At the World Bank, we know that social inclusion is not only the right thing but also the economically smart thing to do. More inclusive societies are more likely to make the most of their entire stock of human capital. More open and inclusive cities are better placed to attract international capital and talent. More open and inclusive countries make more attractive international tourist destinations.
“I am not in a position to out myself because in our country people like me are faced with insults, mockery, and even violence if they are not ‘normal'.” This sobering story of a young bisexual woman from the Former Yugoslav Republic (FYR) of Macedonia is emblematic of the struggles lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBTI) people face all over the world. Such exclusion presents a key challenge to achieving the World Bank’s twin goals and the Sustainable Development Goals.
The young woman is not alone! 2,300 LGBTI people from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, FYR Macedonia, Montenegro, and Slovenia shared their experiences in the largest-ever survey of sexual and gender minorities in the region. The research report “Life on the Margins: Survey Results of the Experiences of LGBTI People in Southeastern Europe” provides a detailed account of the responses and tells a story of discrimination, exclusion, and violence.
Every third respondent reported being a victim of violence in the past five years. Transgender respondents are even more vulnerable, with more than half having experienced violence. The dire effects such experiences have on victims are well documented, and there is a broader societal cost from such violence.
Despite legislation prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) in most of the participating countries, almost half (49%) of the respondents reported that they had been discriminated against or harassed in the previous 12 months. Transgender people again are much more vulnerable, with 80 percent of respondents reporting such experiences. Discrimination is widespread throughout the educational system and the workplace, hindering LGBTI people from contributing fully to the development of their societies. Read more via World Bank
Report also available here