The Pride Week was concluded in Pristina with a series of public activities supported by EU and Council of Europe anti-discrimination action reaffirming the commitment to equality, dignity and the protection of the human rights of LGBTIQ+ people.
The launch of the Pride Week on June 1st brought togetherat the Government Building ) activists, community members, institutional representatives and partners to celebrate diversity, reflect on progress achieved, and call for continued action to ensure that equality is lived in practice.
Speaking at the official opening of Pride Week, Mary-Ann Hennessey, Head of Office of the Council of Europe Office in Pristina, underlined that equality is not something to be requested, but a right that belongs to every person. “LGBTQI+ people do not need to ask for equality. We are all equal. Our human rights have been earned by being human – no more, no less. While we celebrate diversity today, it should remind us that inclusion, respect and equality are not just keywords; they represent the beating heart of participatory and healthy democracies. Without them, democracy is just a dead word, just another method for distributing political power.”, she stressed, concluding with a clear message of solidarity: “Let the Pride be loud for all to hear!”
As part of Pride Week, the conference “10 Years of Pride, Resistance, and Action” organised in Pristina on June 4th ) marked a historic milestone for the LGBTIQ+ movement in Kosovo*. The event created a space for reflection on a decade of public awareness, collective resistance and movement-building for LGBTIQ+ rights. Inspired by the slogan “Equality or Revolt,” the discussions focused on the journey so far and the path ahead, highlighting the courage, resilience and determination of activists and communities who have stood firm for ten consecutive years.
Pride Week culminated with the Pride Parade on June, 5th) in Pristina. Under the slogan “Equality or Revolt” brought people together in a powerful public call for fairness, dignity and belonging. Participants stressed that pride does not mean a week of activities — it is a call to protect human rights, strengthen democracy and ensure that every person can live freely, safely and with dignity.
The Pride Week was supported by Action on Combating Discrimination and Hatred, part of the EU and Council of Europe joint programme “Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Türkiye”
*This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo Declaration of Independence.