Meet Jovan Kojicic

Meet Jovan Kojicic, newly appointed adviser to the Montenegrin Prime Minister. When you were ed in LUM just over a year ago, you said that your research on sexual minorities’ rights in the Balkans would have been dangerous and impossible to carry out at a Montenegrin university. Now you have been appointed adviser to the Prime Minister on discrimination and human rights.

How have you managed to become Montenegro’s adviser on LGBT issues?

“As a researcher, I have studied the vulnerable situation of LGBT people in the Balkans and Montenegro. I have highlighted the fact that the authorities have not wanted to address the problem. My new job shows that they have realised that something must be done about the situation. That’s why I’m here today. My aim is to improve the situation for the country’s sexual minorities. This is now also the goal of the Montenegrin Government, which makes me very proud!”

What will you prioritise in your work?

“I have been employed to improve the situation of all discriminated minorities, not only LGBT people. When it comes to the sexual minorities, I will draw up an action plan to combat homophobia and ensure that current legislation is really followed and that it is synchronised with international legislation. I will also start information campaigns and education for young people. I think Lund University could help us with this.”

What has the situation been like for LGBT people in Montenegro until now?

“Around 70 per cent of the population still considers homosexuality to be a disease. Sexual minorities have always been very invisible. In so far as they are mentioned it has been in negative terms. I think a society can only begin to accept something with which it is confronted.”

You called your postdoctoral studies in Lund ‘action research’. What does this mean?

“As an example, let me mention the conference which I and my colleagues at the Department of Sociology of Law arranged in Montenegro, ‘Justice in the Balkans: equality for sexual minorities’. It was controversial to hold such a conference in Montenegro and it was arranged as part of my postdoc. Another aspect of my research involved studying the reactions to and consequences of the conference.”

What significance has your postdoctoral fellowship in Lund had for your present career?

“It has meant everything. Not only for my career but also because the conference was a great success of which I am very proud. I have had and still have great support from the staff at Sociology of Law in Lund and I will work to establish strong cooperation between Montenegro and Sweden on discrimination issues. I think Swedish experiences could be of great help here.”

- Ulrika Oredsson