NEW DATES ANNOUNCED FOR THE NEXT ILGA WORLD CONFERENCE, HAPPENING IN 2019 IN AOTEAROA NEW ZEALAND

The new dates for the event, originally set to take place in October 2018, were chosen to honour the 40^th anniversary of the first ILGA World Conference, which took place in April 1979. Back then, the groundbreaking meeting saw 65 delegated gathering together from 17 countries in the town of Bergen, The Netherlands: 40 years later, the 2019 ILGA World Conference will be the first global LGBTIacronym for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and intersex people. Although this is not the acronym available to describe people of diverse sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions, and sex characteristics, it is the most commonly used in United Nations spaces and advocacy. More event of the year that will mark the 50^th anniversary of the Stonewall uprising, and will lay on the foundation of the outstanding numbers of its last edition, which attracted more than 700 participants from 101 different countries worldwide.

The event will be historic for more than one reason: the ILGA World Conference will be held in Oceania for the first time in the journey of the organisation, as a collaborative bid of three major Aotearoa New Zealand LGBTI organisations (Intersexan umbrella term for the spectrum of variations of sex characteristics that naturally occur within the human species. Intersex people are born with variations of sex characteristics (such as genitals, reproductive organs, hormonal and chromosomal patterns) that are more diverse than stereotypical definitions of male or female bodies. Up to 1.7% of the global population are born with such traits; yet, because their bodies are seen as different, intersex children and adults are often stigmatised and subject to harmful practices – including in medical settings - and discriminated against. More Trust Aotearoa New Zealand, Tīwhanawhana Trust, and Rainbow Youth) has successfully won the bid to host it.

“Forty years after the first conference following ILGA’s foundation, the ILGA World Conference will be finally held in Oceania, at the antipodes of its origins,” commented Renato Sabbadini, Executive Director at ILGA. “This is not only a testament to the incredible growth of ILGA World in the last four decades – which has now ECOSOC status at the United Nationsan international organisation comprising 193 member States. It has the mission of maintaining peace and security, protecting human rights, providing humanitarian aid and ensuring economic and social development across the globe. It is a network of many different bodies and agencies, each of which has a particular role and responsibility. More and represents more than 1,200 member organisations from 132 countries worldwide – but also to its genuine ability to embrace all cultures and be shaped by them in its spirit.”

Just as Matariki – or the Māori New Year celebrations, which began yesterday – are a time to honour the lives of those no longer with us, but also to celebrate new beginnings, the ILGA World Conferences are empowering occasions for LGBTI activists from across the world to honour those who built our movement through a lifelong struggle, but also to take stock of the many groundbreaking moments celebrated by our communities in the past few years and to strategize about our future.

“ITANZ is humbled, proud and excited to be part of this important conference, to have an organizing committee anchored in the principles of manaakitanga hospitality, indigenous voice, to have the opportunity to show to the world  the multiplicity of SOGIESCabbreviation standing for sexual orientation and gender identity & expression, and sex characteristics. More realities here in the Pacific Ocean,” said Mani Bruce Mitchell, Executive Director of Intersex Trust Aotearoa New Zealand.

“Tīwhanawhana is super excited to welcome in 2019 the World’s LGBTI communities to spectacular Te Whanganui a Tara Wellington,” added Kevin Haunui of Tīwhanawhana Trust. “We understand the importance of all voices being heard and the sharing of knowledge and wisdom; the conference will be an opportunity to hear the many voices of the Oceania region. The city of Wellington and New Zealand’s rainbow communities will provide an extraordinary experience for ILGA World Conference 2019. Haere mai!”

“Our communities worldwide know the art of resilience, and everyday continue to challenge systems, practices and norms that put our lives at risk, violate our bodies, disregard our rights and deny us equal opportunities,” remembered Ruth Baldacchino and Helen Kennedy, co-Secretaries General at ILGA. “Events like the ILGA World Conference represent important occasions where people fighting injustices can realise that they are not alone in their struggle, and work together to advance equality worldwide. We held these events since our early days, and we are honoured and grateful for the work that dozens of persons are already putting in place to make the 2019 ILGA World Conference an event to remember.”