African Human Rights Coalition is pleased to announce Executive Director, Melanie Nathan, will be delivering the closing keynote speech in Malmö, Sweden at the World Pride Copenhagen 2021/ Malmö, Refugee, Asylum and Immigration Summit, together with colleague Dennis Castillo, from IRCA, Casabierta.
Activists and politicians will discuss challenges regarding refugees, borders and immigration.
The extensive program includes an array of esteemed speakers, such as the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Dr. Filippo Grande and Co-hosts: Alice Bah Kuhnke, Swedish Member of the European Parliament and Ulrika Westerlund, Swedish Agency for Youth and Civil Society, Swedish LGBTQIA+ policy expert.
The day will feature panels that includes LGBTQI+ displaced people, those with lived experiences, a music performance, a film screening and a number of 'breakout' sessions on various relevant topics. The event will be held in English and interpreted into French, Spanish, Swedish and international sign language.
Participants can sign up for either physical participation or digital participation:
World Pride Copenhagen 2021
This Summit follows a summer of Melanie’s participation in several pertinent events, including the GLOBAL ROUNDTABLE ON PROTECTION AND SOLUTIONS FOR LGBTIQ+ PEOPLE IN FORCED DISPLACEMENT, convened by UNHCR, the UN refugee agency, and the UN Independent Expert for SOGIESC, where 13 Thematic working tables were held, each yielding 3 prioritized recommendations.
Thereafter, Melanie joined Machtelt de Vries, Senior Protection Advisor, Division of International protection, UNHCR and Galo Quizanga, Director of Global Economic Inclusion, HIAS to present the outcomes at the UNHCR monthly consultation, delivered to Global Civil Societies and NGO’s.
To follow developments, the final report on recommendations will be released by UNHCR, soon. As noted by the Assistant High Commissioner for Protection for UNHCR, Gillian Triggs: “There is unprecedented momentum to improve protection of LGBTIQ+ people forced to flee violence and persecution. There has never been a greater need. That is why at UNHCR we are redoubling efforts to strengthen our internal capacities, and to create a platform to bring together a bigger, stronger coalition to address the real, intersectional challenges faced by LGBTIQ+ people forced from home.”
