Deadline: August 8, 2025, midnight SAST
In a time marked by escalating hostility and unprecedented challenges to LGBTIQ+ rights across Africa, the 7th Pan Africa ILGA Regional Conference invites dynamic speakers, activists, researchers, and community leaders to submit abstracts and express interest in speaking engagements. This gathering aims not only to address immediate crises but also to build resilience, heal collectively, and envision a powerful, inclusive, and liberated future.
Conference Themes
We welcome submissions that align with our three core themes and sub-themes. Each sub-theme listed below includes a brief description to assist you in preparing your abstract:
1. Confronting the Backlash: Defending Rights in Hostile Times
- Legal & Policy Advocacy
– Explore strategies for challenging restrictive laws and policies via litigation, advocacy, and decriminalisation efforts focused on protecting LGBTIQ+ rights. - Protecting Human Rights Defenders
– Discuss approaches and resources to improve the safety and security of activists and community members who face threats because of their advocacy. - Countering the Anti-Rights Movement
– Identify effective ways to understand and counter organised anti-LGBTIQ+ campaigns through research, public education, and strategic alliances. - Solidarity and International Support
– Examine how regional and global solidarity efforts can strengthen local advocacy and defence mechanisms during times of heightened hostility.
2. Resilience and Healing: Strengthening Our Communities from Within
- Mental Health, Wellness, and Trauma Healing
– Highlight practices that address mental health challenges and promote healing from trauma within LGBTIQ+ individuals and communities. - Building Community Resilience and Solidarity
– Explore inclusive movement-building strategies that strengthen solidarity across diverse LGBTIQ+ groups and intersections. - Capacity Building and Organisational Sustainability
– Discuss approaches to enhancing organisational capacities, leadership development, and sustainable practices within LGBTIQ+ organisations. - Cultural and Spiritual Well-being
– Discuss how cultural expressions, spirituality, and artistic practices support resilience, empowerment, and healing within queer communities.
3. Imagining Queer African Futures: Power, Unity, and Decolonisation
- Decolonising Laws and Narratives
– Present efforts to reclaim and redefine African LGBTIQ+ identities and legal frameworks free from colonial legacies. - Pan-African Solidarity and Movement Building
– Envision strategies to build a unified and powerful LGBTIQ+ movement across Africa through enhanced collaboration and solidarity. - Empowering Future Leaders (Youth Focus)
– Explore methods to nurture youth leadership, encourage intergenerational dialogue, and support young LGBTIQ+ activists in their advocacy roles. - Queer African Futures in Development and Society
– Propose ideas for integrating LGBTIQ+ rights into broader socio-economic and development agendas to ensure inclusive progress.
Presentations
- Oral Presentations: Oral presentations provide the author(s) the opportunity to present original work related to the conference topics listed above.
- Panel Presentations: Panel presentations provide authors with the option to organise a panel comprising up to 5 individuals speaking on a particular theme. A panel presentation abstract must summarise the overall theme of the panel as well as what each speaker will bring to the discussion.
- Art Presentations: Art presentations provide an interactive forum for artists to present and discuss their work. Presenters will be able to showcase their work and share their inspiration for it, speak about the need for art in activism and interact with different audiences. There is no limitation on what the definition of “art” is.
- Workshops: Active workshops are welcome. These should be as interactive as possible, and focusing on the exchange of skills would be an asset.
Submission Instructions
- All abstracts must be submitted online. The online system will be open from Thursday, 05th June 2025, and closed on Friday, 08th August 2025 at midnight SAST.
- All sections of the abstract submission form should be filled in. In the initial application, the body of the abstract has a limited word count. Please adhere to this word count as it enables the selection committee to decide on the final programme.
Logistics
- Pan Africa ILGA will inform you if your abstract has been selected by Friday, 29 August 2025.
- Submission of an abstract does not mean automatic registration for the conference, and authors are required to register.
- Should you need financial assistance for the conference, please remember to indicate that you require a scholarship when you register.
- Accepted abstracts will be compiled and made available to all conference participants.
- If any changes need to be made once your Abstract is accepted, please notify the Planning Committee at: conference@panafricailga.org
HOW TO SUBMIT
Click here to start your proposal.