Activists and representatives from institutions and civil society across the Western Balkans and Eastern Partnership regions gathered in Sarajevo on 5-7 November 2024 to explore solutions for addressing discrimination and abuse faced by the LGBTI persons in these regions, and specifically how to create safer environments and spaces for the LGBTI community.

The regional conference “Spaces and services to protect LGBTI communities” was organised with the support of the European Union and the Council of Europe, aimed to foster further collaboration and progress in the regions and build on the results of previous events held in Priština and Podgorica.

Discussions focused on identifying movements that are actively working against the recognition, protection, and advancement of human rights across these regions and the rest of Europe. This involves recognizing the anti-rights movements and actors, relevant patterns and early-warning signs, as well as exploring promising strategies for countering them safely.

Representatives of civil society organisations and institutions discussed critical issues such as family violence faced by LGBTI individuals, as well as the existing social and psychological support services, including safe spaces and shelters. While there exist promising efforts in this respect, there are still persistent challenges especially when it comes to securing sustainable funding and political support.

LGBTI persons in the Western Balkans and Eastern Partnership regions face significant discrimination and abuse, including violence, due to their sexual orientation, gender identity and sex characteristics. The latest Council of Europe Anti-Racism Commission (ECRI) General Policy Recommendation No. 17 outlines recommendations for Council of Europe member states to ensure that LGBTI people are safe, equally protected under the law and able to enjoy rights and freedoms to the same extent as all other members of society.

The European Union and the Council of Europe support human rights institutions and civil society organisations in promoting the rights of LGBTI persons in the Western Balkans and the Eastern Partnership regions. By fostering multi-stakeholder dialogue, these organisations contribute to social change and improvements at both the domestic and regional levels.

This event is organised within the European Union and Council of Europe Joint Programmes “Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Türkiye” and “Partnership for Good Governance”, in co-operation with the Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression, and Sex Characteristics (SOGIESC) Unit of the Council of Europe. It is also supported by the Council of Europe actions “Enhancing Equality and Non-Discrimination in Georgia” and the joint action of the European Union and the Council of Europe “Support for implementing European standards relating to anti-discrimination and rights of national minorities in Ukraine”.