Pacific Sexual and Gender Diversity Network - PSGDN

31/08/2026

MEDIA SPOTLIGHT | PSGDN plans stronger funding role

PSGDN says it wants to build its capacity to operate as a regional grant-making and financial intermediary. Finance

To do this, the organisation is looking at playing a stronger role in directing funding to organisations and community-led initiatives across the Pacific.

The move forms part of PSGDN’s Strategic Plan for 2025 to 2030, which aims to strengthen the network’s long-term sustainability and impact.

Read Full Report via the link 👇

The Pacific Sexual and Gender Diversity Network says it wants to build its capacity to operate as a regional grant-making and financial intermediary.

31/08/2026

MEDIA SPOTLIGHT | New plan puts LGBTQ+ Communities in control

PSGDN Interim CEO Loata Tucika says Pacific LGBTQ+ organisations are already providing critical support despite operating with limited resources.

She says communities are creating safe spaces, responding to crises, and challenging discriminatory laws and systems.

Read Full Report via link 👇

https://www.fbcnews.com.fj/news/new-plan-puts-lgbtq-communities-in-control/?fbclid=IwY2xjawTzNBFwZG9mBWV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR6NF5QAqYbQjLd6pJIibxmlMl7nAePbWS0GlHnLHuck2jG1PoP61w06gDGO2w_aem_0wiQqdyio5h2iBTfm8Z8jg

Pacific LGBTQ+ communities are being promised greater control over resources and decision-making under a new regional strategy.

31/08/2026

31/08/2026

| As the 55th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting (PIFLM55) gets underway in Koror, Republic of Palau, under the theme “Building Economies: Life. Action. Unity.”, PSGDN Programme Manager Maria Nailevu is highlighting a critical message: climate and health crises do not affect everyone equally.

People of diverse sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions, and people with disabilities often face heightened barriers during times of crisis, including in accessing healthcare, emergency relief and other essential support.

Maria is attending PIFLM55 alongside other Pacific civil society representatives, helping ensure the voices and realities of our diverse communities are part of regional conversations.

30/08/2026

Pacific Civil Society Calls for Meaningful Participation at PIFLM55

The 55th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting (PIFLM55) will take place from 30 August to 4 September 2026 in Koror, Republic of Palau, under the theme Building Economies: Life. Action. Unity.

Rooted in Belau, the theme reflects the Pacific’s shared identity and collective journey as Big Ocean States.

It emphasises common values, strong communities and cultures, and collective action to safeguard a resilient, inclusive and sustainable Blue Pacific for present and future generations.

At the Media Conference on Saturday, the Pacific civil society organisations shared their collective priorities that includes the demand for their participation in regional decision-making to be formally institutionalised, saying they should no longer have to fight for a place at the table each time Pacific leaders meet.

Joey Tau, Coordinator of the Pacific Network on Globalisation (PANG), said civil society engagement with the Pacific Islands Forum has remained inconsistent for years.

“We are really clear on what we want,” Tau said.

“For the longest time, we’ve been asking for engagement. So there is inconsistency in engagement. Development partners will leave, but civil society will remain.”

PICAN Principal Advisor for Strategy and Regional Affairs, James Viernes, said “If a decision is not taken as to how civil society will be brought into this regional architecture meaningfully at this last stage, then the collective ambition of the Pacific, as articulated in the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent, will not be realised.

PIANGO Executive Director Emeline Siale Ilolahia said civil society had rejected attempts to place it in different tiers or categories within the regional architecture.

“We are not belonging to anyone. We are part of this family. Give us that space, give us that opportunity for us to design what we should look like in the regional architecture,” Ilolahia said.

Pacific Island Students Fighting Climate Change Engagement and Outreach Lead Abdul Mufeez Shaheed said verbal recognition of civil society’s role was not enough.

He said civil society continued to be absent from important ministerial meetings where decisions affecting the region were made.

For PSGDN, Maria Nailevu in her closing media intervention reiteriarated the current climate and health crises and existential threats facing Small Island Developing States (SIDS).

"The climate and health crisis including HIV pandemic threatens every single life across our islands, but crises do not impact everyone equally. Pacific people of diverse sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions including disable communities—often face heightened barriers to emergency relief, housing, and healthcare, Ms Nailevu said.

