Parliament of Georgia to adopt anti-discrimination amendment in the Criminal Code
15/03/2012
Submitted by
LGBT Georgia
The Legal Issues Committee of the Parliament of Georgia takes into consideration the joint recommendation of “LGBT Georgia” and “Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association” about the legislative amendment in the Criminal Code of Georgia
On March 14 2012, Legal Issues Committee of the Parliament of Georgia held the second hearing on the legislative initiative for amendments into the Criminal Code of Georgia. The initiative aims at complying Georgian legislation to European Convention on Human Rights and the standards established through European Court of Human Rights.
According to the initial draft of the document discrimination on the basis of race, religion, national or ethnic origin and language intolerance were stated as aggravating factors for all crimes. “LGBT Georgia” in cooperation with “Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association” prepared a joint recommendation calling for a broader list of the discriminatory grounds. The organisations proposed their own edition of the legislative initiative that was welcomed by the members of the Committee.
The revised edition was passed with the second hearing by the Committee and the amendment currently reads:
“Committing a crime on the grounds of intolerance of race, skin colour, language, sex, sexual orientation and gender identity, age, religion, political and other views, disabilities, national, ethnic or social belonging, origin, economic status or position, place of residence or other discriminatory ground is an aggravating factor for all relevant crimes addressed in this code.”
LGBT Georgia welcomes the decision of the Legal Issues Committee and expresses its hope that the legislative initiative is adopted at the plenary session of the Parliament on Friday.
On March 14 2012, Legal Issues Committee of the Parliament of Georgia held the second hearing on the legislative initiative for amendments into the Criminal Code of Georgia. The initiative aims at complying Georgian legislation to European Convention on Human Rights and the standards established through European Court of Human Rights.
According to the initial draft of the document discrimination on the basis of race, religion, national or ethnic origin and language intolerance were stated as aggravating factors for all crimes. “LGBT Georgia” in cooperation with “Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association” prepared a joint recommendation calling for a broader list of the discriminatory grounds. The organisations proposed their own edition of the legislative initiative that was welcomed by the members of the Committee.
The revised edition was passed with the second hearing by the Committee and the amendment currently reads:
“Committing a crime on the grounds of intolerance of race, skin colour, language, sex, sexual orientation and gender identity, age, religion, political and other views, disabilities, national, ethnic or social belonging, origin, economic status or position, place of residence or other discriminatory ground is an aggravating factor for all relevant crimes addressed in this code.”
LGBT Georgia welcomes the decision of the Legal Issues Committee and expresses its hope that the legislative initiative is adopted at the plenary session of the Parliament on Friday.
