Foreign Embassies: BiH has shown the world it is an open and tolerant country

(Patria) - The Embassy of the United States of America in BiH, the Delegation of the European Union and the Office of the EU Special Representative in BiH, the United Nations in BiH, the Swiss Embassy in BiH, the Dutch Embassy in BiH, the German Embassy in BiH, the Austrian Embassy in BiH, the Swedish Embassy in BiH, the Finnish Embassy, the Embassy of the United Kingdom in BiH, the Embassy of the Kingdom of Spain in BiH, the French Embassy in BiH, the Italian Embassy in BiH, the Embassy of the Czech Republic in BiH, the Greek Embassy in BiH, the Embassy of Romania in BiH, the Slovenian Embassy in BiH, the Bulgarian Embassy in BiH and the Diplomatic Office of the Kingdom of Belgium in BiH issued a statement on the occasion of the first BiH Pride Parade. 

"We congratulate the Organizing Committee, the participants of the Parade, local institutions and the citizens of BiH on the successfully held first Pride Parade in BiH. The people of Bosnia and Herzegovina came together and rejected fear and hatred and, instead, showed the world that BiH is truly an open and tolerant country that respects the rights of all individuals.

Equal human rights for all – that is the essence of the BiH Pride Parade. Everyone in BiH - regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity - has the right to the same rights and freedoms. Yet, the fact remains that these are still not accessible to vulnerable groups. It is everyone's responsibility to support the marginalized who face discrimination and injustice.

We thank the local institutions that made the BiH Pride Parade possible. Now is the time to align existing legal solutions on peaceful assembly with European and international standards, in order to legally guarantee full freedom of expression and assembly.

And while challenges still exist, the citizens of BiH have taken an important step in the fight for equal rights for LGBTI and other marginalized communities. We congratulate you on the courage to be true to yourselves and give hope to others. We are proud to have walked shoulder to shoulder with you and remain by your side as you continue to march for equality and human rights for all"; the statement said.