Pacific Human Rights Conference on SOGIESC 2024
Sheraton Fiji Golf & Beach Resort | Nadi, Fiji | April 22-26
Pacific Human Rights Conference on SOGIESC 2024
Sheraton Fiji Golf & Beach Resort | Nadi, Fiji | April 22-26
About PHRC SOGIESC 2024
Programme
Background
Programme
With a focus on learning from each other, attendees of the 3rd PHRC SOGIESC will discuss advocacy strategies, policy development, and grassroots activism while celebrating the diversity and resilience of the Pacific rainbow nations.
Speakers
Background
Programme
The 3rd PHRC SOGIESC brings together members of the Pacific LGBTQA+ community and diverse Pacific Islanders working on SOGIESC issues to share knowledge, experiences, and advocacy strategies for advancing gender justice and human rights in the region.
COMING SOON
Background
Background
Background
The 3rd PHRC SOGIESC is organised by a Pacific CSO-led committee that oversees all aspects of the event. The committee has worked voluntarily for months to bring it together. The Secretariat is hosted at the Pacific Sexual and Gender Diversity Network in Suva.
Noelene Nabulivou
Margherita Coppolino
Margherita Coppolino
Noelene Nabulivou is a Fijian lesbian and feminist activist with over 40 years of experience in human rights and gender justice struggles. As the Executive Director of Diverse Voices and Action (DIVA) for Equality, she works for socio-economic, ecological, and climate justice for all Pacific women, gender non-binary, and queer people. Noelene is dedicated to sharing knowledge and building collective strategies for short and long-term work. She has mentored many activists and feminists in Fiji and the Pacific and advocates that everyone is our concern, and everything is connected.
Margherita Coppolino
Margherita Coppolino
Margherita Coppolino
Margherita is a lesbian with disability from a culturally and linguistically diverse background. She has been working on issues for women, people with disability, and CALD communities since 1980. Margherita is well known for her advocacy around LGBTQIA+ disability intersectionality and is considered a lesbian elder within her local community. She currently holds positions as Co-Chairperson of ILGA Oceania, a board member of ILGA World and is appointed to the Victorian Government LGBTIQ+ Taskforce. Margherita is also the Deputy President of Drummond Street Services’ board and a founding member and Co-Chair on the Board of Inclusive Rainbow Voices.
Isikeli Vulavou
Margherita Coppolino
Isikeli Vulavou
Isikeli Vulavou is a development professional with over 20 years of experience as a human rights activist and defender for PIDSOGIESC+ rights and equality and key populations affected by HIV in Fiji and the Pacific. Well-versed in development and humanitarian issues affecting the PIDSOGIESC+ community in Fiji and the Pacific, Isikeli represents the PIDSOGIESC+ at various high-level policy decision-making spaces – from national, regional and global levels. Isikeli has been the CEO of the PSGDN since August 2016 - a regional network of PIDSOGIESC+ networks and organisations in the Pacific and was founder of the Rainbow Pride Foundation, an LGBTQIA+ led organisation in Fiji.
Semi Malachi
Tebeio Tamton
Isikeli Vulavou
Semi Malaki (He/Him) is a human rights activist hailing from the beautiful island of Tuvalu. He is currently the President of the Akanda Alliance, an NGO dedicated to advocate for the rights of LGBTQIA+ people in Tuvalu.
He is a public servant serving the Government of Tuvalu at the Office of the Prime Minister. In his spare time, he is dedicated to leading Akanda Alliance by creating a safe and supportive environment for all LGBTQIA+ persons in Tuvalu and advocating on issues and challenges his community faces. Malaki holds a Bachelor Degree in Journalism & Political Science and Master of Business Administration.
Tebeio Tamton
Tebeio Tamton
Tebeio Tamton
Tebeio is born and raised i-Kiribati and is a champion for LGBTQIA+ rights in the country. He identifies as a proud binabinaine, from the islands of Beru and Tarawa. In 2016, he was the founding member of Boutokaan Inaomataia ao Mauriia Binabinaine Association (BIMBA), the first LGBTQIA+ organisation in Kiribati. Since then, he has been advancing the rights, increasing visibility, and supporting anti-discrimination initiatives for people with diverse SOGIESC in Kiribati at the national, regional and international levels. He is currently based in the Marshall Islands with his beautiful daughter for his work on food technology research. Before that he worked in Kiribati in the fishing industries, within the public and private sectors.
