Highlighting Human Rights on International Day against Homophobia

Speeches Shim

Friday, May 17, 2019
Image of IDAHOT2019 Banner

On May 17, Ambassador Kosnett, alongside government and international partners, spoke at an event marking International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia.  Two Kosovo-based civil society organizations, Centre for Social Group Development and the Center for Equality and Liberty, organized the event, which brought together representatives from Government of Kosovo institutions, civil society organizations, and international partners.  

In his speech, Ambassador Kosnett underscored the need for the government, civil society, and individual citizens to respect the rights of all citizens, including those from the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual, and intersex (LGBTI) community.  According to a 2015 study by the National Democratic Institute, 80 percent of Kosovo LGBTI citizens interviewed said they had been subjected to psychological abuse because of their sexual orientation, while 29 percent reported being victims of physical violence.