The Outgames included an International Conference on LGBT Human Rights held in Montreal immediately prior to the games themselves, from July 26 to July 29. With attendance of some 2,000 participants, it was the largest conference on LGBT rights ever held.
The four-day conference consisted of five plenary sessions on the United States and Canada, Africa and the Arab World, Latin America, Asia and the Pacific, and Europe, in addition to the opening and closing sessions. Keynote speakers included Gérald Tremblay, Gene Robinson, Mark Tewksbury, Irshad Manji, Mariela Castro, Georgina Beyer, Waheed Alli, Martin Cauchon, Li Yinhe and Martina Navrátilová.
Louise Arbour, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, delivered an especially well-received speech at the opening dinner, which gave particular encouragement to the conference's goal of recognition at the United Nations.
There were also more than a hundred workshops on more specific themes, as well as programmes of workshops on sport, business, and international affairs.
The conference concluded with the issuance of the Declaration of Montreal on LGBT Human Rights, a declaration that will be submitted to the United Nations.
Read more about this topic: 2006 World Outgames
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