THE 4th ANNUAL AFRICA CANADA INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION ON HUMAN RIGHTS PROMOTION 2026.

Human rights are a set of principles concerned with equality and fairness. They recognise our freedom to make choices about our lives and to develop our potential as human beings. They are about living a life free from fear, harassment or discrimination.

The African Centre for Refugees in Ontario Canada is yet again organizing the 4th Africa Canada International Convention on Human Rights Promotions 2026. The Convention is slated to take place from September 25th to 26th 2026, at 80 Cooperage St, Toronto, ON M5A 0J3

The convention Will bring together LGBTIQ activists, allies, young leaders and stake holders from Africa and those in Canada to formulate a way forward on advancing the rights of LGBTIQ people on the African continent learning practically from Canada’s success story, pulling synergies amongst the members of the LGBTIQ movement with potential partners while creating awareness on an international platform about the risks faced by LGBTIQ people across the African continent.

The convention shall also act as an international platform where LGBTIQ people from Africa and those in Canada meet to discuss the challenges they face in terms of discrimination, limited access to health and legal services, hate and violence committed against them on the African soil. The convention shall be attended by LGBTIQ activists, LGBTIQ young leaders, allies, scholars, notable Human Rights Activists and Defenders, legal and health practioners from Africa and Africans living in Canada.

The convention shall feature topics to do with the rights of the LGBTIQ people in Africa, the challenges faced and how to address them, the available avenues Africans can exploit to get to the level of Canada in regards to safeguarding the Rights of these people and the available opportunities in regards to funding, academic, health and social-economic partnerships and developments for activists, civil society organizations and for both legal and health practitioners in regards to LGBTIQ people in Canada and Africa.

Why?

At a time where we see more and more countries worldwide becoming progressive with regard to LGBT rights, Africa still maintains their anti-LGBT stance. Many African publics (averagely about 95%) are resistant to the notion that one can naturally be a homosexual and many supports the existing anti homosexuality laws. Anti LGBT laws were not only written into African constitutions, but also into the minds of many African people, and after the passing of several generations, this has become a dogma.

On the other hand, Canada is considered the most gay-friendly country in the world, being ranked first in the Gay Travel Index chart since 2018, and among the five safest in Forbes Magazine since 2019. LGBT rights in Canada are some of the most advanced in the Americas and in the world.

Main Objective

The major and main objective of the convention is to rally the rest of the world to stand with LGBTIQ people and as well bring together LGBTIQ people from Africa and those in Canada to formulate a way forward on advancing the rights of LGBTIQ people on the African continent learning practically from Canada’s success story, pulling synergies amongst the members of the LGBTIQ movement with potential partners while creating awareness on an international platform about the risks faced by LGBTIQ people across the African continent.

Other Objectives

  • To build an action plan detailing the strategy and means of advancing the rights of LGBT people that will be adopted at the end of the convention.
  • To rebuild a better future for African and Refugees LGBTIQ+ community in Canada by linking them to different innovative programs, philanthropists, partners and mentors through the convention.
  • To mobilize through the convention African LGBTIQ+ fellows and Refugees to create a coordinated and visible African and Refugee LGBTIQ+ movement in Canada and Africa.