lightyellow-ant-216200.hostingersite.com

Geographic Area: Serbia

  • 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 Condemns Two Violent Attacks in Belgrade, Serbia

    ERA Condemns Two Violent Attacks in Belgrade, Serbia

    Not the Same. Not Unrelated.

    Within less than 24 hours, drag artist Alexis Plastic and writer and KROKODIL Festival Director Vladimir Arsenijević were violently attacked in Belgrade.

    The two attacks took place in different circumstances and targeted people engaged in different areas of public and cultural life. They must not be treated as identical, nor should their individual contexts be erased. However, they are not unrelated.

    Both attacks used violence and intimidation to send a message about who is allowed to be visible, who is allowed to speak, who is considered to belong in public space and whose experiences and memories society is prepared to protect.

    Attack on Alexis Plastic

    Alexis Plastic was attacked in Belgrade’s public transport after, according to information shared about the incident, the assailant noticed an item carrying LGBTIQ+ symbols.

    During the attack, Alexis sustained an injury to the eye and a puncture wound to the leg caused by a key. The wound required surgical treatment and stitches.

    Belgrade Pride described the incident as an attack motivated by homophobia and called on the competent institutions to urgently identify and prosecute the person responsible.

    The attack is a reminder that, for many LGBTIQ+ people, visibility in public space continues to carry a real risk. An object associated with the community, a person’s appearance, gender expression or perceived identity can still become a trigger for verbal harassment, threats and physical violence.

    This is precisely how hate-motivated violence operates. Its consequences extend beyond the person who is directly attacked. It sends a warning to an entire community: hide what identifies you, make yourself less visible, avoid drawing attention and calculate whether expressing yourself openly is safe.

    No person should have to make such calculations when entering a bus, walking through the city or taking part in everyday public life.

    Attack on Vladimir Arsenijević

    Earlier that day, writer and activist Vladimir Arsenijević, founder of the KROKODIL association and KROKODIL Festival, was physically attacked beneath Branko’s Bridge in central Belgrade.

    Arsenijević was at the site to help prepare a commemoration dedicated to the victims of the Srebrenica genocide. The event had been announced as part of the programme organised by civil society organisations, foundations, artists and activists gathered around the People Remember People coalition.

    According to Arsenijević’s public account, a group of approximately 20 to 30 young people was waiting at the site. He stated that members of the group insulted, threatened, struck and kicked him, while messages were written across the space intended for the commemoration. Photographs and video published after the incident showed visible injuries to his face.

    The planned gathering was subsequently cancelled because organisers assessed that the safety of participants could no longer be guaranteed. Police conducted an examination of the scene, while institutions, diplomatic representatives and civil society actors called for a prompt investigation and prosecution of those responsible.

    Violence in this context was not only directed at one person. It disrupted a peaceful act of remembrance and made a public gathering impossible by creating fear and an immediate security risk.

    Different attacks, a connected political environment

    The attack on Alexis Plastic and the attack on Vladimir Arsenijević are not the same.

    Alexis was targeted in an incident motivated by homophobia. Vladimir was attacked while preparing a commemoration and participating in work dedicated to public remembrance.

    However, both attacks expose the consequences of a political and social environment in which certain people are repeatedly presented as undesirable, threatening or less entitled to occupy public space.

    In one case, violence communicates that an LGBTIQ+ person should not be openly visible. In the other, violence communicates that people should not publicly challenge denial, insist on remembrance or create space for difficult conversations about the past.

    In both cases, fear is used as a political tool.

    The objective is larger than injuring one person. It is to influence the behaviour of everyone watching: to discourage LGBTIQ+ people from expressing themselves openly, activists from organising, artists and writers from speaking publicly, and citizens from participating in acts of remembrance or defending human rights.

    These are not abstract debates, isolated acts of offensive speech or individual conflicts. When hatred is normalised, when threats remain without consequences and when those who use violence expect impunity, physical attacks become increasingly likely.

    Across the Western Balkans, homophobia, transphobia, historical revisionism, nationalist intimidation and hostility towards human rights defenders often reinforce one another.

    They draw from the same politics of exclusion: dividing society into those who supposedly belong and those who do not; constructing internal enemies; controlling which identities may appear in public; and treating people who question dominant nationalist and patriarchal narratives as legitimate targets.

    This is why ERA, as a regional LGBTIQ+ organisation, cannot understand the safety of LGBTIQ+ people as an isolated issue.

    LGBTIQ+ rights cannot be separated from democratic freedoms, the protection of civic space, freedom of expression and the right of citizens to organise, remember and defend human rights without fear.