"When we talk about 'Building Economies: here in Palau, our Pacific Leaders should recognize that true economic resilience is impossible if we leave anyone behind,” she said.

The 55th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting opens in Koror, Republic of Palau, today.

Pacific Islands Climate Action Network - PICAN, Pacific Network on Globalisation International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies Pacific Islands Students Fighting Climate Change, Pacific Network on Globalisation PANG, and Pacific Islands Forum.

28/08/2026

📢 READ OUR LATEST PRESS RELEASE

PSGDN has officially launched its Strategic Plan 2025–2030, setting a bold Pacific-led direction for the next five years.

The plan strengthens our commitment to regional leadership, solidarity and community-led action, while advancing equality, inclusion and justice for people of diverse sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions across the Pacific.

Read the full press release 👇

The Pacific Sexual and Gender Diversity Network (PSGDN) launched its Strategic Plan 2025–2030 in Nadi on August 19, setting out a five-year direction to strengthen Pacific-led leadership, build resilient National Member Organisations (NMOs), increase access to resources, and advance the rights, he...

26/08/2026

With deep pride and gratitude, we announce the release of the Pacific Sexual and Gender Diversity Network (PSGDN) Strategic Plan 2025–2030.

More than a roadmap, the plan reflects our collective commitment to advancing equality, inclusion, justice, regional solidarity and leadership for people of diverse sexual orientations, gender identities, and expressions across the Pacific.

Download the Strategic Plan here: https://www.psgdn.org/post/psgdn-strategic-plan-2025-2023

21/08/2026

Strengthening Our Movement, Shaping Our Future: PSGDN Advances Regional Leadership and Community-Led Action in the Pacific

From 17–20 August, the Pacific Sexual and Gender Diversity Network (PSGDN) was engaged across a series of important regional health, community and movement-building activities in Fiji.

These engagements brought together our National Member Organisations (NMOs), government and development partners, donors, health and research institutions, regional allies and community leaders to strengthen collaboration, amplify Pacific voices and shape the future of our movement.

17–18 August | Pacific HIV Symposium

The week began with the Pacific HIV Symposium, held at the Fiji Sheraton Resort and Spa on 17–18 August and organised by the Australasian Society for HIV, Global Health and Sexual Health Medicine - ASHM.
PSGDN was represented by our National Member Organisations and Interim CEO, Loata Tucika Seru, who was among the opening speakers at the Symposium, representing key populations and highlighting the critical importance of a community-led HIV response in the Pacific.

Our Interim CEO also chaired Symposia 1: “Growing the HIV Prevention Toolkit: Models for Effective Prevention Scale Up in Fiji, PNG and the Pacific,” facilitating regional dialogue on strengthening HIV prevention approaches across Fiji, PNG and the Pacific.

Throughout the Symposium, PSGDN NMO representatives brought forward Pacific community perspectives and advocated for equitable access to healthcare, stronger community leadership, meaningful participation of key populations and community-led approaches within national and regional HIV responses.

19–20 August | ASPHA Grant Consortium Planning
On 19–20 August, PSGDN participated in the two-day ASPHA Grant Consortium planning meeting at Novotel, with our Interim CEO joining consortium partners including the SRHR Department of the Ministry of Health & Medical Services - Fiji (MOHMS), UNDP, ASHM, Health Equity Matters, Burnet Institute, Kirby Institute and Fiji National University (FNU).

As the principal grant recipient supporting the participation and implementation of the ASPHA response through our National Member Organisations, PSGDN plays an important role in ensuring that the priorities, expertise and leadership of our member organisations are meaningfully reflected throughout the programme.

The two-day planning meeting provided an important space for consortium partners to strengthen collaboration, align priorities and collectively plan the implementation of the ASPHA programme.

For PSGDN, this partnership also provides an important opportunity to strengthen community-led approaches, key population leadership and SOGIESC inclusion within regional health programming, while supporting our NMOs to contribute meaningfully to the response.

19 August | NMO Community Day — Strengthening Relationships and Collective Leadership

Ahead of the evening launch of the PSGDN Strategic Plan 2025–2030, PSGDN brought together our National Member Organisations (NMOs) for a closed Community Day in Nadi, led by an Independent Consultant.

Grounded in Pacific values of talanoa, restorative practice and trauma-informed facilitation, the Community Day created a safe, respectful and confidential space for members to reconnect, listen to one another, reflect on shared experiences and strengthen relationships.

