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Country Overview

Serbia

At a glance

Same-sex Relations for Men Legal Throughout the Country?

Yes

Same-sex Relations for Women Legal Throughout the Country?

Yes

Legal Gender Recognition Possible?

Yes

LGBTI Orgs Able to Register?

Yes

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Although Serbia has certain progressive laws concerning LGBTIQ people, LGBTIQ people face many barriers to accessing freedom and equality. Discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity and sex characteristics is illegal. However, there is no legal recognition of same-sex relationships, and the Constitution explicitly bans same-sex marriage. Transgender people can change their legal gender markers. However, trans people are still pathologized, as the process of changing legal gender markers still requires hormone therapy and documentation from a psychiatrist. Civil society is advocating for a system that is based on self-determination. LGBTIQ asylum seekers have faced difficulty in accessing housing and work permits. Hate speech about LGBTIQ people by politicians and religious leaders is a prevalent issue, and both violent and nonviolent hate crimes occur regularly, largely with impunity. The government has often censored the discussion of LGBTIQ topics in settings like schools. Several Pride events have been canceled due to safety concerns. In 2022, EuroPride took place in the capital city of Belgrade, although there were attempts by high-level government officials to cancel the event, and counter-protestors attacked several EuroPride participants. 

 

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.

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United Nations

Our work at the United Nations centers around advocating for the advancement of the rights of LGBTIQ people.

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Asia

Our work in Asia promotes acceptance of sexual and gender diversity at all levels of society.

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Middle East and North Africa

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.



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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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Americas

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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Pacific

Our work in the Pacific aims to increase the 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

Since 1990, we have partnered with activists from all over the world to produce hundreds of groundbreaking reports.

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