Tbilisi: The Ombudsman of Georgia, Levan Ioseliani, expressed concern over the situation of the LGBT+ community in the country. On May 17, the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT), Ioseliani highlighted the issues faced by the community in Georgia.
 According to Levan Ioseliani, “Despite existing legislative guarantees and human rights protection mechanisms, the legal situation of LGBT+ people in Georgia is still a serious problem.Â
These citizens face a lot of problems, especially when it comes to access to healthcare, education, employment, freedom of assembly and expression in public spaces.
 At the same time, it has also been noted that the abusive and hateful speeches made by public figures in recent times prevent the creation of an equal environment in the country and promote discrimination, which these communities have to face every day.
 In the context of LGBT+ freedom of expression, in cases against Georgia, the European Court of Human Rights emphasizes the obligation of government bodies to use all possible means, for example, through public statements, without any hesitation, to advocate a tolerant, reconciliation position.
 However, the situation is further worsened by the fact that in the documents of state policy prepared for the protection of human rights, the LGBT+ group is not mentioned at all.
 Accordingly, the Ombudsman states that it is necessary for all responsible authorities to provide an effective preventive response to the facts of violations of LGBT + human rights to provide them with a dignified life.Â
For the last nineteen years, May 17 has been celebrated as the International Day of the Fight against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia( IDAHOBIT) in more than 130 countries around the world. It is noteworthy that the specific reason to choose May 17 is to commemorate the World Health Organization’s decision in 1990 to declassify homosexuality as a mental disorder.
