Zero tolerance for violence against LGBT persons – SOC and CURE condemn attack in Mediacentar

As diskriminacija.ba reports, on Friday, October 11, 2013 OneWorld Platform for Southeast Europe (OWPSEE) Foundation and LGBTIQA organisation Okvir, presented seven digital (personal) stories and participatory “Queer Re:act” and “With love, your children” videos, made as part of the Participate 2015 project. In the middle of the presentation, a group of 5 minors tried to forcefully stop the event, with shouts and curses. The incident was reported to the police, but the perpetrators left the premises before the police arrived. More information about this incident can be found at www.diskriminacija.ba

Sarajevo Open Centre and CURE Foundation strongly condemn the attack and call upon the police and the Prosecutor’s Office of Canton Sarajevo to urgently and adequately process and investigate this case. As the information published at diskriminacija.ba make clear this was a case of verbal threats and violence, and not a physical attack or a more severe criminal act. Nevertheless, it is of the utmost importance to take this incident seriously so that the general public and other under-aged persons understand the message that violence against this vulnerable group will not be tolerated. An adequate response from the judicial system to human rights violations will certainly help prevent other potential perpetrators in the future.

An increased visibility of LGBT persons and LGBT related themes also leads to increase in violence against the said group. The whole society and especially governmental institutions (police, prosecution, courts, ministries, etc) have a responsibility to fight such cases of LGBT human rights violations. Also, an active role of educational institutions in educating minors is crucial in order to prevent violence against LGBT persons.

It is time to stop ignoring LGBT human rights violations because LGBT persons are also members of BH society.