WELCOME TO ANTWERP
WELKOM IN ANTWERPEN - BIENVENUE À ANVERS
LIESBETH HOMANS
SCHEPEN VOOR DIVERSITEIT & GELIJKE KANSEN ÉCHEVIN DE LA DIVERSITÉ & L’EGALITÉ DES CHANCES STADTRAT FÜR VIELFALT UND CHANCENGLEICHHEIT ALDERMAN FOR DIVERSITY & EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES
As Chairperson of the Committee for Equal Opportunity, I am very proud to welcome you all to Antwerp! The choice of Antwerp as the location for the Human Rights Conference and WorldOutgames 2013 is not a coincidence at all. Antwerp is a world city with a rich history and many traditions. Our dynamic and colourful community, the rich culinary and cultural offerings, the many businesses and the lively nightlife all make our city very unique. The City Council makes it clear to everyone that diversity and equal opportunity are of paramount importance to us. Antwerp aims for a society where background, faith, sexual orientation or disabilities form no barriers to one’s opportunities. During recent years, the functioning and various projects of the Pink House and the annual Antwerp Pride show that the LGBT community of Antwerp is visible and very active. We want to keep it that way and will continue to support it. As the location for WorldOutgames 2013, Antwerp is assured an even greater place on the map as 2013 European Sports Capital. The Antwerp Declaration during the Human Rights Conference proves that there is much more to the event than just sports and culture. Through this Declaration, our city acts as an example for the rest of the world. And last but not least, have a great time and enjoy the Antwerp summer to the fullest!