Conference opening

This abstract summarizes the opening of the Human Rights conference at the Asia Pacific Outgames, which took place in Ilott Theatre, Wellington Town Hall, with a focus on the conference's purpose, the apologies and acknowledgements made by those who could not attend, and the opening speeches.

The conference was convened by Barry Taylor, who delivered a welcoming address, regretting the absence of certain dignitaries due to commitments or other reasons, notably Sir Satyanand, Justice Michael Kirby, Chris Binson, Celia Wade-Brown, and David and Dwayne McGuane. Despite these absences, they still celebrated their earlier contributions. Taylor highlighted the groundbreaking participation of state representatives in the Outgames' inauguration and reflected on the historical significance of such support. Taylor also stressed the importance of recognizing the human and community losses due to recent natural disasters, calling for a moment of silence in respect for all those who have suffered or passed away, including the acknowledgment of the global impact of tragedies, discrimination, and prejudice on mental health outcomes.

The vision of the conference was unveiled, aspiring for inclusive societies with equal access to resources, full participation in community development, and protection from discrimination and violence, irrespective of sexual orientation or gender identity. A metaphor of organizing a banquet was used to describe the effort that went into the event planning, with over 330 attendees expected for the conference among almost 1,400 participants in the Outgames, representing 23 countries and delivering over 110 presentations.

Rosslyn Noonan, Chief Commissioner of the New Zealand Human Rights Commission, and Arie van der Wiel, representing the Dutch government, also addressed the assembly. Noonan invoked a Maori proverb to imply the importance of community and human connection while discussing the Yogyakarta principles and the commitment across the Asia Pacific to advancing the rights of people with diverse sexual orientations and gender identities.

Van der Wiel expressed solidarity with the victims of recent natural disasters in New Zealand and Japan and underscored the Dutch government's support for universal human rights. However, despite positive trends, they noted that discrimination and violence based on sexual orientation or gender identity persist globally. The Netherlands' liberal tradition was championed as a model for promoting tolerance, and they encouraged increased international support for a UN statement advocating the protection of LGBTQ+ rights.

Finally, the importance of funding and support for the conference was acknowledged, including grants for Pacific participants and others from the Asian region, with special mention of several organizations from the United States which provided additional resources.

This summary is created using Generative AI. Although it is based on the recording's transcription, it may contain errors or omissions. Click here to learn more about how this summary was created.

Arie van der Wiel Barry Taylor Grant Robertson Rosslyn Noonan

2010s, arie van der wiel, asia pacific outgames (2011), barry taylor, grant robertson, human rights, ilott theatre, jack byrne, june jackson, margaret mayman, rosslyn noonan, sam jackson, sam orchard, w.h. auden, wellington town hall

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