Georgian Public Defender Levan Ioseliani released a statement on the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Bi-phobia, marked on May 17.

Ioseliani stated that despite the existing legal guarantees and human rights protection mechanisms, LGBT+ people’s rights remained a serious problem in Georgia.

“May 17 has been marked as the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Bi-phobia 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, 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, with no ambiguity.

The situation is aggravated because the LGBT+ group is not mentioned at all in the state policy documents developed for the protection of human rights,” he said.

The Public Defender urged all responsible agencies to ensure an effective preventive response to LGBT+ persons’ rights violations.