Honorable Speaker of the Assembly Mr. Glauk Konjufca, Through this letter we would like to express our deep concern regarding the behavior and discriminatory statements of Mrs. Duda Balje, the chairperson of the Commission for Human Rights, Gender Equality, for Missing Persons, Victims of Sexual Violence of War and Petitions, as well as the member of the Commission, Mrs. Labinote Demi Murtezi. On 07.02.2024, during the meeting of this commission with civil society called by Duda Balje on the topic “The current situation in the protection and promotion of human rights in Kosovo” we faced another demonstration of homophobia and discrimination against the LGBTIQ+ community from a public official, at the same time a representative of the people of Kosovo.
Our requests are simple and clear: HOMOPHOBES HAVE NO PLACE IN PARLIAMENT! We cannot accept that an individual with such an important position, such as the chairperson of the Human Rights Commission, abuses the position and displays homophobic attitudes in the Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo. Duda Balje, in her public statements, has remained steadfast in her discriminatory attitude towards LGBTIQ+ persons. Using the argument of “personal opinion,” she has ignored the fact that public functions, especially those in the field of human rights, must take care of the protection and respect of the rights of every individual, regardless of sexual orientation or any other affiliation.
The slanderous and discriminatory statements continued even from the MP Labinotte Demi Murtezi, present at this meeting, who publicly declared that “LGBTIQ+ PERSONS TRANSMIT DISEASES”, a statement we heard from her before in the parliamentary session of March 16, 2022. Duda Balje and Labinotte Demi Murtezi cannot represent the objectivity and independence of a commission that has the task of protecting human rights for all citizens of Kosovo without distinction. Homophobia and discrimination have no place in a democratic and inclusive society.
On this occasion, we demand the immediate dismissal of Duda Balje from the position of the chairperson of the Commission for Human Rights. We cannot allow a person with discriminatory attitudes to lead such an important institution for the protection of basic human rights in Kosovo. At the same time, we demand the dismissal of Labinotte Demi Murtezi from this commission for her slanderous and hateful language towards LGBTIQ+ persons.
We demand that the Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo react immediately and take measures to guarantee that public positions are held by persons who respect and promote human rights without distinction for all as defined by the Constitution of Kosovo. –
Youth Initiative for Human Rights – Kosovo (YIHR KS) Center for Equality and Liberty (CEL Kosovo) Center of Social Groups Development (CSGD) Kosovo Center for Gender Studies (QKSGJ) Civil Rights Defenders (CRD) Institute of Kosovo for Justice (IKD) YMCA Termokiss Kosovo Humanitarian Law Fund (HLC) Dylberizm DokuFest Center for Information, Criticism and Action (QIKA) Association of Kosovo Journalists (AGK) Integra Kosovar Center for Rehabilitation of Torture Survivors (KRCT) Movement FOL Community Building Mitrovica (CBM) Initiative for Progress (INPO) Cehu Kosovar Foundation for Civil Society (KCSF) Hjyneshat Kosovo Institute for Democracy (KDI) Prishtina Institute for Political Studies (PIPS) Community Development Fund (CDF) Advocacy Training & Resource Center (ATRC) Kosova – Women 4 Women Kosovar Youth Council (KYC) Sekhmet Institute Kosovo Women’s Network (RgK) Foundation Seventeen (17) Institute for Social Policy “Musina Kokalari” Kosovar Institute for Policy Research and Development (KIPRED) Democracy for Development (D4D) Organization for Quality Improvement in Education (ORCA) Center for Information and Social Improvement (QIPS) NGO Pishtarani Advocacy Center for Democratic Culture (ACDC) Kosovo Center for Security Studies (QKSS) Bubble Foundation Kosovo Democracy Plus (D+) Rome Versitas Kosovo (RV Kosovo) Multimedia Center TruAktiv Anibar NGO Aktiv New Social Initiative (NSI) Center for Legal Aid and Regional Development Kosovo (CLARD) Astronomy Club Kosova Sbunker ETEA HANDIKOS
