The Bulletin

Stephff's world

‍Decriminalisation of same-sex acts effort in Asia and the Pacific: Enabling legal and policy environments for better health outcomes

Monday, 17 March, 6pm

Since its formation in 2007, APCOM has been calling for the removal of punitive and discriminatory laws, including the criminalization of same-sex relations and gender identity and/or expression.

In Asia and the Pacific region, we have seen positive efforts in terms of decriminalisation of same-sex sexual acts in India (2018), Bhutan (2021), Singapore (2022) and most recently Cook Islands (2023). However, seventeen countries still have colonial laws prohibiting consensual sex between men.

The prohibition impedes the HIV response in Asia and the Pacific including government’s leadership and investment into modernizing and scaling up HIV prevention, testing, treatment and care services; leveraging innovative solutions such as pre-exposure prophylaxis and virtual interventions; removing barriers to accessing services; prioritizing key populations particularly young people; and also, empowering community leadership and community-led response.

Implementing legal and policy reforms and decriminalisation will address the inequalities and the epidemic trends affecting progress in the HIV response in Asia and the Pacific, in particular the young people (aged 15-24) and their sexual partners that is driving the HIV infections in the region.

As part of the celebration of Zero Discrimination Day, a Day that is dedicated to the right of everyone to live a full and productive life, and live it with dignity and free from discrimination -- this session the eminent speakers share strategies and the need to decriminalization and reminded us to be vigilant, constructive, rational, engaging and empathetic at the same time.

Speakers:

His Excellency Namgay Tshering, Minister of Finance, The Royal Government of Bhutan: Namgay Tshering is Bhutan’s third democratically elected minister of finance, who formally took charge of the Ministry on 7th November 2018. He is also a member of the National Assembly of Bhutan. Prior to joining politics, his Excellency Lyonpo served as the project coordinator of the World Bank and Global Fund Project and as the planning officer and program manager in the Ministry of Health.

The Hon. Michael Kirby, APCOM LGBTQI human rights ambassador: Michael Kirby is an international jurist, educator and former judge. He served as a deputy president of the Australian Conciliation and Arbitration Commission (1975-83); chairman of the Australian Law Reform Commission (1975-84); judge of the Federal Court of Australia (1983-4); president of the New South Wales Court of Appeal (1984-96); president of the Court of Appeal of Solomon Islands (1995-96) and justice of the High Court of Australia (1996-2009).

Professor Emeritus Vitit Muntarbhorn, Former UN independent expert on sexual orientation and gender identity and member of the UN Commissions of Inquiry on human rights: Vitit Muntarbhorn was the former UN independent expert on sexual orientation and gender identity and member of the UN Commissions of Inquiry on human rights. In 2021, he was appointed as UN special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Cambodia by the UN Human Rights Council. He is the recipient of various awards, including the 2004 UNESCO Human Rights Education Prize

Eamonn Murphy, Director, UNAIDS regional support teams for Asia-Pacific and Eastern Europe and Central Asia regions: He leads UNAIDS’ efforts in promoting an expanded and integrated United Nations system response to HIV at the country and regional levels for Asia-Pacific and Eastern Europe and Central Asia regions. He provides the strategic direction, advocacy, coordination, and technical support needed to catalyse and connect leadership from governments, communities and key partners to deliver life-saving HIV services.

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‍About APCOM

‍APCOM works to improve the health, rights, and well-being of the diverse and dynamic communities that we serve. APCOM wants a world where people of diverse sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression and sex characteristics can fully participate in and achieve sustainable development in all aspects of their health, rights and wellbeing.Celebrating its 18th anniversary this year, and recently launching its new strategic plan Relentless, APCOM is a regional organisation covering Asia and the Pacific region based in Bangkok, Thailand. Our work centers on Advocacy & Research, Education & Innovation, and Community Engagement & Empowerment.

Celebrating its 18th anniversary this year, and recently launching its new strategic plan, Relentless, APCOM is a regional organisation covering Asia and the Pacific region based in Bangkok, Thailand. Our work centers on Advocacy & Research, Education & Innovation, and Community Engagement & Empowerment.

