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The current attention given to LGBT* issues by many policy-makers across the world constitutes a critical opportunity to further entrench LGBT rights as an integral part of the global human rights agenda. Connecting thought leaders and practitioners worldwide, the Salzburg Global LGBT Forum is uniquely placed to address both the global dimensions and local challenges and opportunities in this field.
In 2016 the Salzburg Global LGBT Forum convened in Thailand and, building on the Forum's global expertise and cooperation with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Being LGBTI in Asia Programme, brought together diverse stakeholders from around the world. Continuing its focus on inclusion, the 2016 Forum provided a platform for enhancing Asia's previously underrepresented role in existing global LGBT dialogues, and highlighted Asia's unique legal, religious, and cultural positions regarding LGBT individuals and their communities.
The 2016 Forum fostered strategic, focused discussions while examining progress on as well as challenges for LGBT rights in the region, identified concrete potential for further positive change in Asia, and shared best concrete potential for further positive change in Asia. Recognizing that the challenges confronting the LGBT and human rights movement are not only national or regional, the 2016 Forum in Thailand expanded understanding of how the region's successes and challenges relate to and influence issues at a global level. The lessons that different cultures and regions provide will be harnessed to advance LGBT human rights on the global stage.
Drawing on and expanding the unique network the Salzburg Global LGBT Forum has created since 2013, the 2016 Forum provided a safe space in which to discuss both the significant expertise and the life experiences of Forum members. It prepared individual participants intending to contribute to future global conferences (i.e. the 10 Year Anniversary Conference for Yogyakarta and the ILGA World Conference in Bangkok) by enhancing their opportunities to advocate for the full and equal rights of all gender and sexual minorities. In addition to its global focus, the 2016 Salzburg Global LGBT Forum gave special attention to the human rights of LGBT persons in Asia.
Building on the progress made since the establishment of the Salzburg Global LGBT Forum in 2013, the October 2016 Forum focused on inclusion to explore the following interconnected issues:
