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Year: 2026

  • Türkiye must end the coordinated crackdown on LGBTI+ civil society!

    Türkiye must end the coordinated crackdown on LGBTI+ civil society!

    We, the undersigned organisations, condemn the large-scale police raids and detentions targeting LGBTI activists and human rights defenders, organisations and community spaces across Türkiye. We call for the immediate protection and release of those detained, and respect for their procedural rights. We also call for an end to any measures obstructing the fundamental rights to freedom of association and assembly and for the respect of human rights principles and the rule of law in Türkiye. 

    According to information from LGBTI organisations as well as international media reports, the police raided homes and association offices during the night of Saturday 12 – Sunday 13 September.) At least 162 people were detained, including approximately 50-60 LGBTI human rights defenders and activists, and are being held in police custody, with the number reportedly increasing. Reported accusations include “obscenity”, “prostitution”, and morality-related offences. Clubs were also raided, with additional people detained, including sex workers.

    The operation primarily targeted members of the boards of directors and auditors of LGBTI+ associations — the legally required governing and oversight bodies through which associations operate. Members of these bodies from Kaos GL and Pembe Hayat in Ankara; Muamma and 7 Renk in Mersin; and SPoD, Hevi, Lambda, LİSTAG, Pozitif Yaşam and Pozitif-iz in Istanbul have reportedly been detained.

    The raids followed only hours after a 12 September court order blocking the websites and social media accounts of LGBTI+ organisations. The scale, timing and selection of targets indicate a coordinated attack on organised LGBTI+ civil society in Türkiye.

    Justice Minister Akın Gürlek stated that 162 people, nine associations and 13 businesses are being targeted in an operation titled “My Family is Safe”, and stated that this was an investigation into associations which, in his words, “promote LGBT and immorality”. He also announced scrutiny by the Financial Crimes Investigation Board (MASAK) of funding received from public institutions and organisations abroad.

    The raids mark an escalation of a concerted attack on LGBTI activism and community support that had been going on for years in Türkiye, including restrictions and detentions at Pride, censorship of LGBTI content, pressure on organisations, and political narratives portraying LGBTI people as threats to children, families and public morality. However, the combination of morality-based allegations, raids, detention of governing body members, digital censorship, equipment seizures and scrutiny of foreign funding are taking the attack to a new level, as they violate the fundamental right to freedom of association and point to a much broader attempt to attack  civil society organisations in Türkiye.

    The seizure of digital equipment is particularly concerning. LGBTI organisations hold highly sensitive information concerning activists, beneficiaries, people living with HIV, survivors of violence and discrimination, lawyers, journalists, donors and other human rights defenders. Its confidentiality and integrity must be protected, and seized information must not be used to identify, profile or target additional people.

     International funding and cooperation are essential to independent civil society and are not evidence of criminal activity. Financial oversight must not be instrumentalised to stigmatise organisations because of the communities they represent or the rights they defend.

    We call on the Turkish authorities to immediately:

    • Unconditionally release all persons detained for their human rights work and for exercising their rights to freedom of expression, association or peaceful organising; 
    • Guarantee the safety, dignity and procedural rights of everyone detained, and provide clear, individualised legal grounds for every detention, search and seizure and ensure effective judicial review;
    • Guarantee immediate and confidential access to lawyers;
    • Protect seized digital information and prevent the misuse of confidential data;
    • Lift disproportionate restrictions on the websites and social media accounts of LGBTI organisations;
    • Ensure that financial investigations do not criminalise legitimate international cooperation or foreign funding;
    • End the use of “family protection”, “morality” and similar narratives to justify discriminatory restrictions; and
    • Guarantee that LGBTI organisations can operate, communicate and receive funding without intimidation or discriminatory interference.

    We urgently call on the European Union, Council of Europe, United Nations, OSCE/ODIHR, diplomatic missions in Türkiye, international human rights organisations, donors, and partner organisations to act.