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FB: https://www.facebook.com/apcom.org‍

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/apcom_org

‍X: https://x.com/apcom

‍LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/apcom-foundation

‍Website: https://www.apcom.org

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‍This is not an FCCT-organized event.

Free and open to all but limited seats.

Backlash: Donald Trump and the remaking of America

Book talk,
Wednesday, 19 March, 7pm

Views of the United States of America globally are often as polarised as those within the United States itself. President Donald Trump in his second term has stacked his team with loyalists and at home is downsizing the bureaucracy of the federal government, while abroad dismantling US aid, imposing sweeping trade tariffs, and upending assumptions about America long held by the international community and many in the strategic community in the United States itself.

‍“Backlash: Donald Trump and the Remaking of America,” a new book by Nirmal Ghosh, veteran foreign correspondent and a former president of the FCCT, has received high praise for penetrating the noise for an unvarnished look at the paradoxes of a superpower at an uncertain period of geo-political upheaval -- and offers lessons from the rise and return to power of Donald Trump.

Bio:

Nirmal Ghosh has had a 30-year career as a foreign correspondent. He is a former US Bureau Chief (2016-2023) of The Straits Times and prior to that Indochina Bureau Chief (2003-2016) based in Bangkok. He is also a former president of the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines. He is currently an independent writer and podcaster, and works as well on wildlife conservation and transnational organized crime issues. Backlash is his sixth book.

Members who wish to book in advance should email info@fccthai.com or call the FCCT office on 02-652-0580.

Non-members can use this link.

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Members free, non-members 300 baht; Thai media and students with ID, 150 baht.

Bar and restaurant open.

Which planet is the Pheu Thai government on? Mechanisms for protecting women and human rights defenders

Press conference, report launch, panel discussion,
Thursday, 20 March, 1pm

Women and human rights defenders at the community level are facing increasing risks, including threats and strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPP), particularly following the government change in 2023, which has led to worsening human rights situations. While some protection mechanisms exist at the state, independent and international levels, they often lack inclusivity and remain difficult to access.

Protection International (PI), which works closely with grassroots women and human rights defenders, has compiled a report on “developing and improving protection mechanisms for women and human rights defenders” to encourage the government and relevant organizations to adopt concrete policy measures.

The project “Fuelling Change: Empowering Women Human Rights Defenders to Drive Comprehensive Policies for Human Rights Protection” -- supported by the British Embassy in Thailand through the Magna Carta Fund -- was launched to drive this issue forward.

Protection International (PI) invites the media and the public to attend the press conference and the launch of the report: "Resistance is Power: Strengthening Protection Mechanisms for Women Human Rights Defenders and Human Rights Defenders in Thailand."

Featuring:

‍Pranom Somwong, Protection International (PI).

‍Suteera Peng-In, Protection International (PI).Join the panel discussion: “Which Planet is the Pheu Thai Government On? Evaluating Its Protection Mechanisms for Women and Human Rights Defenders.”

Speakers:

‍Angkhana Neelapaijit, chair, senate committee on political development, public participation, human rights, freedoms and consumer protection.

‍Sompong Viengchan, woman human rights defender, Assembly of the Poor (Pak Mun Dam).Asmadee Bueheng, human rights defender and citizen journalist from the Deep South.

‍Pranom Somwong, Protection International (PI).

‍Thanaporn Wijan, woman human rights defender on labor rights and democracy.

‍Chonticha Jangrew, member of parliament, People’s PartyRepresentative from the Pheu Thai Party.

(TBA)Moderator: Wipaphorn Watthanawit, Thai PBS host.Special audience participation: Rate the government’s performance!Give a "star" or a "meteor" to assess the Pheu Thai government’s effectiveness in protecting women and human rights defenders.Hear firsthand experiences from WHRDs and HRDs across the country about the challenges they face in accessing state protection mechanisms.

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Simultaneous translation will be provided.

