On January 22, the Council of Europe's Commissioner for Human Rights, Michael O’Flaherty, met with representatives of the "Equality Movement," "Women’s Initiatives Support Group," "Tbilisi Pride," "Queer Initiative," and "Temida."
Following the meeting, the Commissioner expressed concern regarding the anti-LGBT so-called "On Protecting Family Values and Minors" law, which came into effect on December 2, 2024.
“While implementation of the law has not yet begun, its impact is reportedly already felt on the ground, with more limited access to health and other basic services for LGBTI people, increased fear of becoming victims of hate crimes and the exacerbation of stigma faced by LGBTI people,”
The Commissioner considers the law to be incompatible with human rights standards and has previously described it as both discriminatory and stigmatizing.
The law prohibits positive references to LGBTI people in literature, film, and media, as well as in schools and at public gatherings. It also bans legal gender recognition, outlawing the change of gender markers in a person’s identification and other state-issued documents.
Furthermore, the law imposes up to four years’ imprisonment for health professionals providing trans-specific healthcare.
At the outset of my visit, I had important discussions with #HumanRightsDefenders, #LGBTI people and journalists about pressing human rights challenges facing #Georgia pic.twitter.com/lP5vvaKloa
— Commissioner for Human Rights (@CommissionerHR) January 22, 2025
The Commissioner also expressed concern about the shrinking space for civil society organizations through a combination of rampant disinformation and stigmatizing legislation.
ვებ-გვერდი შექმნილია RFSU-ს ფინანსური მხარდაჭერით.
სიდა, შვედეთის განვითარების სააგენტო, მთლიანად ან ნაწილობრივ აფინანსებს ამ მასალას.