    EU institutions, the Council of Europe and UN bodies should condemn the raids and detentions directly with the Turkish authorities, pushing for safeguards against further reprisals, and call for the respect of human rights defenders and the right to freedom of association publicly and in any political dialogue with Türkiye. 

    The EU and European governments should urgently raise these cases with the Turkish authorities; monitor the detention and judicial proceedings, including through diplomatic presence at hearings; and activate available protection, legal and emergency support for those affected. European public funders must stand by their civil society partners, maintain funding and reject attempts to criminalise international support for human rights work.

    It is crucial in all communications that these developments are named for what they are: matters of rule of law, democracy, freedom of association, freedom of expression, protection of human rights defenders and shrinking civic space.

    We call on LGBTI organisations and allies across Europe and Central Asia to amplify the calls of the Turkish movement, press their own governments and European institutions to act, and mobilise practical support where requested. Solidarity now needs to translate into political pressure and concrete support, while following the guidance and security needs of those directly affected.

    We call on international human rights organisations to activate urgent action and protection mechanisms, monitor the detention and judicial processes, and bring their legal, advocacy and protection capacity behind the organisations and defenders targeted. This must be treated as a wider attack on freedom of association, expression and human rights defence, not as an isolated LGBTI issue.

    We stand in full solidarity with all those detained, and everyone affected.

    Human rights work is not a crime, and we will never stand aside in the fight for democracy and democratic values!

    We call on our members, partners and the wider European and international human rights movement to react publicly, contact relevant institutions and diplomatic missions, and amplify information from LGBTI organisations in Türkiye.

    Silence in the face of this escalation will only create space for further aggressive repression.

    ERA – Equal Rights Association for Western Balkans and Türkiye

    Front Line Defenders

    ILGA-Europe – the European region of the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association

    TGEU — Trans Europe and Central Asia 

    EuroMed Rights

    ILGA World

    EL*C – Eurocentralasian Lesbian* Community

    Araminta

    International Planned Parenthood Federation – European Network (IPPF EN)

    Tuzlanski Otvoreni Centar, Bosnia and Herzegovina

    Association DIH – Equal Under the Rainbow, Slovenia 

    Gender Stream, Ukraine

    Prisme, Belgium

    Labris – Lesbian Human Rights Organization, Serbia

    Çavaria, Belgium

    Belong To – LGBTQ Youth Ireland

    Zagreb Pride, Croatia

    GENDERDOC-M Information Centre, Moldova

    Ljubljana Pride Association, Slovenia

    L*-Communio, Serbia 

    Háttér Society, Hungary

    Lithuanian National LGBT organization LGL

    Associazione Radicale Certi Diritti, Italy

    IGLYO — The International LGBTQI Youth & Student Organisation

    HOSI Linz, Austria

    linzpride, Austria

    Rainbow Nation Brussels, Belgium

    Intersex Iceland

    Seta LGBTIQ+ Rights, Finland

    Humanists International

    PINK Embassy Albania

    Hirschfeld Eddy Foundation, Germany 

    LSVD+ – Federation Queer Diversity, Germany

    Accept Association, Romania

    COC Limburg, the Netherlands

    Spanish LGTBI+ Federation (FELGTBI+)

    [H] BRAȘOV Association, Romania

    All Out

    Alliance Against Discrimination Of LGBTI+ People, Albania

    Association Spectra

    Trans Network Balkan

    Coalition MARGINS Skopje 

    Rainbow Ignite, Serbia

    Queer Montenegro

    Regnbågsfonden, Sweden

    Foundation Wings of Hope, Bosnia and Herzegovina

    Transgender Equality Network Ireland (TENI)

    LGBT Ireland

    LGBTI organization Deystvie, Bulgaria 

    Qun Jelesi, Kyrgyzstan

    The Central Asian Queer Council (CAQRQ), Central Asia

    Protection International

    Equality Movement, Georgia

    Article 19

    RFSL, Sweden

    Gaynet – Formazione e Comunicazione, Italy

    World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), within the framework of the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders

