In Montenegro, LGBTI persons faced an extremely high level of hatred, violence and discrimination this year, it was reported from the LGBT Forum Progress.
On the occasion of International Human Rights Day, that non-governmental organization (NGO) said that the pandemic continued to have a multiple negative impact on the lives of everyone in Montenegro, especially on vulnerable and marginalized communities, which include LGBTI people.
"At the beginning of the pandemic, we witnessed a manifold increase in the need to provide support services to LGBTI people, and it was no less during this year as well," the announcement says.
LGBT Forum Progres said that in the previous 12 months, they provided psychological support to 186 users.
As stated by that NGO, they provided psychiatric support to 37 beneficiaries, and social support and counseling to 132.
They said that the LGBTIQ shelter, as a key support program for LGBTI victims of violence, provided accommodation and protection for nine beneficiaries in the same period.
"In addition to the aforementioned impact of the pandemic, LGBTI persons in Montenegro faced an extremely high degree of hatred, violence and discrimination during this year," the statement says.
As stated, they primarily manifested as hate speech on social networks and in public space, but also through the worrying trend of growing domestic violence and peer violence.
"It is precisely for these reasons that during this year LGBT Forum Progress submitted more than 100 applications for hate speech on the Internet to the Police Directorate and provided legal support to 78 users," the statement says.
The LGBT Forum Progresa said that the year that was coming to an end was also marked by positive events, which serve as a further incentive for an even stronger and dedicated fight for the dignity and human rights of LGBTI persons in Montenegro.
As they stated, the Faculty of Political Sciences at the beginning of the year adopted the initiative of LGBT Forum Progress to withdraw textbooks with homophobic content.
LGBT Forum Progress said that in the same period strong cooperation was achieved with the administration of the University of Montenegro.
As they stated, cooperation with traditional allies and partners of the LGBTI community was deepened, above all with the Protector of Human Rights and Freedoms, numerous representatives of the executive and legislative authorities and international institutions.
"It was through their participation in various events that it was confirmed that LGBTI people have strong and dedicated partners in the process of realizing our basic human rights and a dignified life," the statement said.
LGBT Forum Progres said that this year will be remembered for the first same-sex partnerships in Montenegro, thus writing a new page in the history of the Montenegrin and international LGBTI movement.
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