Georgia’s anti-discrimination policy reforms discussed by Georgian deputy interior minister, OSCE officials
The interior ministry said Regina Polak, Andrew Baker and Ismail Hakii Musa had met Darakhvelidze to discuss the implemented and ongoing efforts of the body. Photo: The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia.
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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.
The interior ministry said Regina Polak, Andrew Baker and Ismail Hakii Musa had met Darakhvelidze to discuss the implemented and ongoing efforts of the body.
Photo: The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia
The meeting also served to enable the visiting group to assess best practices and challenges in promoting tolerance and combating discrimination in the country.
Darakhvelidze thanked the foreign officials, noting the cooperation with OSCE institutions was a “priority” for the Georgian government.
The Georgian Ministry of Internal Affairs says that the number of people charged with crimes of discrimination tripled in 2018 compared to 2017.
The project will look at ways of combining legislative, capacity-building and awareness raising actions to ensure the appreciation of diversity in Georgia and the possibility for everyone to freely enjoy their rights.
Parliament has adopted the Anti-Discrimination Bill with 104 votes to one with its third and final hearing today, May 2.
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.
Georgian prime minister Irakli Garibashvili on Wednesday celebrated International Day for Tolerance by saying “tolerance, appreciation of people, respect for dignity and acceptance of difference” were a “continuous tradition” of Georgia’s “great culture and history” and an “integral part of Georgian identity”.
Georgian deputy interior minister Aleksandre Darakhvelidze, on Wednesday, highlighted the ministry’s “role and responsibility” of ensuring equality in Georgia at the opening event of the Council of Europe’s campaign ‘I choose equality’ within the framework of the project Promoting the Effective Protection of Equality and Non-Discrimination in Georgia.