    International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), within the framework of the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders

    European Pride Business Network

    EDGE, Italy

    Skopje Pride

    LGBTI Support Center – Helsinki Committeee for Human Rights (North Macedonia)

    Bundesverband Trans*

    Agedo nazionale O.d.V. Italia, Italy

    Committee for the Respect of Liberties and Human Rights (CRLDH), Tunisia

    New Woman Foundation, Egypt

    PRO Queer – the PRO Network for Sexual and Gender Diversity, the Netherlands

  • 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.

  • National Dialogue in Sarajevo Calls for Stronger Protection of LBQ Women from Gender-Based Violence

    National Dialogue in Sarajevo Calls for Stronger Protection of LBQ Women from Gender-Based Violence

    Representatives of public institutions, civil society and the LGBTIQ+ and feminist movements gathered in Sarajevo on 28 April 2026 for a national dialogue on protection from gender-based violence against lesbian, bisexual and queer women in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The discussion made one thing clear: recognition must now be followed by coordinated institutional action.

    LBQ women experience violence in their families, intimate relationships, communities, institutions and public spaces. Yet their experiences remain largely invisible within systems designed to prevent violence and protect survivors.

    Although data, testimonies and concrete policy recommendations are increasingly available, many survivors continue to encounter institutions that do not recognise their experiences, services that are not accessible to them and referral systems that fail to provide effective protection.

    The national dialogue brought together public stakeholders, policymakers, representatives of relevant institutions, and feminist and LGBTIQ+ organisations to discuss what must change to ensure that no survivor is excluded because of her sexual orientation or the gender of her partner.

    The event was opened by Jadranka Miličević from CURE Foundation, followed by institutional input from Dr Saša Leskovac, representing the Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Agency for Gender Equality of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

    Elena Petrovska, representing ERA and its WLW Caucus, presented the broader regional reality of gender-based violence against LBQ women, highlighting the patterns and systemic barriers shared across the Western Balkans.

    Jasmina Čaušević from CURE Foundation presented the policy brief for Bosnia and Herzegovina, outlining the gaps in existing protection mechanisms and recommendations for making institutional responses more inclusive, accessible and effective.

    Community priorities and institutional responsibility

    The panel discussion brought together Emina Bošnjak from the Sarajevo Open Centre, Lejla Huremović from the BH Pride March, and Admir Adilović from the Tuzla Open Centre.

    The discussion addressed community priorities, legal and institutional protection, survivors’ experiences and the need for continuous and honest dialogue between institutions and civil society. Panellists emphasised that LBQ survivors must not be required to conceal who they are, educate service providers about their identities or risk further discrimination when seeking support.

    The recommendations presented during the dialogue call for institutions to:

    • formally recognise and adequately respond to violence occurring in same-sex intimate relationships;
    • ensure that shelters and other protection services are safe and accessible to LBQ survivors;
    • provide continuous training for police officers, prosecutors, judges, healthcare professionals and social workers;
    • establish clear, safe and survivor-centred referral pathways;
    • collect relevant and disaggregated data while respecting survivors’ privacy and safety;
    • provide sustainable funding for community-based support services; and
    • introduce effective mechanisms for institutional accountability.

    Participants called on institutions not only to listen, but to act, coordinate and provide meaningful protection. Silence, neglect, prejudice and exclusion are not neutral: when institutions fail to respond, they risk reinforcing the violence and isolation survivors already experience.

    LBQ women can no longer be treated as an afterthought within policies and systems intended to protect women from violence. Survivors should not be sent from one closed door to another, while evidence and recommendations remain without implementation.

    A local and regional struggle

    The dialogue in Sarajevo connects ongoing initiatives in Bosnia and Herzegovina with regional efforts to improve the prevention of and response to gender-based violence against LBQ women across the Western Balkans.

