Adviser to Prime Minister Jovan Kojičić delivers keynote speech at international conference "Democracy for All: Political participation of LGBTI Persons in Western Balkans"

Belgrade, Serbia (15 September 2015) -- Adviser to Montenegro’s Prime Minister for Human Rights and Protection from Discrimination Jovan Kojičić participated, at the invitation of the Serbian Lesbian Human Rights Organisation (LABRIS), Victory Institute of the USA, German Hirschfeld Eddy Foundation, and in cooperation with the National Assembly of Serbia, in the conference titled "Democracy for All: Political participation of LGBTI Persons in the Western Balkans," which takes place in Belgrade.

In his keynote speech at the conference dedicated to political participation of LGBTI persons in the Western Balkans, Adviser Kojičić outlined the results and considerable experience of the Montenegrin Government in cooperating with the LGBTI community, emphasising the significance of the collaboration.

Besides Adviser Kojičić, the keynote speeches were delivered by Ljiljana Malušić of the Committee for Human and Minority Rights and Gender Equality of the Serbian National Assembly, Ireland's MP Jerry Buttimer, Regional Director of the US National Democratic Institute for Central and Eastern Europe Robert Benjamin, and former MP of the German Bundestag Michael Kauch.

The conference presented attitudes toward LGBTI persons in the region and discussed political parties' willingness to support LGBTI rights, which was the item of the discussion between political stakeholders and LGBT activists in this field. This was another opportunity for the Government of Montenegro to demonstrate its commitment to being an ally and reliable partner in the process of improving the quality of life and human rights of LGBTI persons.