More than 60 Jewish activists from around the world have gathered in Austria to launch an international forum aiming to further the rights of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) communities.

The participants met in Salzburg on Tuesday to attend the inaugural Eighteen:22 forum, which was founded by Schusterman Connection Points, an American initiative that enables the gathering of young Jewish leaders to discuss social issues.

Its name refers to Leviticus 18:22, a biblical verse which says it is "detestable" for men to have sexual relations with one another.

"Our convening arrives at a remarkable moment in history," said the think-tank's founder, Robert Saferstein. "LGBTQ human rights inhabit the zeitgeist in a way that has helped catalyse the passage of laws and rights thought impossible only a few years ago.

"Yet we know all too well that increased global attention does not necessarily guarantee progress. It sometimes leads to the exact opposite - and intolerance, discrimination, and violence continue to be promoted and accepted in far too many places."

The group paid tribute to Shira Benki, the 16-year-old who was stabbed at the Jerusalem Gay Pride parade earlier this month and later died from her injuries.