8.5 % OF THE LOCAL PUBLIC OFFICIALS IN ALBANIA STATE THAT LGBT COMMUNITY SHOULD RECEIVE SERVICES SEPARATE FROM THE GENERAL POPULATION

Mar 17, 2016
Ambasada Pink

8.5 % of the local public officials believe that the LGBT community should receive particular services or intended only for them; 36 % of public officials admitted they knew a LGBT person. 42 % of public officials are pro same - sex marriage, 34 % think that they have the right to create a family, and 68 % think they are citizens like everyone else.

PINK Embassy’ study “Perception of local institutions on LGBT friendly services” in 6 municipalities of the country presents detailed data on how local public services are affected by the lack of information, lack of knowledge on LGBT concepts and the lack of anti-discrimination practices.

Tirana, 17 March 2016 - PINK Embassy presented today the preliminary findings of the study “Perception of local institutions on LGBT friendly services”. The study, first of its kind in the country, highlights local official’s perceptions of the situation on LGBT issues, the Law on Protection from Discrimination, the current anti - discrimination practices and equal treatment in 6 main urban cities of the country.

According to the study, 225 of public officials accepted to fill the questionnaires, while 185 of the respondents were specialists of local public service, while 39 were in management level. 36 % of public officials admitted they knew a LGBT person and 42.3 % said they had known them at the work place. Based on the study’s data 12.9 % did not have information on LGBT community and only 15.2 % had received information from trainings and seminars. 75.1 % reported that they have never been trained on this topic and over 60 % would like to.

According to the data on municipality’s friendly policies, the study shows that 11 % expressed that this happened sometimes, while 24 % had no information at all. 67.9 % of LGBT persons had never requested any service from their municipality, which are significant showing local administrations needs for additional knowhow on LGBT community and friendly services toward them. 2.2 % think that LGBT persons should receive separate services, and 20.5 % say that this is for their best.

68 % of who think they are citizens like everyone else, but 50.5 % did not have information whether they are inferior to others. 25% of officials think that they have no right to have a family, while 21 % think they have no right to get married as well.

The main findings of the study show that:

Municipalities involved in the study generally have positive attitudes towards LGBT rights and LGBT community access to local government services;
Public officials express negative attitudes towards the right to marriage and having a family;
Religion has low impact on offering friendly service to LGBT community;
The role of local administration is essential for the protection of LGBT rights;
Public officials have lack information on LGBT issues, highlighting the need of training and capacity building on this issue.

This study is supported by the European Union in the framework of the initiative "Improving the lives of the LGBT community at local level" and was organized in cooperation with the Commissioner for Protection from Discrimination and the Ombudsman’s office. It was conducted in partnership with the Municipality of Elbasan, Tirana, Shkodra, Vlora, Korça and Durrës.

For more information please contact at the email: pinkembassy@crca.al or telephone number: +355 42265741.