lightyellow-ant-216200.hostingersite.com

Geographic Area: Montenegro

  • Open Call for LGBTQIA+ Activists: Anti-Burnout Retreat in Montenegro

    Open Call for LGBTQIA+ Activists: Anti-Burnout Retreat in Montenegro

    Application deadline: 11 August 2026 at 23:59 CET

    ERA – LGBTI Equal Rights Association invites LGBTQIA+ activists and civil society organisation members from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia to apply for an Anti-Burnout Retreat, taking place in Montenegro from 27 to 30 September 2026.

    Working for LGBTQIA+ rights in challenging and often hostile environments can carry a significant emotional and personal burden. The Anti-Burnout Retreat is designed to offer activists a supportive and confidential space to pause, rest, reconnect and strengthen their personal wellbeing.

    About the retreat

    The retreat will take place in a peaceful seaside setting in Montenegro, in a hotel situated between the mountains and the sea. The location offers privacy, comfort and opportunities to spend time in nature, with access to a swimming pool, sun terrace, garden and nearby beaches.

    Participants will be able to take part in facilitated group sessions, relaxation activities and opportunities for individual support. Participation in group activities will be optional, allowing everyone to engage according to their own needs, energy and comfort. There will also be dedicated time for rest.

    The retreat is intended not as another working event, but as an opportunity to temporarily step away from daily responsibilities and focus on personal wellbeing.

    Key information

    Dates: 27–30 September 2026
    Location: Montenegro
    Application deadline: 11 August 2026 at 23:59 CET

    Eligible applicants must be based in one of the following countries:

    • Bosnia and Herzegovina
    • Montenegro
    • North Macedonia
    • Serbia

    The number of available places is limited. All applicants will be informed of the selection results by the end of August 2026.

    Confidentiality and wellbeing information

    The information provided in the wellbeing section of the application questionnaire will be reviewed only by the selection committee and, where necessary, by the retreat facilitators. It will be used exclusively for participant selection and to ensure that appropriate support can be provided during the retreat.

    All such information will be treated confidentially and will not be shared beyond the organisers without the applicant’s consent.

    Completing the application

    Applicants are encouraged to complete the questionnaire as thoroughly as possible and to answer in their own words, drawing on their personal experiences, needs and perspectives.

    We are interested in hearing each applicant’s authentic voice. Please avoid submitting generic or AI-generated responses.

    Complete the application questionnaire by 11 August 2026 at 23:59 CET.

    The present call for application is launched by ERA within the framework of the FIER·ES programme (Fostering the Inclusion, Equality and Resilience of LGBTQIA+ people). FIER·ES aims to support LGBTQIA+ CSOs and initiatives so that they are better able to carry out their mandate and mission and promote respect, inclusion, dignity and equality for LGBTQIA+ people in the Eastern Partnership countries and the Western Balkans. It is coordinated by ERIM and implemented together with ERA and Genderdoc – M (Moldova). The programme is co-funded by Agence française de développement.

  • Open Call for Proposals: Grants for LGBTIQ+ Advocacy and Awareness-Raising Campaigns and Initiatives

    Open Call for Proposals: Grants for LGBTIQ+ Advocacy and Awareness-Raising Campaigns and Initiatives

    ERA invites civil society organisations, collectives and networks in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia to apply for grants of up to €9,000 and optional mentoring support. Applications are open until 25 August 2026.

    ERA – LGBTI Equal Rights Association for the Western Balkans and Türkiye is launching a Call for Proposals to support advocacy and awareness-raising initiatives that advance the rights, visibility and inclusion of LGBTIQ+ people.

    The call is intended to support locally rooted initiatives that respond to identified needs and challenges, strengthen public awareness, encourage informed dialogue, influence policies and practices, combat discrimination and create opportunities for meaningful change.

    What can be supported?

