Minister Letsike Leads South African Delegation At 2024 Berlin Equal Rights Coalition Conference

Mmapaseka Steve Letsike, Deputy Minister in the Presidency responsible for Women, Youth, and Persons with Disabilities, is leading the South African delegation at the 2024 Berlin Equal Rights Coalition (ERC) Conference in Germany.

The Equal Rights Coalition promotes LGBTQI+ rights worldwide. This year's conference, held on Dec. 17-18, 2024, is themed "Countering the Push-back." Representatives from Member States and civil society are gathering to discuss the current state of LGBTQI+ rights and freedoms.

The ERC was established in 2016 at the Global LGBTI Human Rights Conference in Montevideo. It was created under the leadership of Uruguay and the Netherlands as an intergovernmental body made up of 44 Member States. The coalition is focused on protecting the human rights of LGBTI individuals and promoting inclusive development.

The conference will also focus on creating strategic partnerships to address the main challenges faced by people with diverse sexual orientations, gender identities, gender expressions and sex characteristics (SOGIESC) worldwide, SA News reported.

Over the two-day event, participants will attend plenary sessions led by key stakeholders involved in human rights protection at various levels. They will also take part in discussions within four thematic groups, covering important topics related to LGBTQI+ rights and the global state of LGBTQI+ rights.

"Lestsike will take part in the ministerial discussion on the role of legislators in advancing LGBTQI+ rights, focusing on African legislators from Sub-Saharan Africa to share insights and reflections on the LGBTQI+ landscape and the role of advocacy in contexts with punitive legislation," the department said.

In July, President Cyril Ramaphosa said the seventh administration will work on expanding basic services to those who still lack access and ensure these services are reliable and affordable, adding that South Africa is a leader in advancing the rights of the LGBTQI+ community.

The president noted that these efforts are crucial to the country's human rights culture but also acknowledged that there are still challenges to address.

Earlier this month, South African officials were in Berlin, where the country got a commitment from Germany over additional funding of EUR276.5 million (approximately R5.2 billion) from 2024 to 2026 alongside reaffirmation of cooperation in areas like economic development and climate change.