On September 17, the Georgian Parliament passed the anti-LGBTQ+ bill Legislative package in its third hearing with 84 votes in favor and 0 against. The package consists of a core law “On the protection of family values and minors” and 18 related amendments to various laws of Georgia.
The majority of opposition MPs did not attend the plenary session as they are boycotting parliamentary work following the adoption of the Foreign Agents Law.
Before the law was passed, 32 civil society organizations issued a statement condemning the law Legislative package. The civil society organizations explained that the DG is pushing for the adoption of this package with the aim of “manipulating the public ahead of the elections, covering up real problems, stoking irrational fears and creating another obstacle on the country's path to European integration “.
The organizations emphasized that the legislative package entitled “On the Protection of Family Values and Minors” actually does not provide a real solution to the problems faced by families in Georgia, such as poverty, inflation, high migration rates and lack of necessary infrastructure life, education, etc. “The only way to respond to these and other real challenges is to make principled and decisive progress towards Georgia's European integration – exactly what the government is trying to prevent, including with this legislative package .” “ stated the civil society organizations.
The civil society organizations also emphasized that the legislative package actually legalizes censorship and represents a gross interference with the right to assembly. At the same time, the package is harmful not only to the LGBTQ+ community, but to all citizens, because setting a precedent for restricting the rights of one group of people has shown that this has also led to repression against other groups in many other states. Therefore, it can give the ruling party a basis to restrict the rights of other people.
The civil society organizations noted that they did not call on Parliament to take any action because Parliament never responded to their requests not to take certain measures, such as the adoption of the Foreign Agents Law. However, they called on the president to veto the legislative package; – calling on the public defender to take all measures for a critical public assessment of the legislative package and for future appeals against it to the relevant courts; and to civil and political movements to take measures to curb the long-term effects of anti-democratic and anti-European initiatives.
“We believe that October 26 will bring changes, because we see that day after day Georgia chooses the path of solidarity, building bridges and creating unyielding unity.” We thank every citizen who, through their personal example, represents the true Georgian values that promotes tolerance and mutual respect. We express our solidarity with the people most affected by this manipulative process,” the civil society organizations concluded.
On June 26, the Venice Commission published its opinion on the nuclear law and the amendments. The Commission called on the Georgian government to “fully reconsider this proposed law and not proceed with its adoption” or, if it proceeds with its adoption, to remove/amend some of the articles in a way that ensures non-discrimination against LGBTI people Compliance with the European Convention on Human Rights.
Homophobia was used by the ruling Georgian Dream party as one of the main pillars of its election campaign. The package of laws passed today ostensibly aims to combat “LGBT propaganda” in the country, but actually endangers some fundamental rights, including freedom of expression and assembly, and enables the censorship of literature, films and media.
The ruling DG has also initiated one the change on the Georgian Constitution, which provides that “the protection of family values and minors is guaranteed by constitutional law” and the corresponding constitutional law, but the amendment is put on hold because the DG does not have a constitutional majority.
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/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/KSV3TRL4RZDBRID5LQJUQLMPJ4.jpg "Georgia legislation helps dwelling schooled kids obtain their athletic targets")
