BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) - Serbia should "quickly take visible steps" to halt a recent spate of violence and discrimination against gays, Human Rights Watch said Tuesday.
The New York-based human rights group said it had written to President Boris Tadic urging him to denounce violence based on sexual orientation or gender identity.
"Homophobic violence in recent months has threatened LGBT people's access to basic freedoms," said Boris O. Dittrich, advocacy director in the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender rights program at Human Rights Watch.
"Leading politicians should show the courage to condemn hatred and prevent abuse," he said.
Attacks and harassment against gays are common in predominantly conservative Serbia. The Balkan country's first gay pride march in years was canceled in September after government said it cannot guarantee security from extremist groups.
The event was widely seen as a major test for Serbia's pro-Western authorities who have pledged to stir the country toward European Union membership. A gay pride march in 2001 was broken up by the extremists who severely beat up many participants as police stood by.
Human Rights Watch urged the government to make sure the next gay pride march can be held safely in 2010. It also demanded a swift state probe into threats against gay activists and said Serbia should introduce anti-discrimination training in schools as well as for its police, judges and prosecutors.
There was no immediate comment from the authorities. Tadic and other government leaders have condemned attacks against gay activists in the past.
*Ventura Country Star
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