Last week our secretary Luke Dowding attended ILGA world's Annual Conference in Cape Town, South Africa. Here are his thoughts from the weekend:

“A person is a person through other persons… we need other human beings in order to be human.”

These words from Archbishop Desmond Tutu were repeated on different occasions throughout the ILGA World Conference in Cape Town, just last week.

They served as a powerful reminder to 1450 delegates from over 100 countries that we need one another, now more than ever. Approximately 40% of the participants were from African nations – a bold number given the state of LGBTI+ rights and freedoms across the continent.

The conference was hosted in South Africa 25 years ago, and whilst much progress has been made in our movement since then, still much needs to be done. The theme: “Kwa Umoja We Rise”, references a phrase in Swahili that celebrates unity and collective progress. However, it is clear that LGBTI+ people from around the world are experience great challenges and adversity.

It was a dynamic schedule, with 64 sessions and 20 pre-conferences! Topics ranged from engaging with global structures such as the United Nations, exploring the connection between climate change and marginalisation, and hearing from those who have championed inclusive legislation in their own countries. There were also opportunities for mindfulness, self-care, networking, and social events such as visiting the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art, the first international Pride Awards, and a gala dinner at the end of the week.

Just like our annual conference there was also a need for governance – with changes to the constitution, elections, and finance all present. As members of ILGA World we were able to vote, including on those standing for roles on committees and the election of the two new Co-Secretaries General. You can find out more about this and the nomination of the next host city here.

As a European network our involvement in ILGA World continues to ensure that our voices – and the voices of other LGBTI+ people of faith are continued to be platformed and heard.

- Luke Dowding