    Proposed initiatives may include:

    • advocacy and strategic communication campaigns;
    • media and digital awareness-raising campaigns;
    • policy papers, advocacy briefs and recommendations;
    • research directly linked to advocacy objectives;
    • public debates, roundtables and community discussions;
    • public education and outreach initiatives;
    • cultural events, exhibitions and creative advocacy;
    • film screenings and festivals;
    • human rights fairs and community events;
    • Pride marches and other public events promoting LGBTIQ+ rights and visibility; and
    • other innovative advocacy or awareness-raising initiatives aligned with the objectives of the call.

    All proposed actions must be non-profit and rights-based and must respect the principles of equality, non-discrimination, participation and human rights.

    Who can apply?

    The call is open to civil society organisations, collectives and networks based in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia or Serbia that:

    • work with or for LGBTIQ+ communities;
    • have a mission and activities consistent with democratic principles, human rights and non-discrimination;
    • have been active for at least two years in fields relevant to LGBTIQ+ rights, human rights or related areas; and
    • demonstrate the experience and capacity needed to implement the proposed initiative.

    Each applicant may submit only one application.

    Political parties and party-affiliated organisations, for-profit entities, religious organisations and public institutions are not eligible to apply.

    Funding and implementation

    Selected applicants may receive a grant of up to €9,000.

    Projects are expected to begin in October 2026 and may be implemented over a period of up to 10 months. Proposed budgets must be reasonable, proportionate and clearly linked to the planned activities.

    Optional mentoring support

    Applicants may also request tailored mentoring to support the development or implementation of their initiative.

    Depending on the applicant’s needs, mentoring may cover project design, advocacy strategies, activity planning, monitoring, visibility or other implementation-related areas.

    Mentoring is optional and will not affect the evaluation of the application. It will be paid for directly by ERA and will not reduce the grant amount awarded to the selected organisation.

    How to apply

    The application package must include:

    • a completed Application Form; and
    • a completed Budget Form.

    Applications may be submitted in English, Bosnian, Serbian, Montenegrin or Macedonian. Applications completed in a language other than English must be accompanied by an online English translation prepared using Google Translate or DeepL.

    Send the completed documents to grants@lgbti-era.org with the following email subject:

    Application – Advocacy & Awareness Raising Call – [Country]

    The deadline for applications is: 25 August 2026 at 23:59 CEST.

    Incomplete applications or applications submitted after the deadline will not be considered.

    [Download the full Call for Proposals]
    [Download the Application Form]
    [Download the Budget Form]

    The present call for application is launched by ERA within the framework of the FIER·ES programme (Fostering the Inclusion, Equality and Resilience of LGBTQIA+ people). FIER·ES aims to support LGBTQIA+ CSOs and initiatives so that they are better able to carry out their mandate and mission and promote respect, inclusion, dignity and equality for LGBTQIA+ people in the Eastern Partnership countries and the Western Balkans. It is coordinated by ERIM and implemented together with ERA and Genderdoc – M (Moldova). The programme is co-funded by Agence française de développement.

  • ERA’s Regional Input Referenced in Landmark UN Report on Violence and Discrimination against LBQ* Women

    ERA’s Regional Input Referenced in Landmark UN Report on Violence and Discrimination against LBQ* Women

    ERA’s regional input on gender-based violence against LBQ women has been accepted, integrated and referenced in the latest report of the UN Independent Expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, Graeme Reid.

    The report, titled “Violence and discrimination experienced by lesbian, bisexual and queer women,” was submitted to the 62nd session of the UN Human Rights Council and represents a landmark contribution to documenting the distinct and intersecting forms of violence, discrimination and structural exclusion faced by LBQ women worldwide.

    ERA’s input, prepared through the Women Loving Women Caucus, contributed regional evidence from the Western Balkans and Slovenia to the global analysis. The submission is referenced in key sections of the report addressing access to healthcare, gender-based violence services, and the structural data gaps that continue to make violence against LBQ women invisible in policies, institutions and official statistics.

