Asia Pacific has seen progress on the protection of LGBTI (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex) people but obstacles remain, a recent report shows.

The report, titled “Leave no one behind: Advancing social, economic, cultural and political inclusion of LGBTI people in Asia and the Pacific,” was released in Hanoi on October 14 by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the Embassy of Sweden in Bangkok, and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

It was prepared under the “Being LGBTI in Asia” program, a regional initiative supported by the UNDP, Embassy of Sweden in Bangkok, and USAID.

According to the report, over the past decade, some 25 countries and territories across Asia and the Pacific have introduced a range of protective laws and ordinances, passed supportive court judgements and pioneered constitutional reform processes that have promoted the inclusion of LGBTI people.

This momentum for greater legal and social acceptance of LGBTI people in the region has the potential to guide governments and other related partners to design policies that support the achievement of the post-2015 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a key feature of which is the underlying principle and commitment to “leave no one behind."

The report also illustrates the range of measures taken in Asia and the Pacific to advance social, economic, cultural and political inclusion of LGBTI people.

Moreover, it highlights developments in the key areas of protection against violence, education, health, employment, family affairs, legal gender recognition and political participation, while noting other existing obstacles to further progress. 

“This regional report comes at a pivotal time in UN history with the recent adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals. The SDGs offer a new paradigm in international development, building upon the Millennium Development Goals. They seek to tackle the underlying causes of inequality, marginalization and poverty,” Dr. Pratibha Mehta, the UN Resident Coordinator for Vietnam, said.

“Many countries have already begun to demonstrate leadership on the protection and inclusion of LGBTI people in the region,” she added.

However, despite progress in the region, LGBTI people continue to represent some of the most marginalized populations, the report emphasizes.

Consensual homosexual sexual conduct between adult males continues to be criminalized in at least 19 countries in Asia and the Pacific.

A punitive approach to same sex behavior legitimizes prejudice, contributes to mental health problems, increases vulnerability to HIV, and exposes people to hate crimes, police abuse, torture and family violence.

“The ‘Leave no one behind’ report outlines the many opportunities for collaboration and obstacles that lie in the path towards true equality and respect for the human rights of LGBTI people in the region,” said Ted Osius, U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam.

“It provides us with a clear roadmap on how to overcome these obstacles and is therefore an incredibly valuable tool for governments, civil society and other development stakeholders. It will help all of us engage in the protection of the rights of all LGBTI people,” he added.

The report also provides 39 recommendations for governments and development partners on LGBTI inclusion and the post-2015 SDGs.

These recommendations support the argument that the inclusion of LGBTI people in broader development goals is essential if countries are to achieve the SDGs.

“We believe strongly that the success of all development efforts lies in their inclusivity. We will continue to partner with governments, LGBTI civil society and the UN to ensure inclusive and sustainable development for all,” said Camilla Mellander, Swedish Ambassador to Vietnam.

“Together we can ensure that the human rights of all are respected regardless of gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, intersex status or any other attribute.”