One day training on LGBTI rights held in Elbasan

23 March 2015 – PINK Embassy / LGBT Pro Albania held at the Municipality of Elbasan a one-day training on “LGBTI rights and offering LGBTI friendly services”. The training was attended by a big number of participants from different institutions such as several directorates of the Municipality, Regional Health Directorate, Regional Directorate of Social Services, civil society organizations, State Police, students from Faculty of Social Sciences majoring in Social Work etc.

Over 40 participants attended the training which is being held in the framework of the initiative “Improving the lives of LGBTI people at community level” and is being implemented in Tirana, Durrës, Shkodër, Vlorë, Korçë and Elbasan.

Thanks to the big number of participants and the professional diversity the training was organized into several parts through which the trainer shared extensive information and the participants gave their inputs and ideas. The first part served to discuss prejudices against LGBTI people, concepts of sexual orientation and gender identity and discussed problems faced in the integration of this community. Meanwhile the second part served for participants to give their suggestions on difficulties faced by LGBTI people in receiving friendly services and gave recommendations on how to improve them. More specifically they gave inputs in the areas of security, services, education and health.

In their own evaluation participants suggested that such trainings should be as frequent as possible. They considered the possibility to share their inputs and opinions. During many parts of the training participants discussed freely prejudices and concepts as well as speak about the LGBTI topic in the local context.

In the coming weeks PINK Embassy in collaboration with many institutions of Elbasan will hold awareness events such as open lectures, debates and discussion particularly with youth.

PINK Embassy thanks the Municipality of Elbasan for their cooperation in holding this training and wishes for this activity to contribute in the improvement of services in relation to the LGBTI community.