Racism – Do We Face it in Georgia?

Racism – Do We Face it in Georgia?

On March 25, 2005 Human Rights Information and Documentation Center held a meeting on the topic “Racism-Do We Face it in Georgia?”

The guests of the meeting, who were from different countries and represented different races, discussed cases of discrimination in Georgia, pointing out that the problem is not as acute here as it is in other countries. However, they did not conceal their concern about the negative attitude of society which they feel almost every day. They provided concrete examples of the situations when they, themselves had been the victims of such attitudes and discrimination.
Nelson, one of the participants of the discussion, who has a Georgian wife, described the aggressive behavior of her relatives towards him, because she married a black man, which was unacceptable for her family.  He also described a number of times that he had been attacked by Georgians, both in his shop and in the street. He is the owner of a small shop where he is trying to earn an honest living.

At the meeting Human Rights Information and Documentation Center presented an initiative to found an organization that would focus on problems of discrimination and defend the rights of minorities. This initiative was welcomed by the guests and it was decided to put the idea into practice as soon as possible.

As for the fight against racial discrimination throughout the world, UN General Assembly has declared the 21st of March as an international day for elimination of all forms of racial discrimination as a response to the massacre of 70 demonstrators in Sharpeville, South Africa in 1970.

This action is held around Europe annually and it unites thousands of people for tolerance and equal rights. This year from March 20 to 28 a number of organizations in Europe will hold various events to address the issue.