From July 28 to August 1 the Cross-regional Strategy Forum for LGBT leaders in Sub-Saharan Africa, Eastern Europe and Central Asia took place at the Robert F. Kennedy Training Institute for Justice and Human Rights in Florence, Italy. The event was attended by Vladimir Simonko, representative of the national LGBT rights organization LGL.

The forum discussions focused on the best practices implemented by LGBT leaders in different countries, examining tactics and strategies that could be used across countries and regions facing similar dynamics of oppression. Over the course of five days global LGBT rights experts discussed the lessons learned in facing homophobia, a shrinking space for advocacy in countries where anti-homosexuality laws are being proposed or already in force, an opposition that labels itself as “child protection” or “traditional values”, and the difficulties in building coalitions in their own countries and coordinating advocacy with the international community.

The organizers of the event had the goal of strengthening mutual support between activists facing similar issues in different regions of the world, and to reinforce the commitment to protect LGBT rights and to initiate a constructive dialogue with the authorities. The Robert F. Kennedy Center gave to all participants the opportunity to exchange their strategies and tools with other activists, and therefore be better equipped to effectively tackle issues related to the protection and advancement of LGBT rights in their countries.