Council of Europe Urges Georgia to Repeal Anti-LGBT Law and Strengthen Minority Rights Protections
By Liza Mchedlidze
Monday, March 10, 2025
The Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe (CoE) called on Georgian authorities to repeal the controversial anti-LGBT law Protection of Family Values and Minors. The law, which restricts LGBT rights, including freedom of expression and assembly, has raised significant concerns among European institutions.
The Committee of Ministers, which oversees the enforcement of European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) rulings, adopted an interim resolution in the Identoba and Others cases against Georgia. This resolution stresses the country's obligation to uphold the European Convention on Human Rights, particularly in the areas of discrimination and hate crimes.
The cases focus on Georgia's failure to provide adequate protection for LGBT individuals and religious minorities against homophobic and religiously motivated violence. In some instances, authorities are accused of either turning a blind eye or being complicit in such attacks. The resolution also highlights the failure to protect the right of LGBT people to assemble peacefully and of religious minorities to freely practice their faith.
The Committee urged Georgian authorities to accelerate investigations and legal actions in these cases, ensuring they follow the European Court's findings. This includes properly classifying crimes with bias motives and ensuring that victims are granted the status they deserve.
The Committee expressed its strong disapproval of the anti-LGBT law, describing it as a significant setback in Georgia's commitment to human rights. The law, it said, undermines the country's obligations to respect and implement the European Court's rulings, and the Committee called for its immediate repeal.
Furthermore, the Committee urged Georgian authorities to distance themselves from discriminatory narratives and take decisive action against all forms of discrimination, hate speech, and hate crimes. It emphasized the need for a clear "zero-tolerance" message from the highest levels of government and immediate steps to end impunity for those responsible for hate-motivated violence.
The resolution also called on Georgia to ensure stronger protections for the rights of all citizens, guaranteeing freedom of assembly and religious practice. It stressed the importance of a robust criminal justice response to hate-motivated violence and comprehensive measures to prevent and protect vulnerable communities.
