Country Overview
Kosovo
At a glance
Same-sex Relations for Men Legal Throughout the Country?
Same-sex Relations for Women Legal Throughout the Country?
Legal Gender Recognition Possible?
LGBTI Orgs Able to Register?
Actions Related to SOGI at the UN:
2016:
2019:
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The situation of LGBTIQ people in Kosovo is mixed. Although same-sex sexuality is legal, same-sex couples cannot be legally recognized or adopt. Discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity is banned, but a large portion of LGBTIQ people have been subject to harassment or violence due to their identity. Hate speech against LGBTIQ people is an issue both online and offline. No existing laws allow transgender people to change their legal name or gender markers, but in 2019, a court ruled in favor of a person seeking to change his name and gender markers. It is understood that other transgender people would have to go through a similar court process to have their gender legally recognized. LGBTIQ Pride parades have been held annually in the capital city of Pristina. Several LGBTIQ organizations operate in Kosovo and advocate for equal treatment of LGBTIQ people.
Global Impact
Sub-Saharan Africa
Outright supports LGBTIQ organizations in Sub-Saharan Africa and works with mainstream human rights organizations to respect human rights and influence positive changes in laws, policies, attitudes, and beliefs that cause discrimination against LGBTIQ people on the continent.
United Nations
Our work at the United Nations centers around advocating for the advancement of the rights of LGBTIQ people.
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In the Middle East and North Africa, we partner with local groups in various countries as part of our international solidarity work. We also work with our local partners on different topics through capacity building, advocacy, research and holistic security.
Europe and Central Asia
Outright International partners with activists to fight for an end to human rights violations based on sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression in Europe and Central Asia, where most of our work involves emergency responses to harassment, discrimination, violence, and most recently, Russia’s brutal and expanded invasion of Ukraine.
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Our work in the Americas continues to build on the fundamental and positive transformation of human rights protections in recent years. We partner with groups in the Caribbean that focus on ending gender-based violence and eradicating discrimination against trans people.
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Our work in the Pacific aims to increase visibility of activists, respond to human rights emergencies, and actively bridge local, regional and international activism to achieve equality and justice.
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Human Rights Research
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