View of Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia. UNAIDS urges Georgia to repeal laws targeting sexual minorities Human Rights
The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) has expressed deep concern over recently adopted legislation targeting the LGBTQ+ community in Georgia. UNAIDS believes that it poses a serious threat to public health and human rights in Georgia.
UNAIDS supported the statement by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights that the new legislation “introduces discriminatory restrictions on education, public debate and assembly related to sexual orientation and gender identity.”
“These laws violate fundamental rights to dignity and equality, reinforcing stigma and hindering the LGBTQ+ community’s access to essential health services,” the statement said. – This, in turn, undermines Georgia’s efforts to eradicate AIDS and combat other infectious diseases.”
UNAIDS reiterated that laws that discriminate against LGBTQ+ people have no place in modern society: they lead to harassment, discrimination, violence and social exclusion, jeopardizing efforts to end the HIV epidemic.
“We call on the Georgian authorities to repeal these laws, as they will only further isolate marginalized communities and worsen public health,” the statement said. “Stigma kills, while solidarity saves lives. Protecting the rights of LGBTQ+ people is critical to promoting public health, social cohesion and equality for all.”
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