Global LGBTI Human
Rights Conference
2016
Non-Violence, Non-Discrimination and Social
Inclusion
Introduction
All people should be free to express their identity and to say in public who they love. In many
parts of the world, however, the struggle for equal rights for LGBTI people is still a ’new
frontier’. In November 2014, 29 governments and multilateral agencies signed a Joint
Communique affirming their commitment to strengthen coordination and collaboration to
advance the human rights of LGBTI persons. The Joint Communique was a final outcome of the
Department of State/USAID hosted Conference to Advance the Human Rights of and Promote
Inclusive Development for LGBTI Persons, held in Washington, where the challenges and
opportunities in advancing the human rights of LGBTI persons around the world were
discussed. Over 30 representatives of governments, eight multilaterals and 50 civil society
organizations from all regions participated in the conference, which followed two prior
conferences held in 2010 and 2013 in Stockholm and Berlin respectively.
The Global LGBTI Human Rights Conference 2016, jointly hosted by the Dutch and Uruguayan
governments in Montevideo from 13 – 15 July, is a follow-up of the commitment expressed in
the joint communiqué to meet annually. Representatives of governments, multilateral
organisations and civil society organisations will be invited to the Montevideo conference.
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AGENDA
Global LGBTI Human Rights Conference 2016
Non Violence, Non Discrimination and Social Inclusion
Hosted by the Oriental Republic of Uruguay and the Kingdom of The
Netherlands
12 July – Pre-Conference Day
09.00 – 18.30
Pre-conference meeting Civil Society - By invitation only
Pre-conference meeting for civil society, organized by COC Netherlands
and Ovejas Negras. Location: Municipality of Montevideo
The LGBTI Civil Society Pre Conference is intended as a forum for
exchange, reflection, discussion and strategising between civil society
representatives from all regions on the topics that will be discussed at the
2016 Global LGBTI Human Rights Conference.
Evening
20.00
Informal reception organized by civil society – open to all participants
Location: Café La Diaria. Address: Soriano 770
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13 July
Introduction and Welcome
Conference Room (4th floor, Radisson Hotel)
08.30 – 09.30
Registration of participants
09.30 – 11.00
Opening Session

Introduction and welcome

Interventions by:
 Rodolfo Nin Novoa, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Oriental Republic of
Uruguay
 Bert Koenders, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands

Launch of the Equal Rights Coalition
At a time when the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) persons are under
pressure in a great number of countries, close cooperation and consultation between governments is essential in
order to ensure that we are effective in the protection and promotion of equal rights for all, regardless of sexual
orientation, gender identity or expression, and sex characteristics. The Equal Rights Coalition would serve as a
standing body to ensure coordination and continuity of our shared efforts. As the name of the coalition indicates,
we do not advocate special rights for LGBTI persons, but rather equal rights that apply to everybody, without
exception. Our guidance and foundation is international human rights law, in particular Article 1 of the Universal
Declaration, which states that “all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.”

Ban Ki-moon, UN Secretary General (video message)

