Draft law prohibiting all forms of discrimination brought for public discussion in Georgia

The Georgian Ministry of Justice has prepared a draft law "On Prohibition of All Forms of Discrimination", which, in the authors' opinion, sets up the mechanisms for the prevention of discrimination and ensures equality of all people. The bill has been brought to public debate; the authors promise to take into account people's suggestions.

The bill stipulates suppression of all forms of discrimination and ensures equal treatment to all the persons staying in the territory of Georgia, irrespective of the race, skin colour, language, sex, age, citizenship, origin, place of residence, marital and property status, condition of health, religion, national, ethnic or social belonging, political or other viewpoints, sexual orientation, gender identity or any other attributes.

It is assumed that a special inspector for protection of equality will supervise the enforcement of the law that obliges public and private institutions to carry out preventive measures to combat discrimination.

The bill emphasizes that earlier minorities had not enjoyed all the rights that citizens of Georgia do, said Arnold Stepanyan, the head of the civil movement "Multinational Georgia". According to his story, the bill can specifically proclaim the protection of minorities' interests.

According to the Georgian journalist Irakli Berulava, even now the "hate speech" in Georgian mass media and is used primarily against cultural, religious, ethnic and sexual minorities.