“Members of the LGBT community should have rights as all other citizens of B&H”, said the Minister of Human Rights and Refugees Semiha Borovac. Minister Borovac talked about rights and threats of the LGBT population in B&H, as well as the Pride Parade in our country.
- „What specific plans do you have in order to improve the rights of the LGBT population? “
„By the Constitutions of B&H and by international documents applicable to B&H, the prohibition of discrimination is established, and by the adoption of the Law of Prevention of Discrimination and the Law of Gender Equality in B&H – its forms are defined, the prohibition of discrimination in all areas of life is established and as well as mechanisms for protection against discrimination. The Ministry of Human Rights and Refugees completed the amendments to the Law of Prohibition of Discrimination, which states that any discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity and/or sexual characteristics is forbidden. These provisions are protecting against discrimination of gays, lesbians, bisexuals, transgendered people in B&H. Amendments to the Act were adopted on the sitting of the Council of Ministers, which was held on the 23rd of December 2015 and was sent for approval to the Parliamentary Assembly of B&H.“
- „What is your attitude, whether members of the LGBT community have rights as all other citizens of B&H?”
„Yes. In B&H, discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity is forbidden. By the Anti-Discrimination Law, discrimination is considered to be any kind of different treatment including every exclusion, restriction or preference based on real or assumed features towards any person or group of persons based on their sexual orientation, gender identity and sexual characteristics, as well as any other circumstance that has the purpose or effect that any person gets disabled or endanger recognition, enjoyment or exercise on an equal footing of their rights and freedom in all spheres of public life.
The law stipulates that any person, who considers itself as being discriminated, can seek protection of their rights in court and administrative proceedings. In its normative part, in Article 2 of the Constitution of B&H, it is stated that the general principle of non-discrimination includes ensuring the enjoyment of the rights specified in the text, regardless of gender, race, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, association with a national minority, property, birth or other status. The enjoyment of the rights is ensured throughout the country, and all the governments, administrative bodies and courts in B&H are obliged to apply the standards of protection of human rights.
Parliamentary Assembly of FB&H has adopted the Law on Gender Equality in 2003, which is the first piece of legislation that directly states the prohibition of discrimination regarding sexual orientation and gender identity. Discrimination is prohibited in the public and the private sphere. In order to monitor the application of this law, we have established the Agency for Gender Equality in B&H. “
(Source: Ervin Musinovic/Klix.ba)
