Transgender persons are guaranteed protection from discrimination by the Law on Elimination of
All Forms of Discrimination of Georgia, which explicitly mentions gender identity. However, the
implementation of this law, two years after its adoption, still remains problematic. There are several
factors contributing to this. Not only is the implementation mechanism inefficient (either going
directly to court or submitting a complaint to the Ombudsman’s office whose recommendations
are not binding), but there is a very low awareness of what constitutes discrimination among the
community and also within law enforcement agencies. One of the biggest difficulties is finding and
providing sufficient evidence of the bias involved in the incidents.
We have little information about cases of discrimination against transgender persons. Most of
them are not reported to the police, the Public Defender’s Office, or human rights organisations.
7
Available at: http://women.ge/data/docs/publications/WISG_situation-of-lgbt-persons-in-Georgia_ENG-www.pdf
at: http://women.ge/data/docs/publications/WISG_Transgender_survey_2015.pdf
8 Available
FOR THE RECORD 2016 | 21
Negative stereotypes and attitudes towards transgender persons (especially trans women) are
widespread in Georgia, particularly thanks to the media coverage of transgender issues. Most of
the popular talk shows prey on transgender women, making a scandal out of their appearance
on TV. There are also cases of misgendering victims or survivors of transphobic violence as well
as reinforcing stigma through discriminatory language or stereotypical emphases in the articles
and reports. In such cases, WISG, together with partner organisations, regularly addresses the
Journalist Ethics Charter. Although the regulations of the Charter are not legally binding, the rulings
set a precedent for trans-sensitive media coverage.
GEORGIA
which, in order to avoid violence and discrimination in social settings such as in work or school,
transgender people are forced to adapt the gender expression and role expected by society based
on one’s sex assigned at birth.
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