Foreign embassies stress safeguarding of LGBTQI+ rights in Georgia on Int’l Day Against Homophobia

The Georgian Government’s responsibility to safeguard the rights to peaceful assembly of LGBTQI+ persons, prevent discrimination and violence and ensure commemoration of IDAHOBIT, the International Day against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia “openly and publicly” were stressed by the diplomatic missions in Georgia on Monday. 

The statement, released by the United Nations in Georgia, the Delegation of the European Union, the Head of the EU Monitoring Mission in Georgia and 28 foreign embassies operating in the country, noted LGBTQI+ persons remained among the “least protected” and “most marginalised” in Georgia, saying “they face discrimination and violence, which often are underreported, while the protection and realisation of their rights remain a challenge.”

The foreign partners of Georgia also recalled the Tbilisi Pride events of July 5 last year, during which right-wing activists attacked over 50 journalists gathered to cover the march, with the authors of the statement urging the authorities to bring the instigators and perpetrators of the violence to justice and noting several individuals being sentenced to prison terms for their involvement in the “shameful events.”

The statement emphasised the Government’s policy and practice needed to align with Georgia’s international commitments and respond to the social changes by ensuring LGBTQI+ rights are effectively protected, including through the National Human Rights Strategy and Action Plan. 

• New survey points to declining negative attitude toward LGBTQI people in Georgia

The support of vulnerable LGBTQI+ persons struggling with food and housing, facing an elevated risk of homelessness and barriers to accessing healthcare was also pointed out by the embassies. 

We urge Georgian state, political, civic and religious leaders to spare no effort to fight discrimination, stigma and violence within their respective areas of responsibility, including by embracing respectful and compassionate public discourse and engaging in constructive dialogue with LGBTQI+ communities in seeking solutions to the most pressing challenges,” the statement reads. 

It also mentioned the recent survey under the United Nations Joint Programme for Gender Equality, which revealed a decreasing tendency of negative attitudes toward the LGBTQI community in Georgia, while still pointing out a “significant challenge” in the protection of the rights of queer people.

We welcome that a growing number of Georgian citizens support diversity and believe that protection of human rights of LGBTQI+ persons is important,” the diplomatic representations said.

The survey, published in early May, also revealed 38.6 percent of respondents believed the state did not “respond properly” to facts of violence and discrimination against LGBTQI+ groups, while 30.7 percent of respondents rated responses of state authorities as “adequate”.