Celebrating 10 years of the Yogyakarta Principles: What have we learnt and where to now? The future for sexuality and sexual freedom was questioned by speakers in view of the struggles and continued resistance ahead. While there is a cultural transformation on the way – despite huge barriers, we are going through a revival of a geopolitical gender and sexuality orders. Although the concepts and notions of gender and sexuality have been very stable, these structures have been destabilised in recent times and there may be a reaction to this. With the changes in society and organisations and the ongoing revolutions in communication, there have been increasing efforts to reorder the world to maintain a status quo. With more and more information made easily available, there is room for change, both in positive and negative ways. Often, the forces of opposition are very strong, with significant resources and energy; therefore, countering this emergent threat will be a big battle which would require a new way of thinking and detailed maps to navigate. A strong and well-informed critique of human rights can be essential in reviving its spirit. There is the need to question: what is the imagination of resistance? And how does it link to the work of human rights advocates, and how do you expand your imagination? There is also the need to constantly understand and recognise the limitations of the Principles, and to continue recreating their norms and practices. We need to recognise that law is not exactly justice – rights is not justice – it is a long term horizon. Therefore, we must also give due consideration to the limits of justice, in the application of both theory and practice – within the context of broader human rights in general and the human rights of LGBTI people in specific. To conclude the Conference, Luc Stevens, UN Resident Coordinator & UNDP Resident Representative, touched upon the importance of concerted effort by activists, advocates and allies in bringing the cause of sexual orientation, gender identity and sex characteristics to the forefront of the international agenda. A future is envisaged in which everyone, regardless of who they are and who they love will be able to live without fear and fear of death from acts of violence. Although there has been serious progress over the years, violence based on sexual orientation and gender identity and sex characteristics still remains a major concern. In the face of such hostility, we have to continue sending the message that LGBTI rights are human rights too. With many challenges of hatred and bigotry still remaining, we must make the optimum use of the narrow space there is some countries to advance rights. International organisations must listen to the grassroots and ensure that they receive adequate support to sustain the momentum of LGBTI rights advocacy. The UN will be facilitators and conveners of this effort but not directors, while the grassroots activists will be the ones to lead the campaign. The UN agencies can also work to make the States own up the Yogyakarta Principles and address challenges on the ground. As discussed during the conference sessions, focus must be given to transform intellectual resources to community’s emotional power, which could bring in lasting change and progress. The Yogyakarta Principles summarise and reflects upon the status of human rights norms at the time of the adoption, but there is the need for the Principles to be updated to be more inclusive and effective. With tremendous passion and commitment, we must be able to face the struggle with more energy and enthusiasm, taking inspiration from the giants on whose shoulders we stand today. In the days ahead, there should be more focus on capacity building and training in SOGIESC as core work for UNDP and APF, along with fresh efforts to localise the Yogyakarta Principles into, not only the local vernacular, but also to the local context with the aim of creating a stronger sense of local ownership. Developing additional guidelines to mainstream LGBTI in the work of human rights advocates and sustaining support of partners and donors would be given high priority. The work and position of the Independent Expert on SOGIESC must be supported and defended to ensure that the human rights issues surrounding sexual orientation and gender identity and sex characteristics remain part of the international agenda. 44