Launch of the Preliminary Programme for the International Conference on LGBT human rights

Montréal, 18 January 2006 – The organisers of the International Conference on LGBT Human Rights, presented from 26 to 29 July 2006 by the 1st World Outgames, have made an important step forward today with the launch of the Preliminary Programme for the event. The launch marks the beginning of an international recruitment campaign to reach individuals and organisations in more than one hundred countries. Already, more than 70 countries are represented. Over the four days of the Conference, some 2,000 delegates will discuss the future of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) human rights worldwide. The programme will offer five plenary sessions with many prestigious speakers, plus more than 200 workshops. Almost 800 people have already proposed workshops related to the main Conference themes: The essential rights, global issues, diversity with the LGBT community, participation in society and creating social change.

One of the primary goals of the Conference is to bring the issue of LGBT rights as human rights to the forefront and to demonstrate to national governments that they must take the question of LGBT human rights seriously.

“The Conference will help us to reach our ultimate goal, that of legal and social justice of the kind already enjoyed by more and more LGBT people living in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, South Africa, most Western European countries and in some parts of the United States, compared with those who live in African, Asian, Eastern European and Latin American countries,” said Ms. Joke Swiebel, Co-President of the International Scientific Committee for the Conference.

The Declaration of Montréal will be adopted and presented to delegates at the close of the Conference proceedings. It will then be presented to United Nations authorities and to national governments to mobilise unequivocal support for the respect of LGBT rights. This will be the legacy of the Conference, one that will be enriched by the participation of a large number of individuals from a diverse range of backgrounds and cultures.

To appeal to the varied interests and concerns of all delegates, the Conference will have special sessions on specific topics. Workers Out! will examine the LGBT community within the workplace, while Out for Business! will target chambers of commerce and business people in the international LGBT community.

Workers Out!: Making a difference
Workers Out! is being organised by Canadian and Québec labour organisations: la Confédération des syndicats nationaux (CSN), la Centrale des syndicats du Québec (CSQ), the Canadian Labour Congress (CTC/CLC) and the Fédération des travailleurs et travailleuses du Québec (FTQ). Workers Out! concentrates on developing an international strategic plan to help our unions worldwide in taking up the struggle for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) rights in the workplace and in the broader society.

Out for Business!
Developing its international network, which already had a solid base in Canada, the United States and in Europe, the CCGQ has formed a Steering Committee composed of representatives from 11 organisations in six countries. Out for Business! will definitely be a not-to-be-missed occasion where more than 300 professionals and business people will discuss important issues for the LGBT community worldwide.

The International Conference poised for success
The International Conference on LGBT Human Rights will bring to Montréal legal scholars, opinion leaders, academics, researchers, specialists and human rights defenders from around the world. With almost 800 delegates already registered, the Conference is sure to be a major success in July 2006. Objectives for the Conference, in terms of amplitude and attendance, will be attained or even surpassed.

“We are proud to have the support of many internationally respected partners in the organisation of the Conference,” added Ms. Louise Roy, CEO of Montréal 2006, “In fact, we can now count on the support of 31 organisations!”

“In presenting this ambitious project, the 1st World Outgames organisers have demonstrated their determination and their vision in linking the LGBT sports movement with the global fight for LGBT rights as human rights. This was a courageous decision – one that we feel was, without question, the correct one. What the Outgames and the Conference have in common is defending the human right of every LGBT person in the world to participate fully, openly and equally in every part of life, without hiding their sexual orientation or gender identity, including in every sport, at every level, from their neighbourhood to the Olympic Games, and at every age, be it 18 or 88,” concluded Mr. Robert Wintemute, Co-President of the International Scientific Committee.

PARTNER ORGANISATIONS FOR THE CONFERENCE

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High resolution images of the Palais des congrès de Montréal (Convention Centre), official venue of the International Conference, are available here >>

To download the Preliminary Programme, please click here >>

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