Minister Çitaku was a panellist at the Conference ‘Freedom and protection of Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals and Transgender in Kosovo’

Apart from the presentation of the findings from the report on how Kosovo`s society treats the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender  (LGBT) community, the aim of this conference was also to contribute to the mutual awareness of both; representatives for the protection of humans rights and the community concerned, as well the institutional and security representatives. Awareness of citizens and the society in entirety regarding marginalized groups, and the increased care needed to the certain communities to live free, is of the same importance.

Minister Çitaku, in front of the attendees, pointed out that Kosovo`s institutions will not allow any kind of intimidation, discrimination or unequal treatment of anyone, and all discrimination practices will be punished by our state institutions. And instead, we would appreciate the benefits that diversity brings to all of us.

On her speech, Minister Çitaku stated that: “Kosovo is one of the first countries in the region, which in 2004 has drafted and adopted the law against discrimination. Promotion of equality and prohibition of discrimination have been raised to the highest level in the legislation of the Republic of Kosovo. The Constitution of the Republic of Kosovo, Article 24, determines and guarantees that: All are equal before the law. Everyone enjoys the right of equal legal protection, without discrimination. No one can be discriminated based on race, colour, gender, language, religion, political ideas, national or social origin, relations to a community, property, economic situation, sexual orientation and so on. In addition, the international law has established a very clear stance regarding the promotion and protection of equality and punishment of any form of discrimination. Equality and non-discrimination principles represent the base and essential component of the general international right on human rights”.