The 7th International Congress on AIDS in Asia and the Pacific (the Kobe Congress), and the 1st International Conference of Asian Queer Studies (the Queer Congress), were held in July 2005 in Kobe and Bangkok respectively. The Kobe Congress took place between July 1 and 5 with the participation of AIDS researchers and NPOs and featured reports, lectures and workshops. The Queer Congress took place between July 7 and 9 with the participation of queer studies researchers and activists who gave lectures and made reports. Both events are very important for research in the fields of gender and sexuality.
The five-day Kobe Congress was the second AIDS convention to be held in Japan following the Yokohama Congress in 1994 (see note 1).The unique feature of the Kobe Congress was that it gave voice to a diverse range of people, by bringing together the so-called Seven Sisters of Asia, organizations which represent different groups concerned with AIDS - drug addicts (AHRN - Asian Harm-reduction Network), sex workers (APNSW - Asia Pacific Sex workers Network), healthcare workers and researchers (ASAP - Asia Pacific AIDS Society), HIV positive patients (APN+ - Asia Pacific HIV positive Network), migrant workers (CARAM-Asia - Organization for AIDS and the investigation and regulation of migrant population), and AIDS-related NGOs (APCASO - Asia Pacific Council for AIDS related services and organizations). This congress was unique in assembling representatives of many communities, and providing them with an opportunity to talk about their problems. There were more than 4,000 participants in the congress.
I took part in the Kobe Congress as a supporter of a Japanese association called SWASH -- Sex Work And Sexual Health, (see note 2), which is an affiliate of APNSW. SWASH provides support for those working in the sex industry and plays an active role in strengthening the preventive measures against HIV and other sex-related diseases. The association consists of people engaged in the sex industry and supporters. There was no such association at the time when the Yokohama Congress took place. Those involved in the sex business could take part only individually.
The congress started with the inauguration of a community forum. After the forum, each community could express their needs and expectations.
The communities spoke about their needs and problems which are different in different countries. Several 'skills building' workshops took place as well. The program included many events meant to help facilitate the exchange of experiences. To protect the privacy of sex workers, Barbie dolls were used during one of the sessions; another activity included writing about one's image of a bad or good customer on a sheet of paper and afterwards comparing opinions and holding a discussion. Other events included dance performances, songs, and a fashion show. The latter were not meant for mere recreation but were designed to enable the numerous sex workers who did not speak English to take an active part in the congress.
What impressed me most during the congress was the opposition to the global gag rule of the Bush administration (see note 3) by the participants from different countries in the group which I was assisting. In 2004, the American government set limits on financial support by the so-called HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria Strategy Leadership Law. A conditional clause was added to prevent the support of prostitution and human trafficking. This policy not only made it difficult for sex workers to earn a living; the law also comes close to negating the existence of sex workers and creates tension and rupture between organizations which were once united in helping people in distress. In addition, the law has caused many innocent women to be arrested and insulted.
The Queer Congress, held for the first time in Bangkok, had about 600 participants and featured many research presentations. It also included a festive opening reception and optional tours. It was the first congress on the topic of sexuality in the Asia Pacific. Despite the unfortunate fact that it was held concurrently with the Kobe Congress, it was a very fruitful three-day congress. There were several other participants who, like me, had come directly from the Kobe Congress.
The organizers were bold enough to name the event 'The Queer Congress'; the participants and organizers seemed to be aware of the differences in the definition of the notion of 'queer' in the West and in Asia. There was a discussion of the problem whether 'queer' is a notion imported from the West or whether there is a unique way of being 'queer' typical to Asia. The unanimous conclusion was that due to spreading globalization the phenomenon of being 'queer' can no longer be defined regionally.
It was not possible to attend all the sectional meetings concerning Japan as there were so many. I managed to attend some, among which the sectional meeting on Japanese women impressed me for being particularly lively. The sectional meeting on Japanese gay studies was attended by Japanese and foreign researchers; at times the language used during the discussions switched to Japanese. I think that it is very important to find ways to interest foreign researchers in the phenomenon of being queer in Japan.
Along with the presentations, there were lively discussions between the researchers. The exchange between Japanese researchers was very fruitful as well. Researchers on sexuality in Japan are not so numerous and there are very few opportunities for them to meet. I think that an international network of this kind might be helpful in promoting sexuality research in Japan as well. Such events also make the lack of similar events in Japan more conspicuous.
An association from Thailand, the country which organized the congress, held several tours and parties; there was a night tour including visits of go-go bars, 'new half show' clubs, a lesbian club and a farewell party. The participants had a chance to enjoy the unconstrained atmosphere of a night out in Bangkok.
The two congresses which I attended were regional, focusing on theAsia Pacific. Their common feature was their differences to the West, the importance of the support network and the research activity is very big. I also realized the importance of taking into consideration the unique nature and characteristic features of each region in the Asia Pacific.
The executive director of the Blue Diamond Society, a HIV/AIDS prevention group and human rights organization in Nepal, Sunil Babu Pant, attended both the Kobe and the Bangkok congresses. He expressed strong criticism towards the daily police violence against sex workers, gays, lesbians and transsexuals, and the lynching and raping of MSM. There are countries like Cambodia where sex workers are decriminalized, like Japan where their position is not well defined, or like Nepal where they are victims of cruelty.
However, even in countries where they are decriminalized and not victims of daily violence, sex workers still face serious problems. In the age of globalization, there is a growing need for cooperation between all Asian countries to exchange information and to build support networks. There is no doubt that congresses like these will continue to provide important opportunities for information exchange. The next international AIDS congress will be held in Colombo, Sri Lanka. The date and venue of the next Queer congress is not yet determined.
Note 1
The AIDS congress has been held once every two years since 1990 as a regional or international event; it discusses the differences and features of the spread of the disease according to region. The Kobe Congress was regional, while the Yokohama Congress was international.
Note 2
The SWASH website is http://homepage2.nifty.com/swash/
The SWASH email address is swash@kitty.jp
Note 3
The global gag rule was reinstated by President George W. Bush on his first day in office in January 2001. Officially termed the Mexico City Policy, these restrictions mandate that no U.S. family planning assistance can be provided to foreign NGOs that use funding from any other source to: perform abortions in cases other than when there is a threat to the woman's life, of rape or incest; provide counseling and referral for abortion; or lobby to make abortion legal or more available in their country. Called the "gag" rule because it stifles free speech and public debate on abortion-related issues, the policy forces foreign NGOs to make a cruel choice: accept U.S. assistance to provide essential health services - but with restrictions that may jeopardize the health of many patients - or reject the policy and lose vital U.S. funds, contraceptive supplies and technical assistance. Formulation of the law was initiated in 1984 during the Reagan administration.
References
Mizushima, "HIV prevention as a labour condition of sex workers," People's Plan, Vol. 31, pp 95-101, People's Plan Kenkyuujo, 2005.
Tokyo Metropolitan University graduate student : Mai Ogawara