On 23 September, the World Bank co-organised with the European Commission a workshop on LGBTI Inclusion in the Western Balkans. The event, which took place at the European Commission, focused on assessing the current panorama for LGBTI persons in the region and presenting country analyses.

During the welcome, Eleni Tsetsekou, Head of SOGI Unit at the Council of Europe, stressed the need for continued collaboration between International Governmental Organisations to address the legal and political limbos that remain in place due to legislation or policies that do not foster equality.

This position was reinforced by Clifton Cortez, Global Adviser on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI) at the World Bank, who stated the following:

“Partnerships such as those between CoE, World Bank and Eurpean Commission can address the LGBTI data gaps in the Western Balkans and other regions”.

During the presentation of the World Bank publication on exclusion in the Western Balkans, “Life on the Margins: Survey Results of the Experiences of LGBTI People in Southeastern Europe”, Dominik Koehler (World Bank), noted that:

“Every second LGBT person had experienced discrimination in Southeastern Europe.”

The event was followed by a presentation of Council of Europe standards on SOGI equality and policies, as well as country discussions (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo*, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia). During these discussions, legal gender recognition emerged as one of the common highlights in various government speeches, such as those of Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia.

*All references to Kosovo, whether the territory, institutions or population, in this text shall be understood in full compliance with United Nation's Security Council Resolution 1244 and without prejudice to the status of Kosovo.