Pride Week begins in Belgrade

Pride Week begins in Belgrade

The Pride Week will officially start with a gathering at the Misker House venue, after which the traditional Queer Salon will be opened with an exhibition dedicated to unmasking stereotypes about minority social groups and patriarchal society.

During the week various debates and culture and entertainment programs will be organized with the goal of informing the general public about the position of LGBT persons in Serbia.

Member of the organizing committee Goran Miletic told the Beta agency that when it comes to the parade, they are in contact with the police and city authorities.

"As far as we know the position of the police is that everything is completely read for the Pride. We expect everything to go without problems," Miletic said.

The parade will on Sunday start in front of the government HQ in Nemanjina St. and arrive at Nikole Pasica Square via Kneza Milosa and Kralja Milana streets.

At the same time, some 100 meters away participants in the Trans Parade, that is organized for the first time this year, will also gather. This parade will be held in one place, Beta said: between the Presidency, the Assembly, and the City Hall.

In a comment published on his official Facebook account Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Mr Nils Muiznieks said that today his thoughts are with the participants of the Belgrade Pride Week and Pride March in Serbia.

"Marching in support of diversity and equality is not just an exercise of the right to freedom of assembly; it is a public manifestation of everyone’s commitment to our shared values enshrined in the European Convention on Human Rights. I commend the courageous work of the organisers which is often done in adverse conditions without adequate support and understanding," Muiznieks wrote, and added:

"Council of Europe member states still have a long way to go to ensure the full enjoyment of human rights by LGBTI people. Providing security and preventing violence during gay pride events is one of the minimum conditions that governments must meet to protect and promote diversity in their societies."

"The return of Serbia’s Gay Pride March in September 2014 - after it had been banned by the authorities annually since 2010 when the march participants were assaulted - sent a positive signal of respect and inclusion. This year, I call on the authorities to reinforce this message by working side by side with the organisers to hold a successful event and continue working together to achieve a truly inclusive society that guarantees equal rights for all," the CoE official said.