    The report underlines that LBQ women often remain absent from both women’s rights frameworks and broader LGBTIQ+ policy responses. Their experiences of violence are frequently minimized, misclassified or treated as private matters, while protection systems often fail to recognize violence within same-sex relationships or the specific risks faced by lesbian, bisexual and queer women.

    For ERA, this recognition is an important confirmation of the relevance of community-based knowledge, regional cooperation and long-term advocacy led by LBQ women and activists from the region. It also strengthens the need for better data, inclusive protection services, trained institutions and policies that address the lived realities of LBQ women.

    “This is an extremely important moment for us. The regional input on gender-based violence against LBQ women from our region has become part of the global evidence base. As lesbians, activists, experts and as part of ERA, we are proud that our work has contributed to this historic report,” said Elena Petrovska, ERA’s Project and Advocacy Coordinator.

    The report calls on States to recognize violence against LBQ women as gender-based violence, ensure inclusive shelters and protection services, collect disaggregated data, remove barriers to healthcare and guarantee that LBQ women can access justice, safety and public life without discrimination.

    ERA will continue working with its members, partners and the Women Loving Women Caucus to document the realities of LBQ women in the Western Balkans and Türkiye, strengthen institutional responses and ensure that LBQ women’s experiences are no longer pushed to the margins of policy, protection and public debate.

    Read the full report here.

  • Report of the Independent Expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, Graeme Reid: Violence and discrimination experienced by lesbian, bisexual and queer women 

    Report of the Independent Expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, Graeme Reid: Violence and discrimination experienced by lesbian, bisexual and queer women 

    ERA’s regional input on gender-based violence against LBQ women has been accepted, integrated and referenced in the latest report of the UN Independent Expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, Graeme Reid.

    The present report is submitted to the Human Rights Council pursuant to Council resolutions 32/2 and 59/5. In the report, the Independent Expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, Graeme Reid, examines violence and discrimination experienced by lesbian, bisexual and queer women worldwide. This investigation addresses the distinct and intersecting forms of violence and discrimination that lesbian, bisexual and queer women face across diverse contexts globally. The Independent Expert concludes the report by offering recommendations on how to uphold international human rights obligations and ensure inclusive, rights-based responses. 

  • Policy Paper: The Position and Socio-Economic Inclusion of LGBTIQ+ Persons in the Labor Market in Montenegro

    Policy Paper: The Position and Socio-Economic Inclusion of LGBTIQ+ Persons in the Labor Market in Montenegro

    This policy paper explores the socio-economic position of LGBTQI+ people in Montenegro, focusing on employment, workplace discrimination, access to protection, and the implementation of labour and equality legislation.

    It presents key findings from the national context and provides practical recommendations for institutions, employers, civil society organisations, trade unions, and other stakeholders working to advance equality and create safer and more inclusive workplaces.

    This publication was produced within the framework of the project Working Safe: Socio-economic Inclusion of the LGBTQI+ Community in the Western Balkans and Türkiye, which is implemented by ERA – LGBTI Equal Rights Association for Western Balkans and Türkiye, in partnership with Queer Montenegro, Tuzla Open Center from BiH, Open Mind Spectrum Albania, Center for Social Group Development from Kosovo, Coalition Margins from North Macedonia, Izađi from Serbia and Kaos GL from Türkiye. This project is funded by the European Union.

    This material was produced with the assistance of ERA and the European Union. Its contents are the sole responsibility of the author(s) and the implementing organisation and do not necessarily reflect the views of ERA or the European Union. 

  • ERA Joins Grant Agreement Signing Ceremony and Capacity Building in Podgorica

    ERA Joins Grant Agreement Signing Ceremony and Capacity Building in Podgorica

    ERA joined partners, subgrantees and organisations from across the region in Podgorica for the Grant Agreement Signing Ceremony and Capacity Building for Management and Advocacy, organised within the programme Together for LGBTQI+ Equality.

    The event brought together project partners and supported organisations from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia and Kosovo, marking an important step in strengthening locally driven initiatives, regional cooperation and the long-term sustainability of the LGBTIQ+ movement.

