International Day Against Homophobia 2012

News article | May 22, 2012

On the occasion of International Day Against Homophobia (IDAHO) on May 17th, the Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands participated last week in various events to show his support to the local LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) community in Albania.

On May 17th, Ambassador Henk G.C. van den Dool spoke together with Albanian government representatives, Ombudsman, Commissioner for Anti-Discrimination, other diplomats and civil society human rights activists at the “Festival of Diversity” event organized by the Pink Embassy. Ambassador Henk G.C van den Dool emphasized that “LGBT-rights are Human Rights and Human Rights are universal. Whether you are men or woman. Heterosexual or not. Human Rights apply equally to every human being in the world.”

As symbol of support Ambassador Henk G.C van den Dool released together with the Ambassador of the Pink Embassy Altin Hazizij a rainbow of balloons into the sky. On the eve of IDAHO, the Embassy attended the photo exhibition organized by Aleanca pro-LGBT. The same evening, the screening of the Serbian movie “Parada” took place, co-organized by the Embassy of Germany and the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.