Pride Week 2022 to be Potential Stepping-Stone For Enhancing LGBTQI+ Rights Protection In Georgia, UNDP, Embassies Say

By Khatia Bzhalava

Thursday, July 7, 2022

The joint statement is issued by the United Nations Development Programme, the Delegation of the European Union to Georgia, the Embassies to Georgia of the Czech Republic, France, Israel, Japan, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

This year, LGBT+ rights group Tbilisi Pride was organized without a public March for Dignity due to safety concerns.

The Pride Week 2022 served as a potential stepping-stone for enhancing LGBTQI+ rights protection in Georgia, says the joint statement of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), EU Delegation, and Embassies of the Czech Republic, France, Israel, Japan, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States in Georgia.

The statement welcomes the successful completion of Pride Week 2022, hoping that this year’s successful holding of events marks a step forward in protecting the rights of LGBTQI+ persons, including their right to freedom of assembly. The joint statement expresses gratitude toward the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the police for maintaining public order and ensuring safety during the Pride Week events, also highlighting the involvement of the Administration of the Government of Georgia in the coordination and preparatory process.

“By protecting the rights of vulnerable groups, the state stands up for ensuring basic human rights protection for all and the building of an inclusive society that embraces diversity and empowers and protects all people, with no exception. We encourage further steps to be taken by Georgia to reinforce its national commitments in the human rights area, including through the adoption of a robust National Human Rights Strategy and Action Plan,” the statement reads.

It is further noted that It is vital for state policies and practices to ensure that every citizen’s human rights and liberties are protected regardless of disability, religion or belief, national, ethnic or social origin, sex, race, sexual orientation, gender identity or any other grounds. In this regard, it is noted that the Georgian authorities must properly follow up on the anti-Tbilisi pride events of 5 July 2021, including the full investigation and prosecution of the instigators and organizers of violence.

“We remain committed to supporting Georgia to further enhance the protection of LGBTQI+ rights, prevent and combat discrimination and violence against LGBTQI+ communities, and strengthen the social protection of vulnerable LGBTQI+ persons by providing housing solutions and improving access to employment, education, and healthcare,” reads the statement.