    Danijel Kalezić, ERA’s Executive Co-Director, delivered opening remarks and joined Daliborka Uljarević, Executive Director of the Centre for Civic Education, and Mladenka Tešić, Programme Manager at the Delegation of the European Union to Montenegro, at the official grant agreement signing ceremony.

    Grant agreements were signed with 19 organisations from the region, with total support amounting to EUR 306,645.41. The supported initiatives address the needs of LGBTIQ+ communities through legal support, visibility, youth work, research, advocacy and public policy development.

    As part of the programme activities, project partners also held a coordination meeting to review implementation and discuss next steps. ERA was represented by Danijel Kalezić and Elena Petrovska, Project Coordinator.

    During the capacity building, representatives of supported organisations strengthened their skills in project management, reporting, EU visibility, procurement, VAT regulations and advocacy. The training also provided space for organisations to exchange experiences, share challenges and build stronger regional connections.

    As a project partner, ERA is proud to contribute to a programme that supports community-based work, strengthens organisational capacities and creates more space for coordinated action toward equality.

    The programme Together for LGBTQI+ Equality is implemented by the Centre for Civic Education in partnership with ERA – LGBTI Equal Rights Association for Western Balkans and Türkiye, Queer Montenegro, Queer Center, Tuzla Open Center, Open Mind Spectrum Albania and the Center for Social Group Development from Kosovo.

    The programme is funded by the European Union and co-funded by the Ministry of Human and Minority Rights of Montenegro.

  • ERA, Stana and Queer Montenegro Address Violence Against LBTIQ Women at Joint Event in Podgorica

    ERA, Stana and Queer Montenegro Address Violence Against LBTIQ Women at Joint Event in Podgorica

    The conference “LBTIQ Women between Invisibility and Protection: Regional Perspectives and Experiences from Montenegro” opened in Podgorica, bringing together community representatives, civil society organisations and key stakeholders to discuss violence against LBTIQ women, institutional mistrust and the urgent need for real, accessible and non-discriminatory protection.

    The event was opened by Ana Dedivanović, Executive Director of the LBTQ Women’s Association Stana, and Tijana Dragojević, Project Coordinator at Queer Montenegro. In their opening remarks, they centred the realities of LBTIQ women who have remained invisible for too long, while continuing to exist, love, build community and resist.

    Jelena Čolaković presented the local research findings, showing that violence against LBTIQ women is often not limited to isolated incidents, but forms a continuum. This includes psychological pressure, verbal abuse, family rejection, threats of outing, digital harassment, control within relationships and mistrust in institutions.

    One of the key findings presented during the conference was particularly clear: although 64% of respondents know where they could report violence, 80% have never reported it. This gap points to the need to move beyond the formal availability of protection mechanisms and ensure that institutions are trusted, accessible and able to respond without discrimination.

    Bringing the regional perspective, Elena Petrovska, Project and Advocacy Coordinator at ERA and WLW Caucus Coordinator, underlined the importance of moving from research and data towards concrete protection.

    “This dialogue is an important step from data to protection. We are here to work closely with institutions, policy makers and local organisations so that laws, services and referral pathways recognise LBTIQ survivors and protect them without discrimination. We now have solid evidence about how violence affects LBTIQ women across the region. What we need is cooperation so that these realities are recognised in policies, protocols and services,” said Petrovska.

    The conference created space for a public dialogue on how institutions, civil society organisations and decision-makers can better recognise the specific forms of violence experienced by LBTIQ women and ensure that protection systems respond to their needs in practice.

    This activity was part of the projects “Invisible Survivors,” “We Exist, We Resist,” and “From Data to Protection – Improving Cooperation among Key Actors in the Field of Gender-Based Violence against LBQ Women in the Western Balkans,” funded by the EuroCentralAsian Lesbian* Community network and the European Union.

