AI calls on Georgia to adopt an efficient anti-discrimination law

The human rights organization "Amnesty International" (AI) has called on the Georgian government to amend the Law "On Prohibition of All Forms of Discrimination", adopted by the Parliament in the first reading, so that to ensure a real ban on all forms of discrimination. The Georgian Ombudsman Ucha Nanuashvili and several local NGOs sent a package of recommendations on the Law to the Parliament. Public activists add that the effectiveness of the new law will depend on the authorities' political will.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that in July 2013 the bill on prohibition of all forms of discrimination was submitted for public discussion. It assumes to prohibit any discrimination of citizens in Georgia – on the basis of origin, nationality, religion, occupation, gender and sexual orientation. On April 17, the Parliament passed the Law in the first reading.

However, the amendments made therein shortly before its arrival at the Parliament "had significantly changed the bill and greatly reduced its efficient implementation," said the AI.

Earlier, the Association of Young Lawyers of Georgia (AYLG) expressed its particular concern about the fact that the provision that envisioned fines imposed on individuals, legal entities or institutions for admitting an act of discrimination disappeared from the draft law.