    A society that tolerates violence against one group does not become safer for others. It simply expands the number of people against whom violence may eventually be used.

    Institutional responsibility requires action

    ERA strongly condemns both attacks and stands in solidarity with Alexis Plastic and Vladimir Arsenijević.

    We call on the Serbian authorities to act without delay: to identify and prosecute all those responsible, fully investigate the motives and circumstances of both attacks and ensure the safety of those targeted.

    The investigations must address not only the immediate acts of violence but also whether the attacks were motivated by hatred, organised intimidation or an intention to prevent people from participating freely in public life.

    Institutional responsibility cannot be reduced to statements of condemnation issued after someone has already been injured or a public event has already been forced to close.

    It requires effective protection, swift and transparent investigations, consistent prosecution and a clear response to the wider climate in which homophobia, transphobia, nationalist intimidation and hostility towards human rights defenders are increasingly normalised.

    Failure to respond decisively does not leave the situation unchanged. It communicates that threats may be effective, that violence can successfully remove people and ideas from public space, and that those who attack may expect few or no consequences.

    Public authorities have an obligation to protect every citizen equally, regardless of their actual or perceived sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, political position, profession or public engagement.

    They also have an obligation to ensure that public transport, streets, cultural venues and spaces of peaceful assembly remain accessible and safe for everyone.

    Freedom cannot be selective!

    There can be no meaningful safety for LGBTIQ+ people in a society where hatred, violence and impunity are allowed to decide who belongs, who may speak and who may be remembered.

    Belgrade, and every city across our region, must be a place where people can live openly, express themselves, participate in public and cultural life, preserve memory and defend human rights without fear of violence.

    Solidarity is more than standing beside those who have already been attacked.

    It is our collective refusal to allow violence to determine the boundaries of our freedoms.

  • 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: Inclusion of LGBTQI+ Persons in the Workplace in Serbia: Between the Legal Framework and Lived Reality

    Policy Paper: Inclusion of LGBTQI+ Persons in the Workplace in Serbia: Between the Legal Framework and Lived Reality

    This policy paper explores the socio-economic position of LGBTQI+ people in Serbia, 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 Pride Week Novi Sad for the Presentation of the Serbian Working Safe Policy Paper

    ERA Joins Pride Week Novi Sad for the Presentation of the Serbian Working Safe Policy Paper

    As part of Pride Week in Novi Sad, ERA joined Group Come Out, its Working Safe project partner and Pride Week organiser, for the presentation of the Serbian national policy paper on the socio-economic inclusion of LGBTQI+ communities.

    The Serbian policy paper is one of seven country-specific policy papers developed across the Western Balkans and Türkiye within the Working Safe project. Together, the papers provide evidence-based analysis, community insights and recommendations addressing the barriers faced by LGBTQI+ people in employment, workplaces and broader socio-economic participation.

    During the event, Buğu Sıla Evren, ERA’s Project and Research Coordinator, presented the Working Safe project, the upcoming regional research report, the national policy papers and the research process behind them. She reflected on the challenges, gaps, institutional responses and lived realities that shaped the findings.

    As highlighted during the presentation:

    “Work is not only a source of income. It shapes people’s security, wellbeing, mental health, and ability to participate fully in society.”

    “For many LGBTQI+ people across the region, workplaces are still spaces where they feel pressure to hide who they are.”

    The discussion underlined that laws alone are not enough. Even where legal protections exist, many workplaces still lack trust, effective reporting mechanisms, accountability and real implementation.

    Across the region, similar patterns continue to emerge, including fear of reporting discrimination, limited trust in institutions, weak implementation of existing protections and insufficient awareness of discrimination in the workplace. These shared challenges show why regional cooperation, evidence-based advocacy and sustained institutional engagement remain essential.

    Creating safe and equal workplaces requires coordinated action by institutions, employers, trade unions, chambers of commerce, civil society organisations, media, international partners and all stakeholders working on equality, labor rights and social inclusion.

    Read policy paper on Socio-economic Inclusion of LGBTQI+ community in Serbia here: Inclusion of LGBTQI+ Persons in the Workplace in Serbia: Between the Legal Framework and Lived Reality

    Interested in other countries? Explore other 6 related policy papers on link below, available in English and its respective local language for other countries: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Türkiye.

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

    This project is funded by the European Union. Its contents are the sole responsibility of ERA or implementing partner and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union.

  • National Dialogue in Serbia Demands Urgent Action against Gender-Based Violence Affecting LBQ Women

    National Dialogue in Serbia Demands Urgent Action against Gender-Based Violence Affecting LBQ Women

    On 25 April 2026, ahead of International Lesbian Visibility Day, ERA and its Women Loving Women Caucus, together with Rainbow Ignite, Labris, Romnjako and L*Communio, opened a national dialogue on gender-based violence against lesbian, bisexual and queer women in Serbia.

