by Rex Wockner
Some 230 activists from 40 nations took part in the 12th annual conference of the European Region of the International Lesbian and Gay Association Oct. 30 to Nov. 2 in Vienna.
Attendees included the Council of Europe's human rights commissioner, Thomas Hammarberg; the director of the European Union's Fundamental Rights Agency, Morten Kjaerum; and Belinda Pyke, director of the European Commission's Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities.
Austrian President Heinz Fischer served as an honorary patron of the gathering, and Austrian Minister of Justice Maria Berger attended the opening session. Vienna Mayor Michael Haeupl hosted a reception for delegates at City Hall.
ILGA-Europe's 2009 conference will be in Malta and the 2010 meeting will be in The Hague, Netherlands.
