The Netherlands' Prime Minister Rob Jetten has opened the World Pride Human Rights Conference in Amsterdam, using his keynote speech to warn of growing threats to LGBTQ+ rights around the world and announce new measures to tackle online hate.
Jetten, who became the country's first openly gay prime minister in February, began his remarks on Wednesday by acknowledging the recent terrorist attack at Berlin's Christopher Street Day celebrations, which left one person dead and more than two dozen others injured.
The Dutch leader said the attack had filled him with "anger and sorrow" before turning his attention to what he described as a wider erosion of LGBTQ+ rights internationally.
His speech was briefly interrupted by activists protesting against the Dutch government's position on Palestine. Jetten remained silent while the demonstration took place and waited for the protesters to finish before security staff escorted them from the conference hall.
Speaking to delegates, Jetten reflected on the Netherlands' role in advancing LGBTQ+ equality, noting that it is 25 years since the country became the first in the world to legalise same-sex marriage. He also highlighted the 30th anniversary of Amsterdam Pride's Canal Parade.
"More and more in recent years, we've seen hard won progress being eroded," Jetten said.
"We've seen countries backsliding in equal rights legislation. We've seen homophobic hate speech becoming more overt and aggressive, and not only out in the real world, but online as well."
The prime minister described online hatred as one of the biggest challenges facing LGBTQ+ communities, warning that misinformation and disinformation can spread rapidly through social media and digital platforms.
"All around the world, misinformation and disinformation can be spread in the blink of an eye with a single mouse click," he said. "This is always how hatred takes hold."
Jetten announced that his government will launch a national dialogue on online discrimination later this year and provide guidance to help municipalities and civil society organisations respond to online hate speech.
"We've seen homophobic hate speech becoming more overt and aggressive, and not only out in the real world, but online as well."
He also pledged annual funding of €7.5 million over the next three years to improve safety for LGBTQ+ people in Dutch cities. The investment will support organisations working to tackle discrimination in public spaces and workplaces, alongside a public information campaign aimed at countering discrimination and disinformation.
In addition, the government plans to promote a campaign in schools encouraging pupils and teachers to wear purple as a visible sign of support for LGBTQ+ people.
The prime minister also used his speech to challenge claims made by some political and religious groups that LGBTQ+ rights are a Western concept being imposed on other countries.
Referring to developments in countries including Uganda and Senegal, Jetten criticised what he described as conservative forces that portray LGBTQ+ equality as a form of neo-colonialism.
"Equal rights are not a Western agenda," he said. "They are first and foremost a human agenda."
He argued that many societies have long histories of gender and sexual diversity, while some of the laws currently used to restrict LGBTQ+ rights were originally introduced during periods of colonial rule.
Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema and Nayyab Ali, co-chair of Pakistan's Ending Violence Against Women and Girls Alliance, were among the other speakers on the opening day of the conference.
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