By Pimann Laohapichitpong

On March 26, 2007, the Yogyakarta Principles were launched in Geneva. That's two years ago but even today when I mention the principles to my family, friends and co-workers, they have no idea what I'm talking about.

Here's a little bit of history. Concerned about human rights violations based on sexual orientation and gender identity around the world, UN experts, judges, academics and LGBT organisations representing all continents (including Prof Vitit Muntarbhorn from Thailand who acted as co-chair) met in the Indonesian city of Yogyakarta in November 2006 to discuss ways to promote and protect human rights for sexual diversity.

The meeting adopted the 29 Principles to pave the way for equality for LGBT people, providing guidelines for countries to deal with human rights violations based on sexual orientation and gender identity. The principles were launched and supported by many states and organisations. For example, here in Thailand, the National Human Rights Commission referred to the Yogyakarta Principles during the drafting process of the 2007 constitution.

But to be validated, human rights need to be recognised by society. Jean Jaques Rousseau, one of the most influential figures in the long history of human rights said "Man is born free, but everywhere he is in chains."

Indeed. It is our right to be gay but our freedom and rights are caught up in the chains of society, since we are all social creatures inevitably bound by it. So unless the general public is made aware of them, the Yogyakarta Principles have only limited use.

Although human rights and LGBT activists try hard to promote the Yogyakarta Principles, that work shouldn't be left to these activists alone. Thailand's first National Human Rights Day for Sexual Diversity last November may have been organised around the Yogyakarta Principles, but a heterosexual friend of mine commented, "I suppose people like me would never know that."

So, in the third year of the Yogyakarta Principles, let's tell our families and friends how important these principles are to us. As we come out of the closet, so should our rights.

-Daily Xpress/Asia News Network