    The content is the sole responsibility of the LBTQ Women’s Association Stana, LGBTIQ Association Queer Montenegro, and ERA – LGBTI Equal Rights Association for the Western Balkans and Türkiye, which implement the projects, and does not necessarily reflect the views of donors.

  • Call for Proposals

    We open the Call for Proposals for the support to projects of civil society organisations (CSO) in Western Balkans and Türkiye

    Project proposals should promote and support the social inclusion and fundamental rights of LGBTQI+ persons in all spheres of public and private life. The objective of this call is to support local initiatives that advance equality and empower LGBTQI+ communities, by strengthening the role and capacities of LGBTQI+-led civil society.

    The overall aim is to contribute to further socio-economic inclusion of the LGBTQI+ community and participation in the public sphere in the Western Balkans and Türkiye. The objective is to strengthen the civil society organizations’ role and capacities to advocate, deliver services, raise public awareness and/or provide other types of support to the LGBTQI+ population in pursuing their rights and equal opportunities.

    Project proposal shall be submitted no later than 2 November 2025, 17:00 (CET).

    In order to be eligible for a grant, the lead applicant must fulfil criteria as follows:
    • Be a legal person;
    • Be non-profit-making;
    • Be a civil society organisation (CSO) or a representative network of CSOs working on
    one or more thematic areas of relevance to this Call for Proposals

    • be established in an IPA III Beneficiary under the Instrument of Pre-accession Assistance – the IPA III Beneficiaries taken into consideration for the present call for proposals are: The Republic of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, The Republic of North Macedonia, The Republic of Serbia, The Republic of Türkiye
    • be directly responsible for the preparation and management of the action with their possible co-applicant(s) and affiliated entity(ies), not acting as an intermediary and
    • have as a minimum two years (i.e. 24 months) experience in the field of the Call. In case the lead applicant is a network of CSOs, this applies also to its members and

    Applications must be submitted with filled: Application Form (Annex I) Budget Proposals (Annex II) and Logical Framework Matrix (Annex III).

    Please read carefully detailed Guidelines prior to filling in these forms.

    A comprehensive capacity-building programme in project management and related issues will be provided to supported CSOs.

    Applications, along with the accompanying technical documentation, shall be sent to e-mail grants@old.lgbti-era.org, with subject “CfP for CSOs in WB and TR – Working Safe”. If needed, further information can be obtained by sending the question to grants@old.lgbti-era.org no later than 12 October 2025 17:00.

    A total of EUR 400,000 will be allocated to CSOs through this call. The amount of funds that can be allocated for an individual project under this Call can be a maximum of EUR 40,000.

    The project Working Safe: Socio-economic Inclusion of the LGBTQI+ Community in the Western Balkans and Türkiye, which is implemented by ERA – LGBTI Equal Rights Association for Western Balkans and Türkiye, in partnership with Queer Montenegro, Tuzla Open Center from BiH, Open Mind Spectrum Albania, Center for Social Group Development from Kosovo, Coalition Margins from North Macedonia, Izađi from Serbia and Kaos GL from Türkiye. This project is funded by the European Union.

    This call was produced with the assistance of the European Union. Its contents are the sole responsibility of the implementing organisation and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union. 

  • Guide for trade unions on engaging with LGBTI+ workers in the Western Balkans

    Guide for trade unions on engaging with LGBTI+ workers in the Western Balkans

    Since 2018 ERA has been dedicated to understanding and mitigating challenges that LGBTI+ people face in accessing their socio-economic rights. Studies show that workers’ rights in the Western Balkans region are far from protected. They are the first in line when austerity measures, pandemics and exploitative employers hit. When the element of discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity or sex characteristics is added, the challenges increase. Thus, to protect worker’s rights effectively, there is a need to start thinking and acting through the lenses of those that are most marginalized, including LGBTI+ people, people with disabilities, people from poor backgrounds or people coming from ethnic minorities. These groups are all an integral part of the society, of labour relations and finally of the fight for workers’ rights. 