    The situation facing LBQ women remains critical.

    LBQ women experience violence within families and intimate relationships, as well as in institutions, public spaces and online. Yet their experiences are frequently misunderstood, minimised or left unrecognised by the systems responsible for providing protection.

    Violence against LBQ women may be treated as a matter of “public disorder” rather than recognised as gender-based violence. Violence within same-sex relationships remains largely invisible, while prejudice and a lack of institutional knowledge can expose survivors to further discrimination when they attempt to report violence or seek support.

    Civil society organisations remain among the few actors consistently providing prevention, counselling, referral and other forms of support to survivors. However, responsibility for protection cannot continue to rest primarily on the organisations already working with limited resources.

    Participants stressed that Serbia still lacks reliable public-sector partners who are prepared to hear the voices of LBQ women, recognise their specific experiences and work together with affected communities. Meaningful protection requires more than occasional consultation; it requires sustained cooperation, resources and accountability.

    Regional evidence and experiences from Serbia

    The event was opened by Dragana Todorović, Executive Director of EL*C, who highlighted the organisation’s continued support for policies across the Balkans that recognise lesbian* women and respond to their specific realities and needs.

    Elena Petrovska, representing ERA and its WLW Caucus, presented the regional perspective on gender-based violence against LBQ women, as well as the findings and recommendations of the policy brief for Serbia.

    Dušanka Tomašević from Labris addressed the support currently available to survivors and the urgent need to improve shelters, referral mechanisms and other elements of the protection system. Survivors must be able to seek help without concealing their identities or fearing discrimination, rejection or further violence.

    The panel discussion brought together Helena Vuković from L*Communio, Danica Jovanović from Romnjako, and Jelena Vasiljević from Rainbow Ignite.

    Panellists discussed community priorities, legal and institutional protection, intersectionality and the experiences of LBQ women facing multiple forms of marginalisation. Particular attention was given to the needs of Roma LBQ women, as well as LBQ women whose experiences are further shaped by poverty, transphobia, racism, disability or other structural inequalities.

    The discussion underscored that there is no adequate response to gender-based violence without an intersectional approach. Protection mechanisms must recognise that survivors do not all encounter violence—or the institutions expected to protect them—in the same way.

    Clear demands for institutional action

    The recommendations presented during the national dialogue call on institutions to:

    • adopt the Law on Same-Sex Partnerships;
    • recognise violence within same-sex intimate relationships;
    • ensure that shelters and protection services are safe and accessible to LBQ and trans women;
    • provide continuous training for police officers, prosecutors, judges, healthcare professionals and social workers;
    • collect relevant data on violence against LBQ women while protecting survivors’ privacy and safety;
    • provide sustainable funding for civil society organisations offering community-based support; and
    • establish clear mechanisms for institutional responsibility and accountability.

    Institutions must not become accomplices in violence through silence, neglect, prejudice or exclusion. When survivors are ignored, misidentified or sent from one institution to another without receiving protection, the system itself contributes to their continued exposure to harm.

    The evidence is now available. The recommendations have been developed. What is needed is implementation.

    The national dialogue represents an invitation to public institutions, but also a demand to recognise their responsibilities and engage seriously with LBQ communities and the organisations working alongside them.

    LBQ women are here, speaking for themselves and refusing to give up. Institutions must now listen, respond and act.

    This Event is part of the project: From Data to Protection-Fostering collaboration between key stakeholders on GBV violence against LBQ women in the Western Balkans.
    This project is funded by the EuroCentralAsian Lesbian* Community and the European Union. Its contents are the sole responsibility of the ERA LGBTI Association for the Western Balkans and Turkey implementing the project, and do not necessarily reflect the views of the EuroCentralAsian Lesbian* Community, nor of the European Union.

  • 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. 

