasa Transgender Network
The trans community has always been and will continue to be resilient. For the last five weeks, APTN has been sharing the stories of Hope, Pain, and Survival of trans communities during the COVID-19 #pandemic.
Our final story in our series is from Saman, a young transgender man from Colombo, #SriLanka. Before the pandemic, Saman was living happily with a secure job and a landlord who did not know he was transgender.
Unfortunately, during the #COVID #lockdown Saman was unable to work and therefore could not pay his landlord who kicked him out and later attacked him upon finding out Saman is #transgender. When he went to the police, instead of helping, they began to harass and out Saman to his neighbors, forcing him to move yet again.
With support from Venasa Transgender Network, Saman was able to get back on his feet, have gender confirmation surgery, and get a new job with a supportive boss.
To hear more of Saman’s story, click the link in our bio.
Support and Follow VTN here: https://www.facebook.com/Venasa.vtn
DAY 05: Opinion Piece
This week’s snapshot, organisation profile, and stories from the streets all highlight the dire need situation for the #humanrights of #trans people, both before and during this #COVID19 crisis. Our third and final opinion piece writer, Nhuun Yodmuang, a #transactivist and representative from the ILGA Asia Board, writes how COVID-19 has unmasked the discrimination against trans people in every sector; from employment to healthcare, and reminds us that effective #COVID19 responses need to center the most marginalized, including trans communities.
Read more at the link in our bio!
#weareAPTN #StandingUpForTransRights #COVID19TransResilience #HumanRights
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DAY 05: Thank You
Over the last 5 weeks, APTN has shared the stories, profiles, findings, and advice from the transgender movement in Asia and the Pacific during the #COVID19 #pandemic. We hope that over the last few weeks you have learned of the unique and urgent needs of the #transgender community and found local, grassroots organisations to follow and support. We are grateful to our 22 Community Support Fund #partners and #focalpoints, and our #funders and #donors, whose hard work and dedication has sustained the #transcommunity throughout the past year. This is a testament to the #transmovement’s resilience.
Read the entire campaign:
http://bit.ly/aptn-covid19transresilience
#weareAPTN #StandingUpForTransRights #COVID19TransResilience #HumanRights #AsiaPacific
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