Public Defender of Georgia, Levan Ioseliani, issues a statement regarding International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia.

“May 17 has been marked as the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia in more than 130 countries around the world since 2004.

Despite the existing legal guarantees and human rights protection mechanisms, the rights situation of LGBT+ people is still a serious problem in Georgia, especially access to health care, education, employment, freedom of assembly and expression in public space.

It is also significant that the insulting and hateful statements made by public persons in the recent period prevent the creation of an equal environment in the country and incite discrimination.

In the context of freedom of expression of LGBT+ persons, that the European Court of Human Rights, in the cases against Georgia, has repeatedly emphasized the obligation of the authorities to use all available means to advocate a tolerant, conciliatory position, for example, by making public statements, without any ambiguity.

The situation is aggravated by the fact that the LGBT+ group is not mentioned at all in the state policy documents developed for the purpose of protection of human rights.

Accordingly, the Public Defender points out that it is necessary for all responsible agencies to ensure effective preventive response to the violations of the rights of LGBT+ persons”, - reads the statement.