  • The rights of LGBTIQ+ workers: A two-day training with representatives of trade unions from the Western Balkans takes place in Tirana

    The rights of LGBTIQ+ workers: A two-day training with representatives of trade unions from the Western Balkans takes place in Tirana

    On February 8-9, 2023, a two-day training focused on the rights of LGBTIQ+ workers took place in Tirana. The Solidarity Centre and ERA brought together representatives of the LGBTIQ+ community and other civil society organizations in Albania and trade union representatives from Albania, Kosovo, North Macedonia, and Serbia. The Union of Independent Trade Unions of Albania (BSPSH), Confederation of Trade Unions of Albania (KSSH), Independent Education Union of Albania (SPASH), and Trade Union Federation of Education and Science of Albania (FSASH), participated from Albania. The president of the Union of Independent Trade Unions of Kosovo (BSPK) was part of the event. From North Macedonia, we had representatives from the Union of Workers in Education, Science, and Culture (SONK), and the Union of Independent and Autonomous Trade Unions of Macedonia (UNASM). The country program director for Solidarity Center in Belgrade, Serbia attended the event along with a representative of the trade union Nezavisnost. Among LGBTIQ+ organisations present at the event were also Alliance against LGBT Discrimination, Open Mind Spectrum Albania (OMSA), LGBT Shelter “Streha”, Ylberofilia and Pro LGBT. Other society actors, such as activists, lawyers, journalists, educators, and representatives from the Office of the Commissioner for Protection from Discrimination, were present at this training. The training consisted of identifying the problems that LGBTIQ+ workers face in their workplaces (discrimination, fear, abuse), familiarizing them with the functions and activities of unions, and identifying methods for protecting and advancing the rights of LGBTIQ+ workers. The efficiency of the meeting lay in the fact that two interest groups came together to discuss the problems they encounter every day, to get to know each other, to get more information, and to understand how they can solve the issues in the future, which are particularly problematic for LGBTIQ+ employees.

    The workshop/training was a follow-up to the regional conference “On Discrimination at Work” held by Solidarity Center in March 2022 in Skopje, North Macedonia. ERA and the trade unions suggested conducting a joint workshop/training beneficial for both parties. The LGBTIQ+ community would learn more about the role and importance of trade unions, the benefits of collective bargaining, and how the trade union can protect them in cases of harassment or violence at the workplace. On the other hand, trade unions would better understand the challenges the LGBTIQ+ community face in general, but mainly when jobhunting or injustices in the workplace only because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. The first joint event based on this suggestion took place on February 8th–9th, 2023, and proved to be very beneficial and enlightening for both parties. This is the first of several follow-up workshops/training where the LGBTIQ+ community and trade union came together. 

    The first day

    After the presentation of the participants, Mr. Arbër Kodra, the Executive Director of Open Mind Spectrum Albania (OMSA), offered a general presentation about the LGBTIQ+ community in Albania. Being one of the first meetings of this kind for trade unions, it was necessary first to share some basic information so that everyone would be informed about the LGBTIQ+ community, the organizations that work for it, the terminologies, the prejudices, the legal context and the issues that this community faces. 

    After the general presentation of the community, it was the turn of the trade unions to talk about their work, importance, formation, membership, and many other elements. Mr. Atdhe Hykolli, President of the Union of Independent Trade Unions of Kosovo (BSPK), made a presentation about union organizing, starting with the definition of the word “union” to then move on to a brief history of the birth of unions, and especially how their situation is in Kosovo. The establishment of independent trade unions in Kosovo was also critical, as well as the definition of legal forms unions can use in extreme cases: strikes and protests. But before reaching these implementations, the trade unions first used social dialogue or mediation between the parties, i.e., employers and employees. The situation was similar in Albania, North Macedonia, and Serbia, and the same problems also arose there.

    Xheni Karaj, Executive Director of the Alliance against LGBT Discrimination, in her presentation, emphasized the urgent need for community members to feel represented and protected in terms of employment. She presented some of the surveys done with the LGBTIQ+ community regarding employment, discrimination at work, hate speech, workplace harassment, etc. From the information provided, a significant part of members of the LGBTIQ+ community in Albania does not come out openly in the workplace for fear of discrimination, prejudice, dismissal, or unpleasant situations. The process of “coming out” is individual and complex. It is essential because it can undo the myths and stereotypes created by society for LGBTIQ+ people. However, at the same time, there are other less positive aspects, such as targeting due to coming out openly, discrimination, harassment, abandonment by family and friends, etc. In her speech, Xheni Karaj emphasized the need for building communication bridges between the parties for a gentle approach with LGBTIQ+ people who choose to be part of their coming out.

    Amarildo Fecanji, Program Manager at ERA, presented some of the data of the regional survey conducted by ERA and the World Bank in 2018 with over 3000 representatives from all over the Western Balkans, where it was observed that: over 2/3 of LGBTIQ+ people kept hidden the fact that they belong to the community at the workplace for reasons of fear of discrimination, violence, job loss or exploitation due to tolerance by the employer. Some of the other problems were: the unemployment of LGBTIQ+ people (not infrequently because of the person’s sexual orientation) as well as the lack of inclusive contracts and policies for the LGBTIQ+ community. Transgender people are among the most discriminated against at work and not only. The probability that they will not be hired, harassed in the workplace, not promoted, discriminated against, or fired is relatively high. The problematic employment situation of transgender people has made a good part of transgender people see sex work as the only solution.

