Keynote Julia Ehrt (english)
Einladung Deutsch
Keynote Julia Ehrt (deutsch)
When: 30.October 2025, 4:00–7:00 pm
Where: Berlin Global Village in Miriam Makeba Hall – Am Sudhaus 2, 12053 Berlin
An event organised by Engagement Global in cooperation with the Heinrich Böll Foundation and the Hirschfeld-Eddy Foundation as part of the Development Education in Germany (EBD) programme.
Warm invitation to the international conference ‘Protecting queer human rights against global backlash – What is the responsibility of German development cooperation?’
In many countries, LGBTIQ+ people are facing an alarming increase in discrimination, exclusion, and violence. Their human rights are under threat– whether through restrictive laws, political agitation, or stigmatization.
German development cooperation has a responsibility to promote and respect the human rights of queer people globally– for example, through targeted support for local human rights initiatives, political advocacy, or the inclusion of LGBTIQ+ people into development programs.
This international conference takes a critical look at the current global backlash and its consequences for queer movements worldwide. International speakers will present good practice, examples and lessons learned from project work in Ghana and the Balkans. The panel will discuss current challenges for the human rights of LGBTIQ+ people in a global context, and provide recommendations for German development cooperation.
An event organized by Engagement Global in cooperation with the Heinrich Böll
Foundation and the Hirschfeld-Eddy Foundation, taking place as part of the Program Development related Education in Germany (EBD).
The event will be held in English and German with simultaneous interpretation.
Registration is requested: Online registration — Engagement Global
Further information about the event: Event detail — Engagement Global
Please direct any questions or inquiries to:
Claudia Trippe
Claudia.Trippe@engagement-global.de
Telephone: 030 ‑254821211
Berlin branch office of Engagement Global
Schedule
| Time | Agenda |
| 16 Uhr | Opening and welcome |
| 16:10 Uhr | Keynote by Dr. Julia Ehrt (Executive Director ILGA World — International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association World) |
| 16:30 Uhr | Workshops (parallel) |
| 1. The Pink Factor: Geopolitics from a queer perspective with Sarah Kohrt (Hirschfeld-Eddy Foundation) in conversation with Gloria (Activist from Ghana) | |
| 2. Regional empowerment work for the trans*community in the Western Balkans: With Aleksa Milanović (TransNetworkBalkans) The transfeminist Playbook | |
| 3. Queer human rights work despite shrinking funds: How can human rights work for LGBTIQ* people be financed in a sustainable and stable manner? With Daniyar Orseko (TGEU — Trans Europe and Central Asia) | |
| 17:30 Uhr | Pause |
| 17:45 Uhr | Panel: Now more than ever! – Empowering queer actors worldwide as part of resilient democracies Lana Damm (Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development) Klaus Jetz (Executive Director, LSVD+, Hirschfeld-Eddy Foundation) Aleksa Milanović (Trans Network Balkans) Farina Hoffmann (Bread for the World) |
| 18:45 Uhr | Conclusion and outlook |
| 19 Uhr | Informal closing with snacks and drinks |
Moderation: Margaux Richet
A publication by the Hirschfeld-Eddy Foundation in cooperation with Engagement Global and Heinrich Boell as part of the project “The Pink Factor”
