The International Conference on LGBT Human Rights will kick off the 1^st World Outgames Montréal 2006
Confirmation of Louise Arbour, Irshad Manji, Martina Navratilovas

Montréal, 20 March 2006 – The International Conference on LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) Human Rights will kick off the 1st World Outgames and will be held from 26 to 29 July at the Palais des congrès, Montréal’s world-class convention centre with some 2,000 delegates from more than 100 countries in attendance. Already more than 1,100 participants have registered for the Conference and will be able to take part at any of the 200 different workshops offered. The five main Conference themes are: Essential Rights, Global Issues, the Diverse LGBT Community, Participation in Society, and Creating Social Change. “This international conference will be the largest of its kind ever held,” said Mr. Laurent McCutcheon, president of Fondation Émergence and member of the International Scientific Committee for the Conference.

Québec Justice Minister Yvon Marcoux, present at today’s press conference, underscored the importance of these events. “The 1st World Outgames and the International Conference on LGBT Human Rights will allow us to share our experience with other countries, and to be enriched by theirs. The participation of the Government of Québec demonstrates our commitment to a society that is always open to and welcoming of diversity,” said the minister.

The Co-Presidents of the 38-member International Scientific Committee are Ms. Joke Swiebel, former member of the European Parliament (1999-2004), and Mr. Robert Wintemute, professor at the School of Law of King's College in London.

The five plenary sessions will bring together internationally-known speakers and sitting judges including Deborah Batts (United States District Court for the Southern District of New York), Edwin Cameron (Court of Appeal, South Africa), Eugenio Raúl Zaffaroni (Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation, Argentina), Michael Kirby (High Court of Australia) and Renée Koering-Joulin (Judge and Advisor to the Criminal Chamber of the Supreme Court, France).

The 1st World Outgames are particularly proud to have confirmed the presence of Alvaro Gil-Robles, Commissioner for Human Rights (2000-2005) for the Council of Europe, Asma Jahangir, Chairperson of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan and United Nations Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief and Vladimír Špidla, Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities, European Commission.

The Conference organisers would also like to highlight the presence of four Canadian keynote speakers: Louise Arbour, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights; Irshad Manji, author of “The Trouble with Islam Today”; Martin Cauchon, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada (2002-2003); and Claire L‘Heureux-Dubé, Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada (1987-2002).

"I truly believe that the people participating in the 1st World Outgames and its International Conference on LGBT Human Rights will be empowered to influence, in a concrete way, the future of millions of people on the five continents," said Mr. Waheed Alli, member of the House of Lords in the United Kingdom and one of the keynote speakers of the Conference.

Two special sessions will also be held within the Conference programme: “Workers Out!” will hold its third edition, bringing together almost 500 representatives of trade unions from around the world. “Workers Out!” is being organised in conjunction with the CSN, the CSQ, the FTQ and the CLC. “Out for Business” will hold its first edition and will bring together more than 400 members of American and European gay chambers of commerce, thanks to the active participation of the Chambre de commerce gaie du Québec (CCGQ or Québec Gay Chamber of Commerce) and its partners.

Finally, the “Declaration of Montréal” will be presented during the closing luncheon of the Conference and will then be presented to authorities at the United Nations and to various governments around the world, enhancing the reputations of Montréal and of Québec as global leaders in the promotion of tolerance and inclusion. This declaration will also be read during the Opening Ceremony of the 1st World Outgames by Canadian Olympic gold medalist Mark Tewksbury and legendary tennis champion Martina Navratilova, creating a bridge between the two events.

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