Stand up for human rights for all: Stop discrimination and violence against LGBTQI+ people in Georgia
This Joint Statement is issued by the United Nations System in Georgia, the European Union Delegation in Georgia and the Embassies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece and Ireland in Georgia, Israel , Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States, the regional office of the European Investment Bank for the South Caucasus, and the Head of the EU Observer Mission in Georgia
On the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT), we celebrate diversity and call for solidarity with the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex (LGBTQI+) communities in Georgia. LGBTQI+ people continue to face prejudice, discrimination, stigma, hostility and violence on a daily basis and are prevented from leading their lives with dignity as free and equal members of Georgian society.
We welcome the increasing public support for protecting minority rights in Georgia, as the number of Georgians who say LGBTQI+ rights need to be protected has doubled since 2015.[1] We also welcome the protections against discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression, which Georgia’s landmark Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Act, since 2014, has continued to provide. We commend the efforts of various state institutions and civil society organizations to ensure comprehensive protection of human rights and freedoms.
We fear that despite these efforts, progress has stalled. Newly adopted national policy documents such as the National Human Rights Strategy 2022-2030, the State Concept of Georgia on Gender Equality and the National Development Strategy Vision 2030 do not contain measures to strengthen the protection and inclusion of LGBTQI+ people. Stigma, discriminatory language and hate speech by some officials, politicians, media and religious figures further harass LGBTQI+ people and threaten their lives. Instigators and many perpetrators of overt acts of violence against LGBTQI+ people in recent years, including during Pride Week in July 2021, have not been brought to justice, further limiting the ability of LGBTQI+ people to exercise their right to peaceful assembly.
The exclusion of every member of society leads to the maintenance of social, economic and political inequality and injustice for everyone, thus hindering the further development of Georgian democracy. We call on Georgia’s political, civic and religious leaders to stand up against hate, discrimination and violence and to work with the LGBTQI+ communities to ensure that all rights are fully enjoyed. We call on the Government of Georgia to align state policies and practices with Georgia’s international obligations to protect the rights of LGBTQI+ people and promote an inclusive society where everyone is safe and free to make decisions about their bodies and meet his life. As international supporters of Georgia, we stand ready to continue working towards these goals together with Georgian partners.
[1] Support Group for Women’s Initiatives (WISG)/SIDA/UNW/UNDP/UNFPA, (2022), ‘From prejudice to equality: a study of public knowledge, awareness and attitudes towards the LGBT(Q)I community and legal equality‘retrieved from: https://bit.ly/3KN7hh3
