All human rights, including freedom of speech and expression, freedom of assembly and rights to privacy and family life need to be equally accessible for all without discrimination, including for the LGBT population, Bosnia’s Ombudsman for human rights said in a press release on Wednesday.
The statement came after a group of LGBT activists announced on Monday that the first Pride Parade will take place in Sarajevo in September.
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The announcement sparked mixed reactions. Among them were negative comments coming from some right-wing politicians.
“Nobody may be deprived of any rights in their private or public life just because of their sexual orientation,” the press statement said.
In that sense, Bosnia’s Ombudsmen condemn any activity, including statements, which have the goal of discrimination or different behaviour towards the LGBT population, and call upon all government bodies to strengthen their capacities in order to timely respond to any sort of violence targeted at members of the LGBT population,” it said.
The group of Ombudsman concluded that, although Bosnia is among the countries which ensure rights for members of the LGBT community, there is a disharmony between the legislative standard and the practice in enjoying those rights.
Bosnia’s governments should ensure that equal attention is given to the protection of the rights of all citizens and of the LGBT population, it said.
“Failure to take more energetic action in curbing hate speech deepens the divisions in society makes it easier for forming groups in society which believe that they have the right to impose their will on others, while a timely reaction to hate speech gives the bodies which execute the law to foresee the eruption of any serious incidents,” it added.
They also said they will take legal action in any potential cases of activities which have the goal of discriminating against others.
