Prishtina, 17 May 2022 – On the occasion of marking the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia, the Ombudsperson notes the discrimination faced by members of the LGBTI community, as a result of prejudice, stigma and violence against them.

On this day, the Ombudsperson draws the attention of the government and other public authorities to their obligation to protect vulnerable groups against discrimination and to take legal measures to recognize all rights guaranteed by the constitution.

The Ombudsperson has followed with concern the language used in the Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo during the debate on same-sex marriage where hate speech and stigmatization of LGBTI persons have been used. This is in contrary to the fundamental values ​​of a democratic society, which serve to protect human dignity, freedom and equality, and that these values ​​are the basis for the functioning of the rule of law.

The Ombudsperson emphasizes that all citizens of the country are equal and that the state has a duty to protect their rights guaranteed by the Constitution of Kosovo and the Law on Protection from Discrimination.