LGBTI Equal Rights Association for Western Balkans and Turkey
Serbia
Serbia has adopted a wide anti-discriminatory legal framework. However, there are legal gaps that leave the rights of LGBTI people unregulated, including the rights of same-sex partners and access to documents for trans people.
This country report is part of a sub-regional project “Being LGBTI in Eastern Europe” implemented by UNDP in partnership with civil society and in cooperation with the LGBTI – Equal Rights Association for the Western Balkans and Turkey (ERA). In Serbia the project was implemented with the following country partners: Association Rainbow and Civil Rights Defenders.
This report has been developed as part of the project “Being LGBTI in Eastern Europe: Reducing inequalities and exclusion, and combating homophobia and transphobia experienced by LGBTI people in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, and Serbia”. The project considers LGBTI issues in each of the countries from a human rights and development perspective, contextualizing these against the backdrop of civil society capacity development, community mobilization and government competence. This includes but is not limited to, the right to health and well-being, within the context of development.
This country report for Serbia is intended to voice lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBTI) communities’ concerns; identify gaps in legislation and practice; and provide recommendations to relevant stakeholders.
The report is based on a comprehensive desk review of existing reports and publications, jurisprudence, legislation and other relevant materials related to LGBTI people in Serbia. Information gathered from secondary sources has been verified and supplemented through interviews and discussion with various stakeholders. Special thanks goes to the government authorities, civil society representatives, activists, representatives of independent state bodies, health workers, and members of the judiciary who generously provided their time and expertise, and shared key information, reference materials and guidance during the production of the report.
Each chapter begins with a summary of data focusing on identified gaps, and is followed by analysis of the legislative framework and extent to which LGBTI people are able to claim their rights in practice. The report ends with conclusions and recommendations based on the report’s findings.