On 18-21 October 2012, ILGA-Europe holds its 16th Annual Conference in Dublin. Our Annual Conference is the largest event on LGBTI political agenda in Europe. 235 participants from 42 countries are attending the Conference.

Ireland 2012

The theme of this year’s Annual Conference – “Advancing LGBTI equality in challenging economic times” – will be explored in a number of panels, over 30 workshops and self-organised spaces.

We are pleased to welcome Nils Muižnieks, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, as one of the key note speakers at a panel on the Conference theme. Nils Muižnieks said in the beginning of his terms of office in the spring of 2012: “In this era of austerity and uncertainty, a renewed commitment to human rights principles is badly needed. It is my intention to keep human rights high on the agenda of European countries and to contribute to the development of more humane policies benefiting both present and future generations.”

Other confirmed key note speakers are:

  • Dominic Hannigan, Member of the Irish Parliament (Dáil Éireann) and a member of Parliamentary Committee on European Union Affairs
  • Mary Lawlor, Executive Director of Front Line Defenders

On Sunday, 21 October 2012, Eamon Gilmor, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs & Trade, the Leader of the Labour Party, and the Chairperson-in-Office of the Organization for Security and Cooperation of Europe, will attend our Annual Conference. This is the highest national official to ever participate in ILGA-Europe’s Annual Conference.

Gabi Calleja, Co-Chair of ILGA-Europe’s Executive Board, said:
“Europe is currently experiencing the deepest economic crisis in living memory. The European institutions and national governments are understandably preoccupied with rescue measures and boosting the economic growth. Too often in such situations human rights and equality are considered a second priority. During this conference we want to explore the impact of the economic crisis on LGBTI equality and address the needs for new or different strategies to put equality and human rights back on the agenda of European and national authorities.”

Martin K.I. Christensen, Co-Chair of ILGA-Europe’s Executive Board, added:
“Economic slowdown has such side effects as an increase in extremism and fundamentalism. We need to assess how exactly they impact our movement and our claims for equality and how we as a movement need to act to challenge these extreme views and generate public support for our cause.”

Our annual Conference has received a message of support from Michael D. Higgins, President of Ireland.

Programme of the Annual Conference.

This conference is organised in partnership with Dublin organising committee

ILGA-Europe Conference 2012 which consists of Irish national and regional lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender organisations including GLEN, BelongTo, TENI, LinC, The Cork Gay Project, Dundalk Outcomers, Marriagequality, Outhouse, LGBT diversity, The NLGF and Dublin Pride.

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