TRAININGS IN LOCAL SELF-GOVERNMENTS TO IMPROVE THE POSITION OF LGBT PERSONS

10. March 2021.

Belgrade – With the aim of improving the position of LGBT persons in the Republic of Serbia, the Protector of Citizens will hold 15 trainings for employees of local self-governments this year in order to facilitate the inclusion of members of this community in the activities undertaken in the areas where they live, said Jelena Stojanovic, the Deputy Protector of Citizens for Gender Equality.

The training project in local self-governments is organized in cooperation with the Association "Duga", and it envisages that local self-governmental units include LGBT persons in their action plans, prescribe the measures and activities for the improvement of their position and allocate appropriate budget funds for those activities", said Ms. Stojanovic at the second meeting of the Steering Board of the program “Horizontal Facility 2 for the Western Balkans and Turkey 2019-2022”.

During the online session "Promotion of Diversity and Equality in Serbia", Ms. Stojanovic stated that LGBT persons in Serbia still faced hate speech, threats and violence, and that the Protector of Citizens had been advocating for a systemic solution to the problems faced by LGBT persons for a long time.

“Three years ago, the Protector of Citizens sent a recommendation to all local self-governmental units to include the LGBT community in local action plans, and he repeats that recommendation every year”, said Ms. Stojanovic and added that in 2020, due to the conditions imposed by the COVID-19 virus pandemic, seven trainings were held, which were attended by 47 representatives from 16 local self-governmental units.

Ms. Stojanovic pointed out that the Protector of Citizens, as part of the project activities, expected in 2021 support for the development and presentation of a publication for children and youth on the rights of LGBT persons, which would indicate their rights, as well as for the purpose of acquainting children and youth with the competencies of the Protector of Citizens and the way to address him.

All activities are held as part of the project of the Council of Europe "Promotion of Diversity and Equality", with the financial support of the European Union.

“Trainings on raising awareness of the rights of LGBT persons in their local communities will not be the last commitment of the Protector of Citizens to protect the rights of minority and particularly vulnerable groups in the Republic of Serbia.", said Ms. Stojanovic and added that as part of the same project, the Protector of Citizens should, together with Ministry of Public Administration and Local Self-Government, conduct trainings for the Councils for Interethnic Relations during the year.

Source: Jugmedia and Coordination Body