​​Vermont Law School's International and Comparative Law Program, Alliance, and International Law Society are holding a conference on Saturday April 7 that brings together speakers involved in international advocacy to protect the human rights of LGBTI people. They will reflect on the early struggles in the movement, and discuss the development of international legal standards; strategies on using UN human rights mechanisms; lessons learned on building a movement across the global north and south; and current challenges for future advocacy. Panels and small group breakout sessions will provide opportunities to learn how to participate in campaigning on these issues today.

Our speakers first came together just over twenty years ago to develop Amnesty International's work against human rights violations targeting people because of their sexual orientation. Many of these activists continue to be at the forefront of global activism on these issues today. They will share stories from the early struggles, and describe such events as the landmark Amnesty International policy making conference in Yokohama in 1991 when the organization decided to adopt as prisoners of conscience people who were imprisoned for their real or perceived sexual orientation. They will discuss the evolution of their own thinking on how best to develop international legal standards; strategies on using UN and regional human rights mechanisms; lessons learned on building a movement across the global north and south; and current challenges for future advocacy. The conference will consist of both panels and breakout sessions to allow for small group discussions with the speakers. 

Vermont Continuing Legal Education (CLE) credit will be available through this event for those who sign up for it at registration.