After the presentation of the current situation for LGBT people in our society and the difficulties faced by this community, Rajmonda Sylbije, Executive Director of the Center for Equality and Freedom (CEL Kosova) opened the debate that was organized in Pejë (the first of its kind) by the organization mentioned above.
Ms. Sylbije stated: “LGBT people continue to live double lives, therefore one of the main components of our organizations is the empowerment of LGBT people, as well as raising awareness among the general Kosovar population for their acceptance as an equal component of society.
“Concerning the legal framework of Kosovo, Teuta Hoxha from the Youth Initiative for Human Rights in Kosovo (YIHR KS) said that analyzing this legal framework regarding equal rights for LGBTI people it is very clear that Kosovo has a Very advanced constitution; However, according to Hoxha “the biggest obstacle we face is the lack of discussion for LGBT people, because only small groups advocate and discuss for the community and it is not enough to have a greater impact”.
Emphasizing the important role of the People’s Advocate, Shqipe Malaj mentioned that the dysfunctional system is one of the biggest problems related to LGBTI rights, therefore, according to her “The People’s Advocate Office is constantly trying to provide the best possible conditions for complaining of any dissatisfaction that may arise ”, continuing with the fact that raising awareness among the general population is one of the most important aspects we need to focus on.
This event was held as part of the Engagement for Equity program, funded by the United States Agency for International Development – USAID, and implemented by the Advocacy Training Resource Center – ATRC.