    The reports published by regional and international organizations show significant disadvantaged positions for the LGBTI+ workers compared to the others. The World Bank’s 2018 survey shows that 41% of LGBTI+ people had witnessed negative attitudes, comments, and conduct toward LGBTI+ colleagues, 14% had personally experienced such comments or conduct, and 16% had experienced unequal treatment with respect to employment conditions or benefits. Considering the fact that only 24% of LGBTI+ workers are open about being LGBTI+ at their workplace at regional level (which is higher than in the case of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro and North Macedonia). Furthermore, under the influence of overall stigma, exclusion and discrimination in the society, as well as the limited political representation of the LGBTI+ people, Trade Unions in the region do not include LGBTI+ people in the programs or their internal procedures. Thus, LGBTI+ workers’ rights remain unprotected even though they contribute towards the economy and development like all other workers. 

    In 2021, ERA in cooperation with the Solidarity Center, Solidarnost and other regional actors, has organized trainings and workshops for the trade unions in the Western Balkans. During these events, the Unions showed an openness to advance their work to better understand and represent LGBTI+ workers’ needs accordingly. Furthermore, they acknowledged that most of them face a lack of resources as well as knowledge on this topic. In the period 2019-2020 ERA conducted a needs assessment with Trade Union representatives from across the Western Balkans region. Almost all of them expressed a need for resources and materials on LGBTI+ worker’s issues, for trainings and workshops with the LGBTI+ community, and to know how they can help and assist the community from their perspective. 

    Therefore, this guide has been developed by ERA to provide easier access to information on LGBTI+ workers’ rights for trade union leaders and their members in the Western Balkans region. The guide will include information on the specific needs and concerns LGBTI+ workers face and it will share global and regional good practices on union engagement with LGBTI+ rights. Such practices show that union engagement on this topic is extremely important and beneficial for both communities. And that is relevant both from a worker’s rights perspective and on moral and ethical grounds because LGBTI+ people have the right to live in freedom and dignity just like everyone else. 

    This publication has been supported by the International Center Olof Palme and financed by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, SIDA. The content of this publication is the sole responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the views of International Center Olof Palme and SIDA.

  • “Discrimination at Work” Conference addresses LGBTI+ workers rights in the Western Balkans

    “Discrimination at Work” Conference addresses LGBTI+ workers rights in the Western Balkans

    On 23-25 March, ERA joined Solidarity Centre in Skopje, North Macedonia at its regional conference on “Discrimination at Work”. The event was attended by Trade Union representatives from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia. The three days event aimed to provide a snapshot of workplace discrimination in the Balkans region, as well as help to look at TU’s, workers’, governments’ and employers’ responses to unequal treatment at work, including legal efforts and policy changes, in order to pave the way for broader democratic policy changes that protect worker safety across the region.
    The conference served as a platform for networking and sharing knowledge and best practices and it helped unions to build connections among each-other as well as with CSOs as they look to build cross cutting movements for worker’s safety and facilitated knowledge sharing between the unions across the region.
    At this important regional gathering, ERA had the opportunity to facilitate a panel on the role of NGOs working on discrimination issues in the disability community, the LGBTIQ+ community and Roma/Egyptian and other minority communities on effectively confronting bullying and discrimination in hiring. The second panel was a presentation on LGBTI+ community and their specific challenges and needs as workers. ERA representatives shared with the participants also the recently published Guide for Trade Unions on engaging with LGBTI+ workers in the Western Balkans as well as provided tips and ideas on what can be done in our region.
    The event was an excellent opportunity for ERA to strengthen dialogue with Trade Unions and to promote inclusion of LGBTI+ workers. TU representatives appreciated the conversations on the topic and welcomed future possible cooperation with LGBTI+ organizations in the region as well as holding additional more in depth activities on this topic.
    Note: Since 2019 ERA is implenting a regional project aiming to address the socio-economic rights of LGBTI+ people in the Western Balkans, with the support of Olof Palme Center.