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Address of Human Rights Center to Government of Georgia with Regard to International Day Against Homophobia

May 17, 2014
 
Many states worldwide celebrate the International Day against Homophobia on May 17 in various forms. In the past years, part of local nongovernmental organizations and LGBT activists celebrated this day in Georgia that was followed by incidents with the participants of counter-demonstrations. Last year, on May 17, participants of the counter-demonstration ruthlessly abused citizens, who celebrated anti-homophobia day in Rustaveli Avenue. 

Considering the risk of aggression and violence, this year nongovernmental organizations and LGBT activists refused to actively celebrate the International Day against Homophobia. Nevertheless, there might appear an organization, an activist or LGBT person, who do not share the overall position. Regardless the fact, different parts of the society announced they intend to organize demonstrations in Tbilisi and Kutaisi, where they plan to protest the Law on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination adopted by the Parliament of Georgia short time ago.

Besides that, based on the blessing of the Patriarch of Georgia Ilia II, May 17 was declared the Day of Family Purity and Parents. According to the information spread by the Georgian Patriarchate, tomorrow, every acting church in Georgia will hold thanksgiving service to Holly Godmother at 12:00 pm after what the territories and streets around the churches will be sanctified. 

It is important to note that Georgian Patriarchate called on the participants of the sanctifying to “only pray and peacefully marsh, because Church is always against any forms of violence.”

In parallel to that, deputy Minister of Interior, Levan Izoria said that on May 17 law enforcement bodies will act in accordance to the law and “protect the rights of any person without any exclusion.”

Unfortunately, , on May 17, 2013 state failed to ensure public order and could not protect its citizens although Prime Minister and MIA had promised the society to protect the participants of both anti-homophobia demonstration and counter-demonstration from any forms of violence. 

Human Rights Center calls on the Government of Georgia, particularly Ministry of Internal Affairs, to regard the experience of the past year and adequately plan the measures to protect safety of citizens during several simultaneous demonstrations in several cities of Georgia. 

Human Rights Center believes the government shall take into consideration the factor of politically “hot period”, that is connected with the upcoming local self-governmental elections of June 15 and signature of Association Agreement with EU on June 27 in Brussels, for which internal and external powers might be interested to escalate political controversy in the country. 

Human Rights Center 

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