Anti-discrimination law comes into effect today
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The President of Georgia Giorgi Margvelashvili signed the Anti-Discrimination law today.
The "Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination" legislation went into force after it has been published on the state online registry Legislative Herald of Georgia on May 7.
On Wednesday Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili celebrated the enactment of the Anti-Discrimination law – a wide-ranging and progressive law aimed at prohibiting and preventing all forms of discrimination in Georgia.
This law was passed unanimously by Parliament on May 2. Officials said implementing this law was an important step forward in Georgia’s full European and Euro-Atlantic integration.
Georgia’s new Anti-Discrimination law banned all discrimination by public and private entities on all grounds, including discrimination against a person’s gender, age, religion, language or ethnicity. It also prevented people to discriminate against those with a disability, sexual orientation, gender identity and political affiliation.
Prime Minister Garibashvili said: "Adoption of the Anti-Discrimination law is a part of the reform program that our Government is carrying out to strengthen the protection of human rights in Georgia.”
Since the election in October 2012, the Government of Georgia has undertaken a deep and comprehensive reform program to ensure democracy and equality before the law.
This included the creation of a Human Rights Strategy and Action Plan in collaboration with civil society stakeholders, the European Union and other international organizations.
"It is the Government’s duty to protect every citizen, no matter their differences,” Garibashvili said.
Special Adviser to the Prime Minister for Human Rights and Gender Equality Tamar Chugoshvili said: "This new Bill takes our commitment to eliminate all forms of discrimination in Georgia from paper to practice.
"Previous legislation, with rare exceptions, contained only declarative provisions without defining any legal consequences in case of violations. This Bill sets out the means for the redress of infringed rights and the provision of reparation.”
According to the Bill, in the instance of discrimination, the Public Defender should first provide a mediation service aimed at favouring an out-of-court settlement between parties.
If no such settlement is reached, the Public Defender can issue direct recommendations to individuals or organisations. Legal proceedings can ensure if these recommendations are judged unheeded, with the victim of discrimination having the right to seek reparation.
As a result of this law being implemented, Georgia has complied with EU suggestions and completed a major step in allowing for visa-free travel by Georgian citizens to the EU.
The Anti-Discrimination Bill was developed by the Ministry of Justice in close consultation with civil society and Georgia’s international partners, notably experts from the EU, Council of Europe and OSCE/ODIHR.
Parliament has adopted the Anti-Discrimination Bill with 104 votes to one with its third and final hearing today, May 2.
Parliament of Georgia has passed a bill to eliminate all forms of discrimination with 112 votes in favor and none against.
On April 17 Parliament of Georgia passed a Bill on the elimination of all forms of the discrimination and related sub-bills with 110 votes in favor and none against.
The President of Georgia Giorgi Margvelashvili has made his first comments about the anti-discrimination draft law currently being debated in Parliament.
Parliament Speaker Davit Usupashvili is appealing to the Georgian society not to yield certain groups of speculation regarding the heavily discussed anti-discrimination law.
Head of the Georgian Parliament has spoken out about the anti-discrimination draft law currently being debated in Parliament.
Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Garibashvili believes the anti-discrimination Bill, which is being strongly criticized by the Georgian Orthodox Church, will definitely be adopted. He explained the core essence of the law and said it would not encourage or allow any illegal activity.
Two events are taking place in Georgia today: the Orthodox Church has launched a new day of "Family Strength and Respect for Parents" while today is also International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHO).
At the same time, the group protested the recently adopted Anti-Discrimination law claiming it was a "gay propaganda law”.
European Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy Stefan Fule said the most important step for Georgia in the immediate future was to sign the Association Agreement (AA) with the European Union (EU).
Georgia has scored highest in the Caucasus region and 22nd in Europe in the latest review of how lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) people experience human rights across the continent by campaign group ILGA-Europe.
Two Georgian citizens have been arrested for verbally and physically assaulting two Nigerian citizens in capital Tbilisi.
Action taken to improve human rights but shortcomings still exist
Today the Council of Europe issued its fourth report by its non-discrimination commission on the situation in Georgia over the past five years.
Countries should sanction the use of hate speech, while safeguarding freedom of expression, says the Council of Europe anti-racism commission.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs has arrested one individual born in 1975, charged with violent racial discrimination on a court decision.
Reforms for ensuring an effective anti-discrimination policy in Georgia were in focus of a meeting between Georgia’s deputy interior minister Aleksandre Darakhvelidze and representatives of the OSCE chairperson-in-office on combatting racism, xenophobia and discrimination on Wednesday.