SERBIA: COOPERATION BETWEEN LGBT COMMUNITY AND POLICE FORCES Brussels, December 13 th, 2010

Serbia: legal framework Homosexuality is decriminalized in 1994 The Constitution passed in 2006 prohibits discrimination and ensures freedom of assembly Antidiscrimination provisions of sexual orientation exist in Law on Public Information (2003), Labor Law (2005) and Law on High Education (2005) Anti-Discrimination Law is adopted in 2009 No hate-crime legislation

Serbia: socio-political situation concerning LGBT community High level of homophobia and prejudices in society (e.g. 67% of citizens think that homosexuality is disease) Well organized right-wing organizations and hooligans Lack of systematic and strategically approach to decreasing violence against LGBT persons and implementing Anti- Discrimination Law by state institutions “Unpopular” topic among politicians and decision makers High level of distrust in state institutions by LGBT community (many cases of violence and discrimination are not reported and remain in so-called grey zone)

But also: Ongoing Serbian euro-integrations process as a chance to achieve European human rights standards Increased visibility of LGBT issue Reached the public political consensus among parliamentary political parties and state institutions that violence and discrimination against LGBT persons are unacceptable and must be punished Established a better communication and cooperation between some state institutions (Ministry for Human and Minority Rights, Ministry of Interior, Ombudsman, Commissioner for Equality) and LGBT organizations First successful Belgrade Pride Parade was held on October 10 th, 2010

Gay Straight Alliance (GSA) - introduction Policy making, membership-based organization; founded in 2005 Core activities: - Annual reports of LGBT human rights - Litigation service - Researches - Advocacy and lobbying Key organizer of Belgrade Pride Parade 2010

Police and LGBT issue “Police perform tasks in order to provide to everyone equal protection of the security, rights and freedoms, enforce the law and uphold the rule of law… Guided by the principle of impartiality, the police officers serving the community and protecting all persons from illegal activities and they are required to always act professionally, responsibly and humanely and to respect human dignity, honor and reputation of every persons and all their rights and freedoms” (principles of work based in the Law on Police) Activities on the development of police trainings in the field of exercise and protection of human rights and respect diversity Activities on improving communication with minorites and socially vulnerable groups Participate on round tables, meetings and other forms of cooperation on LGBT issue Study tours in Kent, Great Britain Protect LGBT activists and theire activities

GSA and police work together on: Protection of LGBT parties and other gatherings (since 2006) Eurovision song contest in Belgrade (2008) GSA protest against banning of its press conference in Belgrade Sava Center (2009) Protection of GSA press conferences, round tables, presentations… in Belgrade and other cities (since 2009) Belgrade Pride Parade 2010

To have a first succeeded Pride Parade (in Serbia), you must first to have: Political will Police willingness to cooperate and fully protect the rally

Belgrade Pride Parade 2010 Negotiating between organizers and police, as well as security preparations, started nearly 3 months before Pride Pride security aspects are jointly discussed and defined date and venue; the arrival and leaving of participants; the march route, etc. All special promotion events before Pride were protected by police (Belgrade and 4 other cities) Pride protected around 5,000 police officers Violent side events around the Pride organized by hooligans and right wing extremists were quite sharp but police fully secure Pride participants and evacuated them after There were no incidents on Pride location and attacks on participants during the event; 2 attacks were registered after the Pride ending On that day 147 police officers were injured 249 extremists were arrested

THE END THANK YOU