Interventions by:
 Mauricio Coitiño, Conference Co-organiser and Co-Founder of Ovejas Negras
 Carlos M. Foradori, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Worship of Argentina
 Unites States Senior Representative
 Christian Lange, Parliamentary State Secretary to the Federal Minister of Justice
and Consumer Protection of Germany
 John Jeffery, Deputy Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development of
South Africa
 Jovan Kojičic, Adviser to Prime Minister for Human Rights and protection from
discrimination and national coordinator for LGBT Policy, Montenegro
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
Group Photo of Coalition Members
11.00 – 11.30
Coffee break
11.30 – 12.15
High Level Panel on International Organisations
 Luiz Loures, Assistant Secretary General of the UN and Deputy Executive Director
of UNAIDS
 Christophe Cornu, Senior Programme Specialist and Team Leader, Respect for All
in a Safe and Healthy Environment, UNESCO
 Esteban Caballero, Director of Regional Office for Latin America and The
Caribbean, United Nations Population Fund (UNPFA)
 Maninder Gill, Director Social Development and Chair of the Sexual Orientation
and Gender Identity Task Force, World Bank
12.15 – 13.00
Panel on Challenges and Lived Realities of LGBTI people across the
globe
Moderator: Joyce Hamilton, International Advocacy Officer, COC Netherlands (conference coorganiser)
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Akudo Oguaghamba, Women’s Health and Equal Rights Initiative, Nigeria
Morgan Carpenter, OII-Australia, Australia
Murat Koylu, KAOS GL, Turkey
Kenita Placide, ILGA Women’s Secretariat St. Lucia
Lunch
13.00 – 14.00
Lunch
Ministerial lunch (Room Torres García, 25th floor, Radisson Hotel)
Plenary Sessions
14.00 – 15.00
Plenary Session Working Group I
International and Regional Diplomacy
The past decade has seen significant advances in the recognition of human rights of LGBTI
people within international and regional human rights mechanisms and bodies. However,
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important gaps remain in legal protection and implementation of international rights and treaty
obligations by States. Moreover, it can be noted that structural reporting mechanisms and
systematic attention to human rights violations against LGBTI persons are lacking within several
international bodies. Other initiatives seem to undermine the indivisibility and universality of
human rights such as the traditional values discourse. Current challenges as well as
opportunities moving forward will be explored.
Moderator: Michael van Gelderen, Human Rights Officer OHCHR
Governmental representatives:
 Pamela Goldsmith-Jones, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of
Canada
 Sylvain Itte, Ambassador of the French Republic to Uruguay
Multilateral representatives:
 Francisco Eguiguren, IACHR Commissioner and LGBTI Rapporteur
Civil society representatives:
 Monica Tabengwa, Pan Africa ILGA
 Jessica Stern, OutRight International
 Mauro Cabral, GATE
15.00 – 16.00
Plenary Session Working Group II
LGBTI inclusion in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
In December 2015 all Member States of the UN adopted the Sustainable Development Goals
(SDG) to end poverty and inequality by 2030. Although they were adopted on the basis that they
apply to everyone, LGBTI people are not explicitly included. Discriminatory laws, policies and
programmes, and negative attitudes impact LGBTI people disproportionally and make it harder
for them to stay secure, finish or access education, earn a living or have access to adequate
health care. What are the different areas in which legislation, policies and programmes could
positively impact on the wellbeing, safety, health and equality of LGBTI people in societies?
Moderator: Micah Grzywnowicz, The Swedish Federation for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual,
Transgender and Queer Rights (RFSL) co-chair of the Working Group
Governmental representative:
 Ambassador Laura Dupuy, Director General for Technical and Administrative Affairs,
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uruguay
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Multilateral representatives:
 Clifton Cortez, UNDP Bureau for Policy and Programme Support
 Julie T. Katzman, Executive Vice President Inter-American Development Bank
Academic representative:
 Lee Badgett, University of Massachusetts Amherst, United States
Civil society representative:
 Neolene Nabulivou, Diva for Equaliity, Fiji
16.00 – 16.30
Coffee Break
16.30 - 17.30
Plenary Session Working Group III
Legislation & Shrinking Space for Civil Society
In the past decade an increasing number of governments in all regions have taken major steps
to increase levels of protection in legislation, policies and practice. A few examples are the
introduction of sexual orientation and gender identity or expression as protected grounds into
anti-discrimination laws, hate crime legislation, gender identity legislation, decriminalisation
and most notably ground-breaking legislation protecting intersex persons and children. At the
same time other States have attempted to limit space for civil society by introducing repressive
legislation, limiting the freedom of assembly and association, free media, right to information
and access to external support. How can States increase protection against human rights
violations, discrimination and exclusion of LGBTI persons and their access to human rights
through legislation and policies?
Moderator: Gitanjali Misra, CREA India
Governmental representatives:
 Kjersti Andersen, Director Department for UN and Humanitarian Affairs of Norway
Civil society representatives:
 Fernando d’Elio, Akahata, Argentina
 Rosanna Flamer-Caldera, Equal Ground, Sri Lanka
