The Ruby Sachs Symposium on Global 2SLGBTQI+ Legal Advocacy will be a thought‐provoking gathering bringing together some of the leading thinkers and doers in the worlds of legal advocacy affecting queer and trans people worldwide. The symposium is being hosted by the Canadian Museum for Human Rights, in partnership with the LGBT Purge Fund and with the generous support of the Manitoba Law Foundation, the Canadian Journal of Human Rights, and the Robson Hall Faculty of Law at the University of Manitoba.

Over the course of three days, you will have the opportunity to hear from global experts sharing their experiences, strategies and approaches on everything from the interactions of law, culture and civil society to strategic litigation. The symposium is open to practicing lawyers, legal scholars, law students and human rights advocates worldwide.

Attendance at this symposium may provide up to twelve (12) hours of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) credits for lawyers. Please check with your respective Law Society to ensure the symposium meets local requirements.

Join us to engage with global experts advancing 2SLGBTQI+ legal advocacy.

On Sunday October 5, 2025, to kick off the symposium, a keynote address will be presented by Canadian Ambassador to the United Nations, Bob Rae.

On Monday October 6 and Tuesday October 7, 2025, the symposium will continue with an intimate group of individuals where panel discussions will be focused around the following themes:

• Panel 1: The Double‐edged Sword of the Law

  • Clare Brown, Legal and Policy Advisor, International PRIDE Centre
  • Samuel Singer, Associate Professor, Faculty of Law, University of Ottawa
  • Scott DeGroot, PhD, Curator, Canadian Museum for Human Rights

• Panel 2: “Queering” the Law: Cutting‐edge Strategies for 2SLGBTQI+ Legal Advocacy and Strategic Litigation

  • Adam Goldenberg, Partner, McCarthy Tétrault LLP, and Bennet Jensen, Director of Legal, Egale Canada
  • Andrea Odiek Muraguri, Gender and GBV Associate, HIAS
  • Elsie Tellier, Lawyer, ARCH Disability Law Centre
  • Michelle Douglas, Executive Director, LGBT Purge Fund

• Panel 3: Re)claiming Moral Ground: Cultural, Moral and Legal Avenues Towards 2SLGBTQI+ Acceptance and Rights Protection and Promotion

  • Muyenga Mugerwa‐Sekawabe, Attorney, Legal Resources Centre, and Program Coordinator for the International Network of Civil Liberty Organizations, South Africa
  • Aaden Pearson, Lawyer and Trans Rights Legal Fellow, Canadian Civil Liberties Association
  • Daryl Philip, President, Minority Rights Dominica

• Panel 4: Rethinking National Security and the Law

  • Sulaimon Giwa, Associate Professor, School of Social Work, and Department of Sociology, Police Studies, Memorial University
  • Luke Schleusener, CEO of Out in National Security
  • Artur Wilczynski, Senior Fellow, Graduate School of Public and International Affairs, University of Ottawa

Travel and accommodation are not covered by the conference and are to be arranged by the individual attendee.

If you are a Purge survivor, you may be eligible for flight discounts. For additional information please reach out to: radion@eventcamp.ca.

We have secured a guest room block at the Fort Garry Hotel from October 4 – October 7, 2025 at a guest room rate of $229 per night. Rooms are available on a first come first serve basis.

Secure your room at the Fort Garry by September 4, 2025.

For general questions, please reach out to: events@humanrights.ca