In Kosovo, organizations dealing with the protection of the rights of the LGBT community, say that their situation has deteriorated, while calling for greater institutional support for this community.

The comments were made during the celebration of May 17, the International Day Against Homophobia.

Arbër Nuhiu, director of the Center for Development of Social Groups, told VOA that in addition to the consequences of the pandemic, the position of the LGBT community has been aggravated by the language used by members of the Kosovo Parliament in the March 16 session this year, when The adoption of the draft Civil Code, which paves the way for the regulation of marriages between persons of the same sex, also failed.

"While so far we have mainly faced hate speech used on social media by ordinary citizens who have commented and used homophobic, transphobic language, this year the situation is even more worrying because for the first time the deputies of the Kosovo Parliament have given "They have the right to offend, insult, denigrate and use hate speech and incitement which can escalate and ordinary citizens can accept it as a message to attack a certain group,"

 he said.

Mr. Nuhiu said that taking occasion from this session, the topic of the conference in honor of this day is named "LGBT and politics".

According to him, political parties in Kosovo constantly ignore the issues of the LGBT community by not including them at all in their programs.

"Political parties must start discussing this issue, start an internal debate, starting with the leader, the party leadership onwards because we can not be isolated in Europe, 

" he said.

Sweden's Ambassador to Kosovo, Karin Hernmarck, said the language used in parliament in March was deeply disappointing, noting that the way a country treats LGBT-like communities is vital.

"Kosovo's constitution is one of the few in the world that guarantees a clear prohibition of discrimination based on sexual orientation, while guaranteeing everyone the right to marriage and family life," 

she said.

Blert Morina, from the organization CEL says that the lack of support and security is forcing members of the LGBT community to seek opportunities to leave Kosovo.

"We already see the great demand of young people to leave Kosovo, especially those who belong to the LGBT community precisely because of the fact that currently they are not offered even the slightest security required to have a dignified welfare "and a basic security, 

" he said.

A civil society report on human rights for 2021 published this month, highlighted that the LGBT community is among the most vulnerable in Kosovo.

Kosovo passed an anti-discrimination law in 2004, and representatives of civil society and the LGBT community say the legal framework provides guarantees for their rights, but that this community is still forced to live in the shadows, fearing that the discovery of sexual orientation could lead to exclusion from family and society.