July 17, 2026. On the occasion of the anniversary of the Equal Rights Coalition (ERC), a meeting was held in Montevideo, Uruguay, to commemorate its ten years of work. The objective of the event was to critically assess the path traveled since the Coalition’s founding in 2016 and to project the mechanism’s future challenges, bringing together representatives from States and civil society who have led this space to reflect on past experiences and build a common agenda for sustainability.
The event took place at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Auditorium, featuring an official protocol opening by the Government of the Oriental Republic of Uruguay, with interventions by the Ambassadors of Colombia and Spain.
Panel Discussions
During the day, two dialogue panels were held:
- Panel 1: “A Look Back at the Starting Point”
- Objective: To recall and analyze the guiding principles that gave rise to the Coalition in 2016, from a critical perspective that values its significance, its results, and the journey undertaken.
- Opening Remarks: Ambassador Mauritz Verheijden, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Uruguay.
- Panelists: Ambassador Laura Dupuy (Government of Uruguay); Ambassador Kees van Baar (former Human Rights Ambassador of the Netherlands); and José Ramallo (former representative of Ovejas Negras and Civil Society Co-Chair in 2016).
- Moderator: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Oriental Republic of Uruguay.
- Panel 2: “The Future of the LGBTIQ+ Rights Coalition”
- Objective: To identify and analyze the main challenges and opportunities currently facing the Coalition in the global context.
- Opening Remarks: Andrea Rivas, civil society representative from Argentina (AFDA).
- Panelists: Collette Spinetti (Secretary of Human Rights of Uruguay); Ambassador Pedro Agustín Roa (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Colombia); Mr. Jorge Noval (Special Envoy for LGBTIQ+ Rights of Spain); and Wilson Castañeda Castro (Director of Caribe Afirmativo, Colombia) representing civil society.
- Moderator: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Oriental Republic of Uruguay.
Context and Significance
Spaces like this are increasingly necessary in light of the current political landscape, which is marked by the rise of far-right rhetoric and governments in various countries around the world that have jeopardized historically won rights for LGBTIQ+ individuals. In this context, sustaining and strengthening cooperation mechanisms such as the Coalition for LGBTIQ+ Rights is a concrete way to resist setbacks, protect the progress achieved, and reaffirm the commitment of both States and civil society to fully guaranteeing these rights.