    While legal frameworks, institutional structures and community realities differ across the region, the central demand remains the same: protection systems must protect everyone.

    The fight is both local and regional, and no woman should be left alone because of who she is or who she loves.

    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.

  • 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.

  • National Roundtable in Albania Calls for Comprehensive Protection of LBQ Women from Gender-Based Violence

    National Roundtable in Albania Calls for Comprehensive Protection of LBQ Women from Gender-Based Violence

    On 26 March 2026, the Women Loving Women Caucus of ERA – LGBTI Equal Rights Association for the Western Balkans and Türkiye and Aleanca LGBT convened the National Dissemination and Stakeholder Roundtable on Gender-Based Violence against LBQ Women in Albania.

    Invisible to the system, visible to violence. This message framed a discussion focused not only on the evidence collected, but also on the concrete action required to transform that evidence into meaningful protection.

    Held at Europe House, the event brought together institutional representatives, civil society organisations, service providers, advocates and members of the lesbian* community to examine the gaps that continue to leave LBQ women inadequately protected from gender-based violence.

    The event was opened by Xheni Karaj, Executive Director of Aleanca LGBT, who presented the main objectives of the national dissemination and emphasised the importance of bringing research findings into dialogue with the institutions and organisations responsible for prevention and protection.

    Elena Petrovska, ERA’s Project and Advocacy Coordinator, speaking on behalf of the WLW Caucus, presented the broader regional context. She underlined the importance of moving from evidence to concrete action following the large-scale regional research on gender-based violence against LBTIQ women in the Western Balkans.

    From rights on paper to protection in practice

    A central part of the event was the presentation of the Albania Policy Brief by Dea Nini, expert and lawyer from Aleanca LGBT.

    The policy brief identifies critical gaps between Albania’s international human rights obligations and the realities experienced by LBQ women. Although formal legal protections exist, survivors continue to encounter institutional prejudice, inadequate services and protection mechanisms that do not recognise violence within same-sex relationships.

    Closing the gap between rights on paper and protection in practice requires comprehensive reform. The recommendations presented during the roundtable call for:

    • Full implementation of the Istanbul Convention: ensuring that measures for preventing and combating violence protect all women, including LBQ and other LBTIQ women, without discrimination or exception.
    • SOGIESC-sensitive and trauma-informed institutions: providing continuous training for police officers, prosecutors, judges, healthcare professionals, social workers and other frontline service providers.
    • Legal recognition of same-sex intimate partner violence: amending relevant laws and procedures so that survivors can access restraining orders and other protection measures.
    • Safe and accessible protection services: establishing specialised and sustainably funded LGBTIQ shelters, while ensuring inclusive admission procedures across general shelters and support services.
    • A ban on harmful practices: explicitly prohibiting so-called “conversion” practices within healthcare, social services and other institutional settings.

    These reforms are essential to ensure that survivors are recognised by the system, treated with dignity and able to seek support without fear of discrimination, rejection or further violence.

    Building institutional and community cooperation

    The roundtable was joined by Endri Shabani, People’s Advocate, alongside representatives of the Ministry of Health, the Municipality of Tirana, the Council of Europe, the media, women’s organisations providing shelter services and advocating for protection from gender-based violence, LGBTIQ shelter-service providers, civil society leaders and members of the lesbian* community.

    Their participation created an opportunity to connect research findings and community knowledge with the responsibilities of public institutions and service providers.

    Effective protection cannot depend solely on the efforts of civil society. It requires sustained cooperation between institutions, community organisations, legal professionals, service providers and survivors themselves. It also requires adequate resources, clear referral pathways and accountability when institutions fail to respond.

    LBQ women cannot remain invisible within systems intended to protect women from violence. The evidence is available, the protection gaps have been identified and the recommendations are clear.

    It is now time to turn these findings into protection.

    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.