The dialogue provided an opportunity for members to have open and constructive conversations, deepen mutual understanding and reaffirm the relationships and values that underpin our regional movement.

Through this process, members reflected on practical commitments to trust, respectful communication, mutual accountability and collective responsibility helping to strengthen the foundation for working together as we move into the next chapter of PSGDN’s strategic direction.

This was an important moment of reconnection and collective reflection ahead of the launch of the PSGDN Strategic Plan 2025–2030 later that evening, reinforcing that our new strategy is grounded not only in what we seek to achieve, but also in how we work together as a movement.

19 August | Launch of the PSGDN Strategic Plan 2025–2030

The evening culminated in the official launch of the PSGDN Strategic Plan 2025–2030, under the theme:
“Our Pacific, Our Movement, Our Future: Building Trust, Strengthening Leadership and Advancing Together.”

The launch brought together PSGDN Board members, National Member Organisations, partners, government representatives and regional allies, with reflections from our members and partners on our journey, our aspirations and the future of Pacific Indigenous SOGIESC leadership.

The evening reaffirmed a shared commitment to member-led leadership, community ownership, accountability and collective action. More than a roadmap, the Strategic Plan is our collective commitment to building a stronger, more connected and sustainable Pacific movement through 2030.

And as we look ahead, this renewed collective commitment will continue to guide our work towards PHRC4 in Tahiti this October, where the Pacific will once again come together to advance Indigenous sovereignty, climate justice and SOGIESC+ equality.

Four Days. One Movement. A Shared Future.
From strengthening the Pacific HIV response and advancing community-led approaches, to building strategic regional health partnerships, supporting our National Member Organisations through the ASPHA response, creating space for member connection and reflection, and launching our Strategic Plan 2025–2030, these four days reflected the breadth and strength of our movement.
At the heart of it all is a shared belief that Pacific
communities must be at the centre of the decisions, partnerships and solutions that shape our lives and our future.

Vinaka vakalevu to all our National Member Organisations (NMOs), the Ministry of Health and Medical Services – SRHR Unit, UNDP, ASHM, Health Equity Matters, Burnet Institute, Kirby Institute, Fiji National University, our donors, development partners and regional allies for your partnership, trust and continued commitment to the Pacific movement.
We move forward with renewed purpose, stronger relationships and a shared commitment to member-led leadership and collective action.

And as we look ahead, this renewed collective commitment will continue to guide our work towards PHRC4 in Tahiti this October, where the Pacific will come together to advance Indigenous sovereignty, climate justice and SOGIESC+ equality.

Together, we will continue to build trust, strengthen Pacific leadership, amplify community voices and shape a future where our communities lead the change.

17/08/2026

| Tahiti ready to welcome the Pacific for fourth Pacific Human Rights Conference

Hear from Terii Luciani, PHRC4 Local Coordinator in Tahiti and member of the Regional Organising Committee, as he shares insights on what it means for Tahiti to welcome + communities and allies from across the Pacific for the Fourth Pacific Human Rights Conference (PHRC4).

With preparations moving full steam ahead, excitement is building for this important regional gathering in Tahiti from 19–21 October 2026.

Read our latest blog to hear more from Terii and how Tahiti is preparing to welcome the Pacific aboard the PHRC4 vaka via the link👇

🔗 Read more: https://www.psgdn.org/post/tahiti-ready-to-welcome-the-pacific-for-fourth-phrc

12/08/2026

Today, PSGDN Acting CEO Loata Tucika had the opportunity to meet with representatives from the Pacific Community’s Human Rights and Social Development Division (SPC HRSD), alongside a colleague from the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) Canberra office.

The meeting provided a valuable opportunity to share more about PSGDN’s work across the Pacific, our regional partnerships, and the importance of continued collaboration to strengthen civil society, human rights, leadership and inclusion across our region.

Discussions also highlighted the importance of strong partnerships between Pacific civil society organisations, development partners and governments in supporting locally led solutions and advancing the rights and wellbeing of our communities.

It was also great to be joined by the Executive Director of the Pacific Islands Association of Non-Governmental Organisations (PIANGO) for the discussion.

Vinaka vakalevu to the SPC HRSD team for hosting us and for the continued partnership and support. We look forward to continuing to work together towards a stronger, more inclusive Pacific.