FairPlanet.Support
| tags: | #Bosnia, #LGBTQ Rights, #Pride Parade |
|---|---|
| located: | Bosnia and Herzegovina |
| by: | Yair Oded |
Despite some improvements in the overall visibility and treatment of LGBTQ people in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the atmosphere surrounding this community is still tense, and discrimination, exclusion, and abuse of queer people continue.
The mixed reactions to Bosnia’s first-ever pride march, which took place in September 2019, highlighted the complexity of the situation, with the LGBTQ community taking notable steps forward in cementing its place in Bosnian society, while having to deal with significant backlashes from conservative segments of the population as well as top politicians and religious leaders.
Sarajevski Otvoreni Centar (SOC) is a Sarajevo-based nonprofit organisation advocating for the full rights and inclusion of LGBTQ people in Bosnia and Herzegovina through extensive community building and activism efforts.
For several years, SOC has been collaborating with local and regional partners in order to lobby for LGBTQ rights on all levels of society and government, and provide assistance and support to queer people across Bosnia.
Among the organisation's most notable achievements are amendments to and adoptions of laws and anti-discrimination policies instituted on the local and national levels, as well as the integration of LGBTQ-specific health services to facilities across Bosnia, which were achieved through repeated contact by SOC team members with public officials and policy makers.
SOC compile extensive and detailed reports about the current state of the LGBTQ community in Bosnia, and the types of discrimination it faces. Such reports are regarded as the most accurate and comprehensive sources of information on the issue by both national and international institutions.
SOC also offer legal counseling in case of discrimination and/or violence on the grounds of sexual orientation and/or gender identity as well as peer-to-peer or psychological counselling for LGBTQ people.
Please visit their website to access their reports, learn about their mission, inquire about their services, or pledge a donation.
Image: Sarajevski Otvoreni Centar.
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