    The presentation of the Director of the Shelter “Streha,” Mrs. Adelajda Alikaj, was the last for the first day. Mrs. Alikaj underlined the experiences of the community in Albania, such as family conflicts, expulsion from home, stigma, discrimination, isolation, abuse, threats, difficulties in receiving services, etc. From a 2017 statistic, the Head Hunter company published the results of a study on the situation of the LGBTIQ+ community in employment, where it said that state institutions are also part of the discrimination. Only 7 out of 109 companies included in the study were open to hiring a person from the LGBTIQ+ community.

    From her experience with community members who frequent the center, Ms. Alikaj says that the most common ways for an LGBTIQ+ person not to be employed are

    • short interviews,
    • short duration,
    • closed questions that do not leave room for expression,
    • or lack of a second interview

    The list is long regarding what happens in a workplace for an LGBTIQ+ person. It starts with insults, abuse of schedules, unpleasant jokes, exclusion from joint activities, intimidation, pressure from the employer/colleagues, etc.

    The second day

    The second training day began with a summary of the first day. Then it continued with the presentation of Mrs. Anxhella Llalla, a lawyer with long professional trade union experience in Albania. Ms. Llalla made a detailed presentation on trade union organizing, its role in protecting workers’ rights, the importance of reforming and improving the structures and functions of trade unions, as well as other suggestions and ideas for improving their performance. Her presentation stimulated a very constructive discussion among the union representatives themselves but also with LGBTIQ+ organizations. In the debate, it was noted that unions have structures that can address issues such as gender equality or young workers but lack structures that could be more inclusive and more efficiently protect or represent marginalized groups of workers, such as LGBTIQ+ employees but also those of other groups such as Roma and Egyptians, people with disabilities, etc. Among other things, the decline in union memberships was pointed out. One of the suggestions was to increase unions’ engagement with marginalized groups to increase and improve their membership. In the discussion, the great difficulties faced by the trade unions were also pointed out, such as the large number of collective contracts that must be negotiated with employers despite limited human and financial resources.

    The last section of the training discussed further steps that LGBTIQ+ organizations and trade unions can take to protect the rights of LGBTIQ+ workers and forms of cooperation that can be applied in the future.

    Union representatives themselves identified several activities that they can carry out in defense of the rights of LGBTIQ+ workers, such as:

    – Informative and educational sections related to the rights of LGBTIQ+ workers;

    – Informative campaigns with the membership of the union;

    – Informative and advisory meetings between teachers and parents, coordinated by the union;

    – The possibility of using the SKOT application as an option for LGBTIQ+ members of trade unions in Albania to report cases of discrimination or mistreatment;

    – Inclusion of the LGBTIQ+ theme in major activities developed by trade unions;

    – Including the LGBTIQ+ issue and perspectives in research and surveys conducted within the union;

    – Inclusion of the LGBTIQ+ theme in job fairs;

    At the end of the fruitful meeting between the two groups (LGBTIQ+ organizations and unions of Albania, Kosovo, North Macedonia, and Serbia), some of the main conclusions were:

    – LGBTI+ persons should receive more detailed information on the Labor Code; to know their rights and obligations; to know and learn about the existence of trade unions and see the possibility of joining them;

    – Unions should be more present through meetings and information sessions where the part of individual and collective contracts, membership quotas, protection of employees, follow-up of issues, etc., are clearly explained.

    – Continuous cooperation between LGBTIQ+ organizations and trade unions is necessary to share more information and to create a network that helps and is in the interest of both parties.

    In the activity evaluation, the participants were inspired, motivated, and well-informed about the needs and problems of the other sector. They appreciated getting to know each other, group discussions, information shared, personal stories of LGBTIQ+ people, and synergies created between LGBTIQ+ organizations and trade unions. Representatives from the trade unions appreciated the knowledge they gained on the topic, provided ideas on where they think it’s possible to act, and stressed the need to improve and create a more inclusive, welcoming, and safe environment for the community.

    We invite you to read this trade union guide if you are a trade union representative in Albania or the Western Balkans.

    For any other questions or comments, do not hesitate to contact the Solidarity Centre offices in Albania and Serbia, the regional organization ERA, or the LGBTIQ+ organizations in the respective countries.

    Writer: Xheni Shehaj, Historia-Ime & PRO LGBT

    Editing: Amarildo Fecanji, ERA

    Photos: Solidarity Center and ERA ©