Today, in the framework of the third cycle of the
Universal Periodic Review (UPR) at the United Nations, UN member states
assessed the human rights situation in Georgia.
The evaluation, among others, is based on reports
provided by the non-governmental sector. For the 37th session, WISG together
with ILGA-Europe prepared a special report[1],
recommendations and fact sheets[2]
on the human rights situation of LGBTQ people in Georgia.
Many of the issues raised in the Women’s Initiatives Supporting Group reports are
reflected in the report of the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human
Rights, which in turn is a compilation
of the data submitted.[3]
At today's session, UN member states voiced
recommendations to Georgia in various directions. Among them, the
recommendations addressed the challenges of discrimination, hate crimes and the
rights of LGBTQ people.
Georgia has received numerous recommendations based on WISG reports on the elimination of discrimination on the ground of sexual orientation and gender identity.
The recommendations
can be grouped according to issues.
General
recommendations were
concerned with overcoming homophobic stigma in society (Brazil,
Chile, Argentina); Effective
fight against hate-motivated crime - prevention, as well as proper
investigation (France, Belgium, Denmark, Ireland, Turkey, Canada, Cyprus,
Ecuador, Mexico); The problem of hate speech (Germany, Portugal, Brazil,
Argentina) and the protection or strengthening of LGBTQ human rights; As well
as raising public awareness on SOGIE issues (United Kingdom, Uruguay, Australia,
Brazil, Denmark, Fiji, Iceland, Israel).
At the same time, Georgia received more specific recommendations during the session,
including from Spain, regarding the abolition of requirement of sex
reassignment surgery to change gender
marker on identification documents; From Sweden - Amendments to the Criminal
Code of Georgia and the Law on the Prevention of Violence against Women and /
or Domestic Violence, Protection and Assistance to Victims of Violence, so that
victims' rights are protected on any grounds, including the SOGIE, free from
discrimination;
The recommendations also relate to identifying,
preventing and properly investigating threats posed by hate, far-right radical
groups, including ensuring that LGBTQ people enjoy freedom of assembly and
expression (Kingdom of the Netherlands, Venezuela, El Salvador). The recommendation from Luxembourg should
be emphasized as it voiced the
importance of protection of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights for all women, including women of vulnerable groups.
WISG welcomes importance of the issues that LGBTQ persons face to be emphasised in frames of UPR. After publishing these recommendations in writing, we will offer a detailed evaluation. As for the final status of recommendations from Georgia (whether the state will accept to implement them), it will be known during the 47th session, which is scheduled for June-July 2021.
[1] Report and recommendations prepared by WISG and ILGA-Europe for UPR third Cycle, 37th Working Group Session: https://cutt.ly/WhYEflc
WISG is implementing this project with the support of the
Promoting Rule of Law in Georgia Activity (PROLoG) carried by the East-West
Management Institute with the United States Agency for International
Development funding (USAID) funding.