PAI, the largest federation of its kind in Africa is the African regional chapter of ILGA, the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association which held its first world conference in Africa, in Johannesburg in 1999. In May 2007, activists gathered in South Africa’s capital for the first regional conference of ILGA on the continent and decided to establish a regional federation of organizations working for human rights and equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex people. Activists created and elected an 11-member interim board to govern the newly formed Pan Africa ILGA. Along the years, there has, however, been attrition of board members and in December 2012 in Stockholm, the biggest African delegation in the history of ILGA world conferences agreed to co-opt new representatives to help steer PAI to a regional conference. This group is known as the Interim Steering Committee.
Co-chair of the Interim Steering Committee of PAI, Yahia Zaidi expressed confidence in the future of PAI: “The very idea of a Pan African LGBTI federation has been a dream of many, for many years… and an ardeous journey from its creation in 2007. On occasion of both the ILGA world conference in Stockholm and the recent consultative meeting we had in November 2013, African activists re-affirmed our commitment to the federation. That is why are so pleased to announce this second conference. It will give the movement an opportunity to meet and gain strength. And it is up to us, African activists to decide the way forward for Pan Africa ILGA by electing a new board and deciding its strategy. This will be a powerful week of activism, learning, exchange and a unique moment for the African LGBTI movement and its history.”
The first official mailing will include the nomination forms for candidates for the Pan Africa ILGA Executive Board and ILGA World Executive Board. For the ILGA World Executive Board we will this year only elect reserve candidates. Guidelines for the nomination of host organisations for the Pan Africa ILGA conference 2016, guidance for the nomination of Pan Africa ILGA Executive Board members, as well as Guidelines to submit Proposals or Resolutions to the constitution will also be included.
The calendar of mailings and other important dates are as follows:
1.12 December 2013 – First mailing
2.16 December 2013 – Deadline for submission of scholarship applications and for workshop proposals
3.2 January 2014 – Deadline for submission of proposals
4.9 January 2014– Second Mailing with preliminary conference agenda, report for 2013.
5.5 February 2014 – Deadline for nomination of candidates for the Pan Africa ILGA Executive Board, for amendments to proposals, for submission of proposals to host the 2016 conference
6.9 February 2014 – Deadline for registration of conference participants
7.4 March 2014 – Third mailing with final agenda, including amendments to proposals, names of candidates for the Executive Board, candidates for hosting the 2016 conference and the proposed budget for next financial year.
Pan Africa ILGA looks forward to the enthusiasm and engagement of African LGBTI activists in both the process leading up to the conference and during the conference itself.
Yours sincerely
PAI Interim Steering Committee and the Conference Coordinating Body