Prime Minister's Adviser Kojičić participates in Post-IDAHO Round Table "Diversity and LGBTI inclusion in Western Balkans"

Berlin, Germany (28 June 2016) – Adviser to Prime Minister of Montenegro on Human Rights and Protection against Discrimination and National Coordinator for LGBT Policy Jovan Kojičić, together with Minister of State for Europe at the German Federal Foreign Office Michael Roth, opened the Post-IDAHO Round Table in Berlin.

Douglas Elliott, Egale Canada, Human Rights Lawyer, Boris Dittrich, Advocacy Director at Human Rights Watch, Todd Brower, Judicial Education Director at Williams Institute UCLA Law School, the USA, and Dragan Todorović, Executive Co-Director, ERA - LGBTI Equal Rights Association for the Western Balkans and Turkey also spoke at the Round Table, dedicated to diversity and inclusion of LGBTI persons in the Western Balkans.

In the opening speech Minister Roth particularly pointed out that several countries in the Western Balkans, such as Montenegro, adopted strict laws against discrimination. Some explicitly prohibit discrimination based on sexual identity.

"And after years of banning Pride Parade, peaceful parades were organised in recent years, for example in Belgrade – where I took part in 2015, Priština and Podgorica. At the same time, Sarajevo hosted the Queer film festival," Roth said and thanked Mr Kojičić on strong commitment, which pushed Montenegro and the entire region forward, as well as on great contribution to the gradual development of civil society and government.

Minister Roth stressed that "a major issue that remains to be done – in the Western Balkans, in Germany, anywhere in the world – is to bridge the gap that still exists between political willingness and public acceptance. On the one hand, we have countries like Germany, where public acceptance of LGBTI rights is high, and politics follows. On the other hand, there are other countries like Montenegro or Slovenia, where the policy is progressing, but the public still needs to overcome some obstacles".

"The best way to gain support is to show that everyone can benefit from our policy. Therefore, we must again and again emphasise: when it comes to LGBTI rights, we do not mean the exclusive rights or privileges for minorities. On the contrary: we fight for open, tolerant and liberal society, in which everyone is treated as equal citizen. Human rights belong to everyone without exception – regardless of our ethnicity, religion, gender or sexual identity. The OutLeadership initiative carries this idea to the business world. We have to show to the business community that it can benefit by creating positive climate in which every employee feels welcomed and is treated with respect," Minister Roth concluded.

Adviser Kojičić presented the OutLeadership initiative as a platform for promoting diversity and LGBTI inclusion in the Western Balkans, and the LGBTI Package, led by the Government of Montenegro, with a view to further promoting human rights of LGBTI persons at national, regional and international levels. Outleadership is the first global LGBTI business organisation that brings together the leaders of the most influential companies worldwide to create business opportunities, nurture talent and promote LGBTI equality. The OutLeadership programme, which is the partner of the Government of Montenegro since 2013, cooperates with a significant number of the world's largest and most influential companies.

After the introduction commentary of the panelists, the discussion with the participants, representatives of the competent German institutions, civil society, business community and the embassies of the Western Balkan countries followed, regarding different ways of building positive and inclusive business environment for LGBTI persons.

Adviser Kojičić introduced closer the concept of the OutLeadership initiative, which is led by the Government of Montenegro, together with OutLeadership from New York, in partnership with the Williams Institute UCLA Law School, Egale Canada and the European Commission on Sexual Orientation Law, as well as many other institutions, universities and prominent experts in this field.

"The initiative aims to provide answers to current challenges and define mechanisms for institutional approach that will encourage joint action and cooperation to fight against discrimination of LGBTI persons through research, normative instruments, operational programmes and the best projects," Mr Kojičić stated.

Adviser Kojičić also emphasised that the package in a single location incorporates a wide range of educational and training programmes that are available to governments, NGOs and others who advocate justice for all people, including LGBTI people. The aim is to ensure availability of updated, contemporary and practical educational programmes to combat all forms of discrimination and violence, as well as their implementation in order to strengthen and expand LGBTI rights and equality throughout the region.

The Post-IDAHO Round Table in Berlin is sponsored by the Government of Montenegro, under the auspices of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Germany, represented by Minister of State for Europe, in collaboration with the Williams Institute, UCLA Law School and US OutLeadership organisation, as well as the Human Rights Watch, Berlin, Egale Canada, and ERA – LGBTI Equal Rights Associations for the Western Balkans and Turkey.

Blanka Radošević-Marović, Deputy Minister for Human and Minority Rights, and Ranko Vujačić, Montenegrin Ambassador to Germany also participated in the Round Table.