Don’t miss this crucial discussion!

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This is not an FCCT-organized event.

Free and open to all.

Tuesday coworking at the FCCT

Tuesday, 18 March, 10am

Need a change of scenery from your home office? Join us for a coworking day at the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Thailand (FCCT) -- a perfect space for working professionals, digital nomads and anyone looking to break free from the home-office routine.

Enjoy a spacious, comfortable workspace with dedicated tables, a full restaurant, café and bar and exclusive lunch specials just for this event.

Whether you're tackling deadlines or networking with like-minded professionals, this is an opportunity to be productive in a collaborative, social environment. Come work, connect, and enjoy great food because working remotely doesn’t have to mean working alone.

Hosted by Nick Bernhardt, FCCT treasurer and managing director of Khayan Consultants.

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Free and open to all.

Board games night

Tuesday, 18 March, 7pm

Join us for a chilled night of board games with The Boring Club. Try your luck with classics like chess and backgammon or modern games including Catan and Pandemic.

The bar and restaurant will be open. Try our pizzas from the new pizza oven. The Boring Club meets at the FCCT clubhouse for games every Tuesday at 7pm.

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Free and open to all.

FCCT pub trivia

Friday, 21 March, 7pm

Gather your friends and colleagues for a night of pub trivia at the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Thailand.Come for a bite and a beverage and test your knowledge. 1,000 baht bar tab up for grabs for the winning team, to be redeemed on the night.

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Advanced table bookings encouraged here.

Free and open to all.

The FCCT is grateful for the support of corporate sponsor Bitkub. For more information about the club's corporate sponsorship program contact: info@fccthai.com.

The FCCT expresses appreciation for the support provided by corporate sponsor Bumrungrad International Hospital. For more information about the club's corporate sponsorship program contact: info@fccthai.com.

Heart valve disease: A possible hidden danger!

The heart consists of 4 chambers with the valves opening and closing to let blood pass through between the upper and the lower chambers in one direction, and not backward.

Heart valve disease occurs when one or more of the heart valves do not open or close properly. This causes the heart muscles to work harder to pump blood for the body’s requirements. This can result in heart failure and death.

What are the symptoms of heart valve diseases?

• Fatigue, tired when doing daily activities.
• Difficulty breathing while doing activities or lying down.
• Rapid weight gain.
• Swelling in various organs such as the abdomen, legs, ankles and feet.
• Cardiac arrhythmia such as fast or irregular heartbeat.
• Fever and body aches, if due to infection.
• In severe cases, too much fluid in the lungs, difficulty breathing and loss of consciousness.

What is the treatment for heart valve disease?‍

There are many ways to treat heart valve disease. Currently, Bumrungrad Hospital has the technology for heart valve replacement without surgery, offering good results and highly safe.

Learn more about heart valve disease and treatment option here.

Send us an enquiry today by clicking here.

FCCT’s new podcast: Dateline Bangkok episode three

For this week's episode of the Dateline Bangkok podcast, Tommy Walker speaks with Mookdapa Yangyuenpradorn.

This interview will discuss Mookdapa’s work as an activist, Thailand’s marriage equality bill and the LGBTQ+ community.

Mookdapa talks about how she got into activism for gender rights, including her studies in London, her work at Fortify Rights and her participation in Thailand’s 2020 protests.

Mookdapa also explains the importance of Thailand’s marriage equality law, why it matters and what other gender related issues she continues to advocate for.

Watch the full episode here.

Also now on Spotify.

New to Bangkok? Under 35?

Are you under 35? Check out our special offer below! For further details, please contact info@fccthai.com.

New FCCT merchandise

Advertise in the FCCT's Bulletin at special discount rates

Individuals and organisations are welcome to take out advertising in the weekly FCCT Bulletin which reaches nearly 4,000 people in the club’s network. Guidelines

• Write a catchy headline, followed by a maximum of three sentences + contact email/phone number/ link to a website for further details if applicable.

To book an ad please email: info@fccthai.com