LORI is dedicated to promoting and protecting the human rights of LGBTIQ+ persons in Croatia through education, research, advocacy, and community support. Through programme Combatting discrimination and advancing the rights of LGBTI persons, we regularly monitor the position of human rights of LGBTI persons in Croatia and contribute to annual reports for several national and international institutions. In 2025, LORI contributed key insights to Outright International’s global report Queering Democracy, which analyzes how electoral dynamics and political discourse shaped LGBTIQ+ rights in 60 countries, including Croatia.
Outright International is a global human rights organization working to advance equality and safety for LGBTIQ+ people worldwide, partnering with local groups to document violations and strengthen advocacy.
In terms of Croatia, LORI emphasized: “We have decent legal frameworks, but the country does little to promote them,” pointing to gaps between formal protections and the everyday experiences of LGBTIQ+ persons.
The report also documents the rise of anti-gender rhetoric and the significant increase in anti-LGBTIQ+ speech, particularly on social media. This trend has contributed to a more polarized public atmosphere, with harmful narratives influencing schools, public institutions, and community spaces. LORI reported a noticeable increase in cases of bullying and psychological distress among LGBTIQ+ youth, underlining the real impact of these narratives on young people’s safety and well-being.
At the same time, the report marks an important development: for the first time, LGBTIQ+ youth have achieved some political representation. Although broader policy discussions on healthcare, education, family life, and social inclusion often remained overshadowed by public controversies, this representation signals a meaningful step forward for youth visibility in Croatia’s political landscape.
By contributing to this international report, LORI aims to strengthen awareness, promote evidence-based understanding, and encourage continued efforts to make Croatian society safer and more inclusive for all LGBTIQ+ people.
Access the full publication ‘Queering Democracy The Global Elections in 2024 and How LGBTIQ People Fared’ here.
Further resources on anti-discrimination efforts can be found here, whereas here is more about the human rights of LGBTI persons.
All LORI publications can be downloaded here for free.
The text was written by students Lana Budiš and Ivan Grašo as part of the course “Gender, Sexuality, Identities – From Oppression to Equality”.
