Human Rights Conference

Human rights defenders and activists from all over the globe gathered physically and digitally in Copenhagen between 17-19 August.

Human Rights Conference

The Human Rights Conference was the most significant LGBTI+ conference in 2021.  The conference was open for human rights defenders and activists, elected officials, academics, NGOs, media, Pride organizers and sports leaders in the field of LGBTI+ rights, and anybody else interested in the more in-depth LGBTI+ cause.

Our goal was to include all representations under the LGBTI+-acronym in the program and to be highly aware of intersectionality in our planning. This included representation in relation to geography, racialization, ethnicity, age, gender, disability, gender identity, gender expression, sexuality, religion, and appearance. 

The three-day conference took place in a hybrid form with physical elements for participants in person and full online access to content sessions, to facilitate the engagement of as many people as possible. The program consisted of special statements by high-level officials and community members, eight plenaries, over 50 break-out sessions, four Sphere Sessions, networking sessions and meet and greets.

Content was curated in ten topics:

  1. Politics and Law
  2. Education, Labor Market and Civil Society
  3. Intersectionality and Global Trends
  4. Borders, Decolonization and Racism
  5. Technology and Online Communities
  6. Arts, Sports and Culture
  7. Pride as a global Human Rights Movement
  8. Breaking the Binary
  9. Sexual well-being and Health
  10. Open for the undefined

We believe that partnering with experts from our international community is essential to giving this conference legitimacy and in making sure that the contents of the program is of high quality and our 21 executive partners were crucial in bringing the right content to the program.  

Representation from regions where LGBTI+ rights remain under increasing pressure was pivotal, and we encouraged every activist and scholar around the globe to join us for Copenhagen 2021. Additional support was be provided to those calling in from hostile territories and countries.

The conference venue was Øksnehallen in central Copenhagen, a few minutes’ walk from Central Station. The Conference also took place online for those who cannot attend in person.

Keynote speeches

HRH The Crown Princess of Denmark

Prime Minister of Denmark, Mette Frederiksen

Foreign Minister of Sweden, Ann Linde

Equality Minister of Norway, Abid Raja

Youth Envoy to the UN Secretary General, Jayathma Wickramanayake

United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet

Conference host Lady Phyll on the importance of UK Black Pride

Speakers included
  • Her Royal Highness The Crown Princess of Denmark
  • Mette Frederiksen, Prime Minister of Denmark
  • EU Commissioner Helena Dalli, European Union Commissioner for Equality
  • Minister of Equality Ms. Moreno, Minister of Equality of France
  • Michelle Bachelet, UN Under-Secretary-General and United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
  • H. E. Ann Linde, Swedish Minister of Foreign Affairs
  • CoE Deputy Secretary General Björn Berge, Deputy Secretary General, Council of Europe
  • Minister of Culture and Equality in Norway, Abid Raja
  • Tuisina Ymania Brown, International Advisory Board Member Copenhagen 2021
  • Jayathma Wickramanayake, UN Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth
  • President Guðni Thorlacius Jóhannesson, President of Iceland
  • First Lady Elize Reid, First Lady of Iceland
  • OAS Commissioner Flavia Piovesan, Organization of American States Commissioner and Independent SOGI Expert of the Inter-American Court for Human Rights
  • CoE Commissioner Dunja Mijatovic, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights
  • Secretary General Salla Saastamoinen, DG Justice and Consumers, European Commission
  • Michael O’Flaherty, Director, European Union Fundamental Rights Agency
  • Lord Herbert, United Kingdom Special Envoy for LGBTI+

Partners and Sponsors

See the full list of Partners and Sponsors