From July to October 2026, Sekhmet Institute implemented a project focused on strengthening the role of journalism in addressing anti-LGBTIQ+ hate speech, discrimination and harmful narratives in Kosovo.

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The project responded to the growing presence of anti-LGBTIQ+ rhetoric in public and political discourse, social media and everyday life, while also addressing the limited public knowledge about available mechanisms for reporting discrimination and hate speech.

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The programme began with a capacity-building workshop for journalists and journalism students, focusing on hate speech, LGBTIQ+ rights, ethical and inclusive reporting, counter-narratives, and the responsibilities of media when reporting on vulnerable and marginalised communities.

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Following the workshop, five journalists were selected for a media fellowship programme. With editorial mentoring and support, they researched and produced five original articles examining different dimensions of the experiences of LGBTIQ+ people in Kosovo. The stories looked at hate speech and its consequences, discriminatory and stigmatising narratives, access to institutional protection and social services, and the gap between existing legal protections and the everyday realities experienced by LGBTIQ+ people.

The five articles were published in partnership with KALLXO.com, bringing these issues to a wider mainstream audience and contributing to more informed, rights-based and human-centred reporting on LGBTIQ+ communities.

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Through the project, Sekhmet Institute aimed not only to produce new media content, but also to strengthen relationships between journalists, civil society and institutions, and to encourage journalism that actively questions prejudice, misinformation and hate rather than reproducing them.

Articles produced through the project: