Prepared by Messenger Staff
Georgian Dream Moves to Erase Gender and Gender Identity from Legislation
The Georgian Dream has introduced draft legislation aiming to remove all references to gender and gender identity from the country's laws. The proposal seeks to replace terms like "gender intolerance" with "intolerance to the equality of women and men" and rename the Law on Gender Equality as the Law on Equality between Women and Men.
The explanatory note accompanying the draft law claims that the concept of gender was "artificially introduced" into Georgian legislation under foreign influence. It states that the country's legal framework should align with "family values based on the union of a man and a woman."
The document argues that gender-related policies reflect global trends that Georgia has struggled to oppose. It cites U.S. President Joe Biden's administration as an example, accusing it of enforcing gender-neutral language and erasing traditional terms such as "mother" and "father." The note further claims that since Donald Trump's resurgence in U.S. politics, there has been increased scrutiny over the "true motives" behind promoting gender identity, framing it as a foreign tool for political influence rather than a human rights effort.
Georgian Translation of U.S. FARA Law Registered, Adjustments Needed
At the February 24 Bureau session in Parliament, the Georgian translation of the American Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) was officially registered. Members of the Georgian Dream party defended the translation, claiming it is an accurate reflection of U.S. law.
However, Aleksandre Tabatadze, Head of the Legal Department, stated that the draft law, titled Georgia's Foreign Agents Registration Act, is not fully aligned with Georgia's legal framework and requires amendments.
He explained that the law contains some legal and substantive inaccuracies that will need to be addressed. Specifically, several U.S.-specific institutions mentioned in the bill, such as Congress, the Library of Congress, the State Department, the Department of Justice, and the President of the United States, are not compatible with Georgia's legal system and need to be adjusted accordingly.
Tabatadze also noted that the package currently includes only the Criminal Code bill, with other necessary legislative acts not yet attached. He emphasized that amendments will be needed to ensure the bill aligns with Georgia's realities.
