DECLARATION OF MONTREAL

International Conference on LGBT Human Rights of the 1st World Outgames on the 29th of July 2006

Introduction

The Declaration of Montreal was endorsed by the participants of the International Conference on LGBT Human Rights, which was held in the framework of the 1st World Outgames in Montreal (Canada) in July 2006. This largest-ever international conference on LGBT issues was attended by 1500 people from more than hundred countries in the world.
This Declaration was drafted by the Co-Presidents of the Conference – Joke Swiebel and Robert Wintemute – and unanimously adopted by the International Scientific Committee, consisting of 37 LGBT activists and experts from all over the world.

The Declaration of Montreal is not a summary of the speeches and the discussions that took place. It rather is an attempt - perhaps the first one – to summarize the main demands of the international LGBT movement in the broadest possible terms, so as to make the document useful at a global level and in all parts of the world. It is not the final result of an elaborate process of consultation among LGBT organisations – it could, however, be the starting point of all sorts of political discussions, both inside the LGBT movement and with other societal and political actors.

The Declaration of Montreal is meant to be an advocacy tool, to be used according to national and local circumstances. It indicates the arena of LGBT human rights that are being argued. By trying to contextualize these demands and explaining them, it reflects the state of the art and depicts where we stand.
The Declaration can be used as a campaigning tool by lobbyists and organizations and as a benchmark for future conferences. Making this happen will be a task for GLISA – the Gay and Lesbian International Sports Association, the umbrella organisation responsible for the future Outgames. At the 2nd International Conference on LGBT Human Rights (Copenhagen, 2009) the Declaration can be used as a tool to measure progress (or setbacks) and compare notes on the parameters of the debate.

In the meantime the Declaration is endorsed by a growing list of elected bodies and democratic political parties.

We hope this website can function as a handy source of information. We would appreciate it if you could inform us of other follow-up activities, that could be mentioned at this site. Please mail to IHLIA LGBTI Heritage, the heritage organisation which take over the management of this site: info@ihlia.nl

Joke Swiebel
(Former) Co-President of the International Conference on LGBT Human Rights of the 1st World Outgames (Montreal, 26-29 July 2006)

Amsterdam (The Netherlands), 21 November 2006.

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