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17.30 - 18.30
Plenary Session Working Group IV
Coordination of Donor Funding
Funding to advance the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI)
persons and strengthen movements remains highly limited. In 2010 Funders for LGBTQ Issues
estimated that roughly $35 million was awarded to LGBTI civil society organizations in the
Global South and East from both public and private donors. There are significant funding gaps
and obstacles for LGBTI movements or some parts of their communities to access funding. What
are the current challenges and obstacles, and ways to overcome these?
Moderator: to be confirmed
Governmental representatives:
 Birgitta Weibahr, Policy Specialist Sida, Sweden
 Randy Berry, Special Envoy for the Human Rights of LGBTI persons of the United States
of America
Multilateral representatives:
 J. Bob Alotta, Executive Director Astraea Lesbian Foundation for Justice
Civil society representatives:
 Masen Davis, International Trans* Fund, US
Evening
19.00
Buses depart from Radisson Hotel to Ministry of Foreign Affairs
19.30
Welcome Reception for representatives of governments, multilateral
organisations and civil society
Address: Palacio Santos, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Oriental Republic of Uruguay,
Street: 18 de julio, number: 1205
21.00
Buses depart from Ministry of Foreign Affairs to Radisson Hotel
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14 July
Working Groups
Rooms Picasso (WG I& II) and Renoir (WG III & IV), 4th floor, Radisson Hotel
9.00 - 11.00
Working Groups I & III (parallel) – facilitated by the co-chairs
11.00 - 11.30
Coffee Break
11.30 - 13.30
Working Groups II & IV (parallel) – facilitated by the co-chairs
13.30 - 14.30
Lunch Break
Space for discussion
14.30 – 16.30
Space for discussion on Equal Right Coalition structure, chaired by Amb.
Van Baar & Amb. Dupuy (Room Picasso, 4th floor, Radisson Hotel)
14.30 – 16.30
Space for discussion for civil society
Room Renoir, 4th floor, Radisson Hotel
Evening
Optional: various cultural activities (to be announced)
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15 July
Report and recommendations
Conference Room (4th floor, Radisson Hotel)
09.00 – 11.00
Report and recommendations of the working groups
11.00 – 12.00
Coffee Break
Final plenary
12.00 – 13.00
Final Plenary: concluding remarks
Governments of Uruguay and The Netherlands present Co-Chairs’
Summary of Conclusions
Opportunity for civil society and other actors to present their conclusions
13.00 – 14.00
Lunch
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Parallel Events
11 July
Parliamentarians for Global Action
09.00 – 17.30
Seminar on Equality and Non-Discrimination based on SOGI for Latin
American and Caribbean Parliamentarians and the launch of the
Parliamentary Handbook on Human Rights, Sexual Orientation and
Gender Identit, prepared by PGA and the United Nations Development
Programme (UNDP). Location: the Parliament of Uruguay.
12 July
Global Philanthropy Project Annual Member Meeting
09.00 – 17.00
Attendance restricted to representatives of GPP member organisations.
Commonwealth Panel Discussion
10.00 – 13.00
The Commonwealth Secretariat convenes A Panel Discussion:
Commonwealth case studies on strengthened rights protection and
promotion for equality and non-discrimination. Location: Radisson Hotel.
Pre-conference meeting for Partners of the Global Equality Fund – by invitation only
17.00 – 19.00
The Global Equality Fund meeting is intended as an opportunity for
Partners of the Global Equality Fund to receive updates on key programs
from civil society representatives from all regions, and to discuss critical
needs and regional and global trends impacting the work of the Fund.
Location: Radisson Hotel, Room Gaugin.
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14 July
World Bank, UNDP, OHCHR Side Event
17.00 – 19.00
Investing in a Research Revolution for LGBTI Inclusion.
Location: Room Picasso, 4th floor, Radisson
In 2015, all United Nations member countries adopted the Sustainable Development Goals
(SDGs) and committed to “leaving no one behind” in the effort to end poverty and
inequality. LGBTI people throughout the world have led global efforts to raise awareness of
their experience of ongoing discrimination, exclusion, and violence. Despite some gains that
have made information more available, huge gaps in research and data on LGBTI
experiences persist in every country, blocking progress toward inclusion and the realization
of human rights for all. Clearly, significant donor investment in strategic research on LGBTI
inclusion is needed, in both the immediate and the long term, to provide a reliable evidence
base that can inform policies, legislation, programs, and investments to advance the human
rights and inclusion of LGBTI people in national and global efforts. Please join us for a
discussion on research priorities and potential ways for civil society, multilateral agencies,
bilateral agencies and others to scale up research endeavors.
15 July
Side Event on the Growing Movement Advancing the Human Rights of Intersex People
13.00 – 14.00
Private Lunch for donor and government representatives. Global
Philanthropy Project and the Astraea Lesbian Foundation for Justice are
pleased to invite you to the Launch of a new report “We Are Real, The
Growing Movement Advancing the Human Rights of Intersex People”.
Location: Radisson, 6th Floor, Diplomat Room.
Private Sector Event
14.00 – 19.00
The Private Sector event is intended to create networking opportunities
amongst all attendees of the conference. The event will include a panel
to share experiences in the private sector with LGBTs.
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