Strasbourg, France, March 11, 2025
Photo: Reuters
A committee representing the European Court of Human Rights is calling on the country of Georgia to repeal the “deeply deplored” anti-LGBT measures that were signed into law in October with the support of the Georgian Orthodox Church.
The package of amendments includes bans on same-sex marriages, adoption by same-sex couples, gender-affirming care, public propaganda of LGBTQ+ relations and people, and depictions of them in the media. This would include banning Pride events, which have drawn fierce opposition and sometimes descended into violence in recent years.
In its support for the law, the Georgian Church stated in October that it “has consistently defended our youth from ideologies that undermine traditional family structures.”
On March 6, the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers adopted an interim resolution calling on Georgian authorities to repeal On Protection of Family Values and Minors, claiming it violates the rights of LGBT community members in the country, including freedom of expression and assembly.
The Ministers urged Georgia to combat discrimination and hate crimes in accordance with its obligations under the European Convention on Human Rights.
The Committee expressed concern about the recently adopted anti-LGBT law and called for its repeal, saying it raises serious questions about Georgia’s compliance with European Court decisions.
The resolution states that the Committee:
DEEPLY DEPLORED that, notwithstanding the Committee’s indications, the authorities proceeded with the enactment of the Law on “Protecting Family Values and Minors”, which, among others, in prohibiting public assemblies aimed at promoting LGBTI identities represents a backward step in the execution of the judgments in the Identoba and Others group and thus raises serious questions as to the compliance by Georgia with its obligation to abide by the final judgments of the European Court;
CALLED UPON the authorities to repeal the law and not to proceed with any further practical or legislative steps that would further endanger Georgia’s compliance with its obligations under Article 46 of the Convention
Additionally, the Committee urged the state to condemn discriminatory statements, combat all forms of discrimination, hate speech, and hate crimes, and ensure freedom of assembly and religion for all citizens.
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