This report has been developed as part of the project “Being LGBTI in Eastern Europe: Reducing In­equalities & Exclusion, and Combating Homophobia & Transphobia Experienced by LGBTI people in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, and Serbia” (BLEE). The project considered LGBTI issues in each of the countries from a human rights and development perspective, contextualizing these against the backdrop of civil society capacity development, com­munity mobilization and government competence.

Third and amended edition of the good practice guidelines for medical workers is a part of the project “Adequate and accessible health care for all”.

Širom Zapadnog Balkana, lezbejske, gej, biseksualne, transseksualne i interseks (LGBTI) osobe bore se za svoja prava da vode normalan život. Dok još uvek postoje zakoni i mere koje kriminalizuju i diskriminišu, nasilje i govor mržnje zasnovan na seksualnoj orijentaciji i rodnom identitetu, potrebno je još mnogo toga učiniti kako bi se postiglo puno razumevanje i jednakost.

Ovaj izvještaj je dio regionalnog projekta “Biti LGBTI osoba u Istočnoj Evropi” koji implementira UNDP a podržava USAID. Projekak se provodi u partnerstvu sa organizacijama civilnog društva i u saradnji sa organizacijom LGBTI Equal Rights Association (ERA). U Bosni i Hercegovini izvještaj je nastao u saradnji sa partnerskim organizacijama Sarajevski otvoreni centar i Action Against Aids iz Banja Luke.

This factsheet summarizes main findings of the country reports covering Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia and Serbia. 

Across the Western Balkans, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transsexual and Intersex (LGBTI) people are fighting for their rights to lead a normal life. While there have been laws and measures passed to criminalize discrimination, violent acts and hate speech based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI), there is much more that needs to be done in order to achieve full recognition and equality.

Serbia

Serbia has adopted a wide anti-discriminatory legal framework. However, there are legal gaps that leave the rights of LGBTI people unregulated, including the rights of same-sex partners and access to documents for trans people.

Bosnia & Herzegovina

LGBTI activism over the past few years has resulted in significant improvements in the institutional, legal and public policy framework for the protection of human rights of LGBTI people. Nevertheless, LGBTI people and their lives remain on the margins of the political, institutional and social mainstream.

This Albania Country Report provides an overview of the rights of LGBTI people in Albania. It presents a participatory review and analysis of the impacts of the legal, institutional, policy, social, cultural and economic environment on LGBTI people. The report provides evidence relating to Albania's experience in promoting and protecting the rights of LGBTI people in education, employment, health, the family, media and politics. It forms part of a sub-regional project, “Being LGBTI in Eastern Europe” (BLEE).

This report provides a detailed overview of the socio-political contexts and attitudes towards the LGBTI population in former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. It evidences the current legal and on-the-ground status of the rights of LGBTI people, and the areas where action still needs to be taken to reduce discrimination and ensure better levels of protection.

This brief provides three case studies of the transition to domestic financing of HIV response in South Eastern Europe after the withdrawal of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. These case studies—of Macedonia, Montenegro, and Serbia—are intended as a resource for funders, advocates, and policymakers interested in supporting civil society-led efforts and partnerships with government to ensure the sustainability of services during and after transition.