Montenegro to host Third International Ministerial IDAHO 2015 Forum

Budva, Montenegro (9 May 2015) -- More than 230 representatives from Montenegro and abroad will gather in Budva on Sunday to attend the Third International Ministerial IDAHO 2015 Forum titled "Ending Hate Crime and Violence" and sponsored by the Government of Montenegro.

This is the third time the IDAHO Forum has been organised at the ministerial level on the occasion of the International Day against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHO - International Day against Homophobia and Transphobia). It is the most important event of that kind to be organised in some of the countries of the region.

The forum's participants, including Montenegro’s deputy prime ministers Duško Marković and Igor Lukšić, ministers of justice, foreign ad interior affairs, culture, education, public administration, labour and social welfare, their deputies and state secretaries from twenty countries from Europe and South Africa, representatives of the Council of Europe, European Union, OSCE, the United States, Canada, most prominent international experts and representatives of the academic community, as well as members of non-governmental and other organisations advocating human rights of LGBT people, will discuss the results and progress achieved in relation to the previous two IDAHO forums, with a view to boosting dialogue on issues of violence based on hate, sexual orientation or gender identity.

The three-day forum, to be held in the hotel "Splendid", includes more than 20 events: a regional training for police and judicial officials, 15 panel discussions and debates on topics such as hate crimes and crimes motivated by prejudice, building bridges towards LGBT community, equality in the workplace, confronting myths and stereotypes, mutual learning and exchange of best practices, as well as NGOs debate. There will be two important round tables at international and intergovernmental levels, namely: 14th Round Table of the European Governmental LGBT Focal Points Network, which will bring together 50 senior government advisers from the European Union, European Commission, countries of the region and the Council of Europe, and the informal meeting of the LGBTI representatives from international organisations such as the Council of Europe, OSCE / ODIHR, European Commission, European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights, UN OHCHR, UNESCO, UN Women, UNICEF, ILO, WHO, UNAIDS, UNDP, World Bank, OSCE and Focal Points Network.

Regional training for police officers and judicial officials, which will be held under the auspices of the IDAHO forum, will be attended by 62 representatives from the police and judiciary of Montenegro and the region. The event is organised in cooperation with the Police Authority of Montenegro, Center for Education of Judges and Prosecutors, Williams Institute at UCLA School of Law, fully supported by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR ), Pink in Blue Police Network Amsterdam (Roze in Blauw), Toronto Police from Canada, EGALE Canada, Galop from the UK, ILGA Europe, ILGA World, International Academic Conference - Justice in the Balkans: Equality for Sexual Minorities, as well as the Council for Civil Control of Police - Montenegro.

For the first time within the IDAHO Forum, the Government of Montenegro, in cooperation with Out Leadership from the US and Europe, IBM Corporation, Parks - Liberi e Uguali from Italy, Völklinger Kreis - German Association of Gay Managers and Entrepreneurs, and the American Chamber of Commerce in Montenegro, will organise a LGBT business forum. The forum seeks to open discussion and provide support to institutions and companies in promoting policy diversity, equality and full social inclusion of all people in the workplace and business.

By organising the IDAHO 2015 Forum, the Montenegro government confirms its commitment to enhancing equal inclusive social life of all citizens and accepting LGBT people in the society.

Public Relations Bureau of the Government of Montenegro will provide the media with photos and video recordings of key lectures, panel discussions and round tables, as well as of the handing over of the IDAHO Forum flag to Montenegro's Deputy Prime Minister Duško Marković.

All relevant information about this year's IDAHO forum can be found here.

The information will be timely published through the @ idaho2015 Twitter channel.

Media representatives wishing to attend the Budva's forum can register on-site by presenting an ID or a press card.

The complete brochure (PDF, 55 pages, 4.8 Mb) about this year's IDAHO forum can be downloaded here.