Centre for Civic Education (CCE) highlights, ahead of the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT), marked on 17 May, that LGBTIQ+ individuals in Montenegro still live under pressure from fear, silence, and systemic injustice.
CCE reminds that we are witnessing increasingly frequent violence in public spaces, particularly on social media, where hate speech goes unpunished. Physical attacks, threats, and harassment against LGBTIQ+ people often remain unprosecuted or end in symbolic and ineffective penalties. This sends a message that violence against LGBTIQ+ individuals is socially acceptable.
CCE emphasizes that behind the legally polished facade lies a harsh reality where the rights of LGBTIQ+ people are systematically ignored. Montenegro’s Criminal Code prescribes penalties for hate speech, but these provisions are rarely enforced. The Anti-Discrimination Law prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, yer institutions remain passive and sanctions are lacking. Such practices discourage LGBTIQ+ people from reporting violence and directly embolden perpetrators to continue spreading hate.
At the same time, the Law on Life Partnership of Same-Sex Persons, which came into force in 2021, has still not been harmonized with the broader legislative framework. Specifically, the Government has not initiated, nor has the parliament adopted, the necessary set of laws and by-laws, effectively blocking the law’s implementation. Amendments to 27 laws and 14 by-laws have not been made, preventing LGBTIQ+ individuals from enjoying the full range of rights guaranteed by this law. The Draft Law on Legal Gender Recognition Based on Self-Determination is far from entering parliamentary procedure, and by ignoring this issue, the ruling political structures are sending a message that the standards and criteria of equality in Montenegro are set in a way that renders LGBTIQ+ people invisible, disenfranchised, and institutionally neglected. All of this highlights the lack of political and institutional will to improve existing laws, adopt new ones, and ensure consistent enforcement.
The position of LGBTIQ+ children and youth is particularly concerning, as they most often suffer violence in the very places where they should feel safest – their families. Rejection, emotional and physical abuse, pressure to live a lie, and institutional silence remain part of daily life, which remains largely unspoken. Growing up in such an environment has far-reaching consequences – for mental health, educational outcomes, employment prospects, and social inclusion. Instead of developing their talents and contributing to society, young LGBTIQ+ individuals are marginalized and condemned to social isolation.
The theme of this year’s IDAHOBIT is the power of communities. Sadly, the LGBTIQ+ community in Montenegro is still in survival mode rather than truly living. While institutions refuse to recognize violence as a systemic problem, while prosecutors protect perpetrators and schools remain silent, and political actors distance themselves – the community becomes increasingly vulnerable, quieter, and more exhausted. That is why it is crucial – today and every day – to insist on the dedicated enforcement of laws, because without that, there is no justice, and the power of community is rooted in institutional accountability.
Miloš Knežević, Development Coordinator