In the show "Tempus" on KTV, a story was broadcast, which shows what are the rights and responsibilities of institutions in dealing with the cases of journalists and LGBTIQ+ communities.
Journalists and media professionals have the right to exercise their profession freely and without interference, and this includes freedom of opinion and the freedom to receive or impart information and ideas without interference from public authorities and regardless of frontiers .
All this, with the aim of clarifying the truth and informing the public correctly. Therefore, in every case when this freedom is threatened, the state is obliged to investigate, prosecute and judge independently and impartially the perpetrators of criminal offenses against journalists and the media in general.
According to the data of the Association of Journalists of Kosovo, only in the first six months of 2023 there were 47 cases of attacks, threats and public defamation against journalists in Kosovo.
This statistic shows an increasing trend compared to previous years, where in 2022 33 cases were registered, while in 2021 29 cases of attacks, threats and public defamation against journalists were registered.
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Any journalist who suffers any kind of attack, threat, intimidation, or other form during the performance of his duties, can report the case to the Police or the Prosecutor, as well as inform the organizations that deal with the protection of journalists' rights.
In the case where the citizen threatened to kill the journalist and the cameraman, saying that they owed him "some blood and that he will bring them to the flag", the case was reported to the Police. The person in question was arrested, while the court sentenced the perpetrator with a fine of 200 euros for the criminal offense of "Intimidation".
In the case where the citizen physically attacked the journalist, thereby committing the criminal offense of "Slight bodily injury". The case has been reported, while the Court has sentenced the perpetrator with a fine of 4 euros.
In the case where the citizen threatened the journalist with his life through the Facebook social network. The case has been reported, while the Court has sentenced the perpetrator with a fine of 700 euros, for the criminal offense of "Intimidation".
In Kosovo, journalists can also benefit from free legal aid in cases where they are fired, sued for defamation, prosecuted or faced with strategic lawsuits against public participation.
As for LGBTIQ+ persons, they enjoy freedom and equal rights according to the Constitution of Kosovo and the legislation in force. But, in practice, the people of these communities continue to face violations of their rights, discrimination or even gender-based violence.
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The report of the European Commission highlights the increase in cases of violence against LGBTIQ+ persons. It turns out that LGBTIQ+ people often experience violence within the family, from their family members.
In these cases, in accordance with the law, the victims have the right to initiate procedures for setting a protective order, following the criminal procedure and finally realizing the right to compensation.
The state has the obligation to provide assistance and support to all persons in need of housing, including LGBTIQ+ persons, who remain homeless due to rejection by their family.
A frequent form of human rights violation that LGBTIQ+ people face is hate speech towards them, and this becomes even more disturbing when hate speech is used by members of the Assembly of Kosovo, as happened during the discussions on draft Civil Code.
Hateful language towards these communities has degraded even the streets to calls for murder.
On the other hand, some sensitive issues for the rights of LGBTIQ+ persons would be addressed through the New Civil Code, such as marriages/civil unions of the same sex, which is failing to be approved in the Assembly.
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This delay causes obstacles in efforts to advance their rights and democracy in the country.
In any case of violation of these rights, there are mechanisms for dealing with them. To assist with these procedures, persons who are subject to these violations can request free professional assistance to realize their rights through the Center for Free Legal Assistance of the Kosovo Institute for Justice. / Oath of Justice
