Welcome to the ILGA World Conference

Ever been to an ILGA World conference? This is your chance to join our LGBTI communities, share experiences and best practices, build alliances and partnerships, discuss the future of our movement, and collectively chart ways to advance equality worldwide.

Returning to Africa for the first time in 25 years, the 2024 ILGA World Conference will take place in Cape Town, South Africa, from 11 to 15 November 2024, hosted by Iranti and Gender DynamiX.

The 2024 ILGA World Conference will be held under the theme Kwa umoja we rise!

The theme was developed in consultation with local communities and incorporates words from Swahili – the most widely spoken African language known by over 200 million people. “Kwa umoja” is Swahili for “Together” or “In unity”: a powerful call for solidarity within movements (including ours) in times of adversity.

From ILGA World, we acknowledge and offer our respects to the Khoe-San / Khoisan tribes as original inhabitants of the lands we will be on during the conference. We invite you to get to know their traditions and experiences.

Our theme: Kwa umoja we rise!

LGBTI movements continue to mobilise for social justice everywhere, together with many other voices demanding change. But even hard-fought advances can quickly be taken away. Facing the relentless scapegoating and ever-returning prejudice inevitably takes a toll on our communities. Our human rights work becomes even heavier. And yet, despite the backlash, we still see change happening.

The power of solidarity and understanding across movements has never been more needed than right now. As we build bridges towards a better future for all, fabricated conflicts among historically allied movements will not prevail. In times of violent opposition, we need each other to find ways forward together. None of us can be left behind.

“Kwa umoja” is Swahili for “Together” or “In unity”. As the ILGA World Conference returns to Africa for the first time in 25 years, we consulted with local and regional organisations to understand what could resonate most with organisations across the continent and globally. The result is a powerful call for unity in these polarised and contentious times – also incorporating Africa's most widely spoken language, known by over 200 million people. Kwa umoja we rise!

Our code of conduct

Respecting the diversity of identities, backgrounds, views, and experiences is a core value of ILGA World and defines who we are as an organisation. We are committed to the fullest possible participation of everyone, and we want to ensure that the actions, language and attitudes of others harm no one at the conference.

Therefore all participants – conference participants, guests, visitors, staff, support staff, volunteers and facilitators – will be asked to observe and abide by the ILGA World Code of Conduct for events. ILGA World will have a team on the ground to help with ensuring the Code of Conduct is followed and reserves the right to ask anyone who does not observe it to leave the event.
Follow this link to read the ILGA World Code of Conduct.

Our host organisations

Iranti is a Johannesburg-based human rights organisation which advocates for the advancement of the rights of LBQTI persons in Africa. With a specific focus on lesbian, trans, gender non-conforming, and intersex persons in Africa, Iranti works within a human rights framework raising issues on gender identities and sexuality through the strategic use of multimedia storytelling, research and activism.

Gender DynamiX is the first registered Africa-based public benefit organisation to focus solely on the transgender and the broader gender-diverse community. Since its establishment in 2005, the organisation has been fundamental to the development of trans and gender-diverse movement(s) in South Africa and across Africa.