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Alleged violations of LGBTI+ rights in the Caucasus region

Motion for a resolution | Doc. 14879 | 12 April 2019

Signatories:
Mr Christophe LACROIX, Belgium, SOC ; Ms Thorhildur Sunna ÆVARSDÓTTIR, Iceland, SOC ; Ms Petra BAYR, Austria, SOC ; Ms Reina de BRUIJN-WEZEMAN, Netherlands, ALDE ; Mr Pierre-Alain FRIDEZ, Switzerland, SOC ; Mr Jean-Pierre GRIN, Switzerland, ALDE ; Mr Claude KERN, France, ALDE ; Mr František KOPŘIVA, Czech Republic, ALDE ; Ms Stella KYRIAKIDES, Cyprus, EPP/CD ; Mr Dirk Van der MAELEN, Belgium, SOC ; Baroness Doreen MASSEY, United Kingdom, SOC ; Ms Marianne MIKKO, Estonia, SOC ; Ms Carina OHLSSON, Sweden, SOC ; Ms Ria OOMEN-RUIJTEN, Netherlands, EPP/CD ; Mr Roberto RAMPI, Italy, SOC ; Mr Stefan SCHENNACH, Austria, SOC ; Mr Frank SCHWABE, Germany, SOC ; Ms Petra De SUTTER, Belgium, SOC ; Ms Violeta TOMIĆ, Slovenia, UEL ; Mr Mart van de VEN, Netherlands, ALDE

Reliable sources indicate serious human rights violations against LGBTI+ in Azerbaijan, Georgia and Armenia.

In 2017, our Parliamentary Assembly already expressed its concern about the mass arrest of LGBTI+ people in Azerbaijan and the ill-treatment they suffered. Recently, disturbing cases of arbitrary detention and medical maltreatment have been reported.

The recent report of the Commissioner for Human Rights on Armenia indicates that the situation of LGBTI+ people in this country is significantly problematic. Documented cases of hate crimes or hate violence have been reported.

For Georgia, an independent report from the United Nations shows that these people are discriminated in terms of access to services, employment and education. This report also highlights a climate of hatred and violence.

The legislation in force and the authorities in place do not provide a solution to these problematic issues.

The Assembly, as guarantor of the European Convention on Human Rights – and more particularly its article 14 on the prohibition of discrimination – must be able to shed light on these facts.

The Assembly should therefore:

  • prepare a report on the situation of the rights of LGBTI+ people in the Caucasus;
  • urge the above-mentioned countries to put an immediate end to any legislation or practice that would legitimise discrimination based, among others, on sexual orientation or gender identity;
  • encourage the authorities to fully implement the Recommendation of the Committee of Ministers CM/Rec(2010)5 on measures to combat discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation or gender identity.