Pink Embassy
About Pink Embassy
PINK Embassy / LGBT Pro
Albania is a non-profit organization which works for the protection and
advancement of the rights of lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transgender, intersex
and queer people in Albania.
Our work started in the
mid-2000s with a group of LGBT activists close to CRCA Albania who worked for
the first legal advancements regarding LGBT people and crafted the PINK Embassy
idea. The first program started with “PINK Embassy” thanks to the support of
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in
collaboration with COC Netherland, one of the oldest LGBT organizations in the
country. Public activities started off on May 17th 2010 with
the program “PINK Embassy – creating opportunities and encouraging the LGBT
community in Albania”. Designed within a three year long framework the program
made possible the mainstreaming of the LGBT cause in Albania through awareness
campaigns and a periodic media communication, to stimulate participation and
institutional engagement and strengthen their capacities and create social,
creative and emancipatory spaces for the LGBTI community. During this period
PINK registered as an organization, created a compact, dedicated and
professional team and worked for the coordination of all interest groups at the
benefit of the LGBT cause in the country.
Through these efforts and
the support of national and international partners, on May 17th 2012,
PINK held the “Festival of Diversity”, the first outdoor public event in the
country. This has been one of the most decisive moments for the recognition of
the LGBT cause in the country.
PINK believes that the
advancement of LGBT rights cannot be achieved without the engagement of
relevant institutions and the community. For this purpose, during these years
the organization has developed cooperation with institutions such as the
Albanian Parliament (Kuvendi), the People’s Advocate,
Commissioner for Protection from Discrimination, Ministry of Social Welfare and
Youth, Municipalities etc. In these endeavours we thank all institutions,
organizations and governments which have supported and continue to support the
LGBT movement in Albania. Our friends, in these endeavour have been civil
society and many organizations working for the rights of women, children,
people with disabilities and other minorities.
We have worked and lobbied
for different reports such as legal amendments, action plans and measures and
have served as a research and information centre for LGBT issues in Albania and
abroad and have done our best to create an emancipatory and progressive
environment for the recognition of LGBT rights in the country.
PINK Embassy is a member
of ILGA Europe and IGLYO and networks such as the Regional Network against
Homophobia and Transphobia, BABELNOR etc.
Since 2014 PINK Embassy /
LGBT Pro has been working to host the first LGBT Pride in Albania, on May 17th as
well as the advancement of LGBT rights with policies at central and local
level, strengthening capacities, lobby and advocacy, training programs etc.
Our priorities are:
- Full implementation of the law for
protection from discrimination;
- Full legal recognition of LGBT
people and guaranteeing their full equality with any other Albanian
citizen;
- Emancipation of Albanian
legislation in relation to gender recognition;
- Guaranteeing the right of
cohabitation and marriage for LGBTI people;
- Guaranteeing the right of LGBT
people to adopt and create a family;
- Implementing a national plan of
measures from the Albanian government for the advancement of LGBT rights;
- Create friendly cities for LGBT
people (rainbow cities) for the protection and advancement of LGBT rights
at the local level;
- Reforming the education system in
Albania for the full integration of LGBT issues, particularly the school
curricula to better inform generations on issues of sexual
orientation and gender identity;
- Protecting LGBT children and
teenagers from bullying in schools;
- Protecting LGBT people from hate
crimes and create a positive environment from the State Police;
- Create a positive and accepting
environment within Albanian families with LGBT relatives;
- Guarantee adequate health services
for LGBT people and implement adequate medical policies for trans people.