Kosovo*
Categories Score
The full bar chart stands for 100%, and is filled by the country category score. The colour display uses the traffic light palette, with Green representing a score closer to 100% and Red a score closer to 0%.
ASYLUM
This category looks into laws that expressly include SOGISC as a qualification criteria for seeking asylum. We also take into account other legislation, policies, instruction or positive measures by state actors that are related to asylum addressing the needs and rights of LGBTI asylum seekers and refugees.
Criteria Compliance Ratio
Each pie charts stands for a category and is divided in slices by criteria. When a country complies with a criteria – fully or in some regions – the slice is coloured.
Keep in mind the criteria have different weighting factor within a category; for example, the criteria Prohibition of medical intervention without informed consent (intersex) stands for half (2.5%) of the INTERSEX BODILY INTEGRITY category weighting factor (5%). Meaning that even if a country can only comply with this specific criteria within the category (1/4 total criteria) the category scores 50%.
More information on the categories and criteria weighting factors here.
Category & Criteria Table
The table lists detailed information and insights on legislation supporting each criterion status. Please use the filters for in-depth analysis.
n/a = not applicable, meaning the criteria didn’t exist in the previous Rainbow Map edition (PROGRESSION column)
- Complies
- Applicable in some regions only
- Does not Comply
RECOMMENDATIONS
In order to improve the legal and policy situation of LGBTI people in Kosovo*, ILGA-Europe recommend:
- Adopting legal measures to ensure marriage equality.
- Adopting legal measures to recognise and protect same-sex couples, such as registered partnership.
- Adopting a fair, transparent legal framework for legal gender recognition, based on a process of self-determination and free from abusive requirements (such as sterilisation, GID/medical diagnosis, surgical/medical intervention, compulsory divorce or age restriction).
Annual Review of Kosovo*
In our Annual Review of the Human Rights Situation of LGBTI People in Europe and Central Asia, we examine the advances made and provide concrete examples of on-the-ground situations at national level country-by-country in the 12 months from January to December 2024.
Read our Annual Review of Kosovo* below for more details and stories behind the Rainbow Map. You can also download the Annual Review chapter (.pdf) covering Kosovo.
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In April, Prime Minister Albin Kurti revealed plans to legalise same- sex partnerships as part of the country’s bid to join the Council of Europe. Nonetheless, the Civil Code has remained stagnant since March 2022, with no progress on its submission to parliament.
In September, Eman Rrahmani and Visar Korenica, MPs from the ruling LVV party, decided to leave the party and form a new coalition called the “List for Family.” This move is in protest of the Draft Civil Code, which they aim to block from being voted on, claiming that it would promote laws concerning the rights of LGBTI persons that would be ‘unacceptable even for Europeans’.
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In June, hundreds participated in Pristina’s eighth Pride march, advocating for LGBTI rights in Kosovo.
Blert Morina from CEL emphasised this year’s motto, “We have been, and we will be,” underscoring the need for solidarity and a safe shelter for the LGBTI community.
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In June, Prime Minister Albin Kurti reaffirmed Kosovo’s commitment to democracy and equality during Pristina’s yearly Pride march.
The full Annual Review for 2025 is available here.
* Kosovo is included in the Rainbow Map as a separate jurisdiction following UNSCR 1244/1999
