Mpho Tutu van Furth, Graeme Reid, and Symmy Larrat are the first keynote speakers announced for the 2024 ILGA World Conference
Summary:
CAPE TOWN (South Africa) / GENEVA (Switzerland), 19 September 2024 – Today, ILGA World has announced Reverend and activist Mpho Tutu van Furth, the United Nations Independent Expert on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Graeme Reid, and the National Secretary for LGBTQIA+ Rights of Brazil Symmy Larrat as the keynote speakers for the 31st ILGA World Conference. More keynote speakers will be announced in the coming weeks.
The event will take place in Cape Town, South Africa from 11 to 15 November 2024, hosted by local human rights organisations Iranti and Gender DynamiX.
Returning to Africa for the first time in 25 years, the 2024 ILGA World Conference will bring together hundreds of LGBTI human rights defenders and development experts, policy makers, international human rights mechanisms experts, government representatives, researchers, journalists, funders, and allies from over 100 countries worldwide — responding in global solidarity to the ongoing anti-rights pushback.
“We are thrilled that our membership has chosen to bring our conference back to Africa. LGBTI activists across Africa and the world are facing an unprecedented backlash, driven by both global trends and region-specific challenges”.
“Our conference will serve as a crucial moment for LGBTI human rights defenders worldwide to unite and forge strong, meaningful solidarities—not only within the LGBTI community, but also alongside feminist, sexual and reproductive health, climate justice, and other critical movements. Together, we will work toward a more equitable and just future.”
Luz Elena Aranda and Tuisina Ymania Brown, ILGA World co-Secretaries General
“We are excited to host our global movement as it returns to Africa after such a long time. At a time when we see dangerous anti-rights discourse and narratives diluting into our regions from the Global North, hosting our global family will be a wonderful statement of unity and solidarity across borders.”
Liberty Matthyse and Lentsu Nchabeleng, Executive Directors of Gender DynamiX and Iranti respectively
Built for and by community members from all over the world, over the course of five days the conference programme will bring participants to tackle pressing issues affecting LGBTI people in all their diversity.
Mpho Tutu van Furth – minister daughter of anti-apartheid leader Desmond Tutu – Graeme Reid, and Symmy Larrat will address the conference attendees during plenary sessions. Other confirmed speakers include International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) Director-General Dr. Alvaro Bermejo, UK Black Pride CEO Phyll Opoku-Gyimah, CREA Executive Director Geeta Misra, and Afghan LGBT Organization (ALO) Director Artemis Akbary. More keynote speakers and panellists will be announced in the coming days.
A constellation of many more events will happen during and around the ILGA World Conference — including the ceremony of the inaugural International Pride Awards, a joint project by ILGA World and UNDP, and a strategic summit for intersectional and inclusive democracies.
Over 800 people are expected to take part in the 2024 World Conference. Registration remains open until 11 October 2024. More information is available at https://worldconference.ilga.org