The AIRE Centre
The AIRE Centre offers its full support to the organisers of the 2011 Belgrade Pride Parade.
The AIRE Centre has been working in Serbia for 12 years, training judges, prosecutors, other lawyers and NGOs in the provisions of the European Convention on Human Rights and, more recently, European Union law. In those 12 years, the Serbian authorities have made considerable steps in improving compliance with European human rights standards.
One of the biggest challenges many States in Europe face is ensuring respect for the rights of minorities, and particularly their rights under Article 11 of the European Convention on Human Rights - freedom of assembly. Article 14 requires the authorities to secure this right without any discrimination, including sexual orientation. The AIRE Centre is impressed by the efforts that the organisers of this year's Pride have made to guarantee a successful event. We are hopeful that the authorities will do their part to ensure respect for the Article 11 and Article 14 rights of LGBT people in Serbia, not only on 2 October, but every day.