The Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), The Humsafar Trust, and the Centre for Sexuality and Health Research and Policy (C-SHaRP) announce the First Asia-Pacific and Third National (India) Conference on LGBTQI+ Health, scheduled for September 26-28, 2024, at PGIMER, Chandigarh.
This groundbreaking event, themed "Advancing LGBTQI+ people's health and rights," will convene public health professionals, researchers, healthcare providers, and LGBTQI+ community members from across the Asia-Pacific region to address critical health issues and the well-being of LGBTQI+ communities.
Conference Highlights:
200 in-person participants, including 50 from Asia-Pacific countries, with an additional 500 virtual attendees expected
Comprehensive discussions on government policies, mental health, HIV prevention, gender-affirmative care, and more
Panel discussions featuring LGBTQI+ testimonials on healthcare experiences
Distinguished Speakers at the Inauguration:
Ms. Radhika Chakravarthy, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India
Mr. Eamonn Murphy, Director, UNAIDS - Asia Pacific and Eastern Europe and Central Asia
Ms. Isabelle Tschan, Deputy Resident Representative, UNDP India
Ms. Michelle Maureen Lang-Alli, Director of Health Office, USAID India
Key Objectives of the Conference:
Highlight progress and challenges in LGBTQI+ health across Asia-Pacific and India
Assess initiatives improving LGBTQI+ access to health services and reducing discrimination
Present cutting-edge research and showcase progressive policies and programs
Identify solutions for advancing LGBTQI+ health and research in the region
Focus Areas:
Government policies and programs
Healthcare access and stigma reduction
Mental health across the lifespan
Adolescent and youth health needs
Health of lesbian, bisexual women, and intersex individuals
Gender-affirmative care for transgender people
STI and Hepatitis vaccine access
SOGIESC data collection
Research priorities, training, and funding
LGBTQI+ health education in medical fields
Legal and human rights aspects
Regional partners include APCOM, Equal Asia Foundation, Youth Voices Count, and Community Health and Inclusion Association (CHIAs). The conference is supported by UNDP, USAID, DBT/Wellcome Trust India Alliance, UNAIDS, and Mariwala Health Initiative.
Dr. PVM Lakshmi, Conference Chair, stated, "This conference marks a significant advancement in addressing LGBTQI+ health needs across Asia-Pacific." Mr. Vivek R Anand, CEO of The Humsafar Trust, added, "We aim to set a roadmap for advancing LGBTQI+ health through collaborative research, policy changes, and capacity building."
This event builds on the success of the First and Second National Conferences on LGBTQI+ Health held in March 2019 and December 2021, respectively.