GiGi Baxter
Tebeio Tamton
Tebeio Tamton
GiGi is a talented individual from Vanuatu with an impressive track record across multiple fields. She co-founded VPride, an organization dedicated to promoting inclusivity and equality. GiGi is also an accomplished actress, having starred in the popular Pacific TV series Love Patrol from 2009 to 2014. In addition, she is a successful fashion designer and serves as the creative director of VPride Fashion Show, one of the biggest fashion shows in the Pacific region. GiGi is passionate about human rights and serves as a board member of the Pacific Sexual and Gender Diversity Network, advocating for justice and equality.
Joey Joleen Mataele
Joey Joleen Mataele
Joey Joleen Mataele
Joey is a proud Leiti and Transwoman from Tonga. She founded the Tonga Leitis Association in 1992, the first-ever LGBTQIA+ organisation in the Pacific. She is a tireless activist for LGBTQIA+ rights and holds several regional roles. Joey is also the founder and director of the Miss Galaxy Queen Pageant, which raises funds for scholarships for school dropouts in Tonga. She has diverse experience and skills, including running her own business, being a professional singer and entertainer, and being a mother of three children.
Fagalima Tuatagaloa
Joey Joleen Mataele
Joey Joleen Mataele
Fagalima is a proud Samoan Fa’afafine and Vice President of the Samoa Fa’afafine Association. With over 20 years of experience in LGBTQIA+ activism, she represents SFA at local, regional and international levels. Fagalima is a Board Member of the Pacific Sexual and Gender Diversity Network and the Asia Pacific Transgender Network. She mentors for the Rogers Group, a network for transgender men and lesbians, and is active in her church community as a member of the Congregational Christian Church Levili Parish.
Asaeli Sinusetaki
Joey Joleen Mataele
Asaeli Sinusetaki
Asaeli Sinusetaki is a development professional with more than two decades of work in the field. He advocates for HIV/AIDS and has worked at the regional level, including for the United Nations in the Pacific. During his time at the UN, Asaeli championed the Workplace for All program, aimed at recognizing all UN staff, regardless of their sexual orientation or HIV/AIDS status. He us a consultant for the Rainbow Pride Foundation, on Organizational Development and Strengthening. Asaeli identifies advocatesas a man and uses he/him pronouns.
Ken Moala
Loata T Seru
Asaeli Sinusetaki
Ken Moala, also known as Fiaailetoa Ken Moala, is a proactive activist for the LGBTQIA+ community with a focus on faith-based work and issues of LGBTQIA+ elders. He co-founded the Pacific Sexual & Gender Diversity Network. Currently residing in Queensland, Australia, Ken serves as a Christian Hospital Chaplain at the Gold Coast Health Services and as the Co-Chair ILGA Oceania. He previously served as a Student Counselor/Chaplain at Griffith University, Gold Coast Campus. With a Bachelor of Theology degree, Ken has dedicated his voluntary service to the community by serving on many boards and committees.
Loata T Seru
Loata T Seru
Loata T Seru
Loata is the Finance and Operations Lead at PSGDN with 6 years of experience as an accounting professional at senior management level. She has previously worked for the Fijian Government and Save the Children Fiji. Loata has a Masters in Professional Accounting from the University of the South Pacific and is a member of the Fiji Institute of Chartered Accountants. She hails from the beautiful island of Taveuni and has cherished memories from her village, Vuna. Loata is married and is a proud mother to 5 children and a grandmother to 2.
Kris Prasad
Loata T Seru
Loata T Seru
Kris Prasad is a queer Indo-Fijian activist with over 14 years of experience in grassroots advocacy for democracy, human rights, and social justice. He worked for the Fiji Women’s Rights Movement before pursuing a Master of Arts program in the UK. Kris has worked as a Gender Equality, Disability and Social Inclusion specialist for various international development projects. He is the Conference Coordinator of the 3rd PHRC and recently became the Regional Program Manager for ILGA Oceania. Kris is also an active community leader, serving as the President of the Leadership Fiji Alumni and Chair of the Board for Wainibokasi Hospital.
Contact Us
PHRC Secretariat
We are here to help! If you have any questions about the Pacific Human Rights Conference or require further information, please don't hesitate to reach out. Whether you need assistance with registration, have inquiries about the program, or want to learn more about how you can contribute to advancing SOGIESC rights and human rights in the Pacific, our team is ready to provide the support you need.
Nadi, Western, Fiji
Email: phrc.coordinator@psgdn.org
