Today, on 17 May - International Day against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia, Zoran Pašalić, the Protector of Citizens, pointed out that LGBTI persons in the Republic of Serbia cannot completely exercise all their rights and that amendments to multiple laws are necessary in order to provide them with comprehensive systemic protection.
As a sign of support to LGBTI persons, the Deputy Protector of Citizens for Gender Equality with the associates from the Sector displayed the flags of the LGBT population down the building of the Institution of the Protector Citizens.
“A significant progress in the systemic protection of LGBTI persons has been made last year through the amendments of the Law on Gender Equality and on the prohibition of discrimination banning discrimination on the grounds of gender characteristics. However, it is necessary to amend several more laws in order to improve their position qualitatively”, Pašalić said.
The Protector of Citizens also stated that amendments to the Criminal Code should treat criminal offenses committed on the grounds of sexual orientation as acts of racism and intolerance, and amendments to the Law on Free Legal Aid should include the LGBTI persons in the category of beneficiaries in a vulnerable position.