View of Narikala Fortress in Tbilisi, Georgia. UN calls on Georgia to repeal law that infringes on LGBTIQ+ rights Human Rights
The law “On Family Values and Protection of Minors” adopted in Georgia contains provisions that pose a threat to a wide range of human rights, in particular for members of the LGBTIQ+ community, said Liz Throssell, spokesperson for the UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR).
These include the rights to equality, non-discrimination, education, health, freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association, as well as the right to privacy, liberty and security.
OHCHR is deeply concerned that this law may contribute to hate speech and the spread of disinformation in the country, lead to an increase in the number of cases of violence and reinforce stigma and intolerance against LGBTIQ+ people.
According to Throssell, the document imposes discriminatory restrictions on educational processes, public discussions and assemblies related to sexual orientation and gender identity. The legislation also contains vague language and perpetuates negative stereotypes about the LGBTIQ+ community, for example by creating false associations between consensual same-sex relationships and incest, the OHCHR representative noted.
The law prohibits legal recognition of same-sex couples and transgender people. Among other things, the provisions of this legislation will make it difficult for certain groups of the population to access health care and will negatively impact efforts to combat HIV/AIDS in Georgia, Throssell noted.
“We call on the Georgian Parliament and relevant authorities to repeal the law and ensure that the country’s legislation complies with its international human rights obligations,” she stressed.
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