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Public Defender Establishes Associative Discrimination on Grounds of Sexual Orientation

On December 21, 2021, the Public Defender addressed Copyprint 2000 Ltd. with a recommendation to eliminate associative discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation when performing its professional activity. The applicant's interests were represented in the Public Defender's Office by NNLE Women's Initiatives Support Group (WISG).

According to the applicant, on 6 July 2021 he applied to Copyprint 2000 Ltd. with a request to make a stamp for the European Human Rights Network. The above was refused by the company's employee on homophobic grounds. (The main activity of the organization is the protection of the rights of various vulnerable groups, including the LGBT+ community).

In a position presented to the Public Defender, the respondent did not answer the questions asked by the Public Defender's Office and could not explain the legitimate aim that would disprove the presumption of discriminatory action.

In her recommendation, the Public Defender focused on the problematic environment in Georgia in terms of the equality of the LGBT+ community. It should be noted that the applicant was refused services on 6 July 2021, which was preceded by the violent acts of a homophobic nature in various locations of the capital on 5 July.

Based on the above, the Public Defender recommended to Copyprint 2000 Ltd. to refrain from discriminatory treatment on the grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity and to observe the principle of equality when conducting entrepreneurial activities and providing services in the future, as well as to develop an internal anti-discrimination policy document and to provide training for the company staff on equality and non-discrimination issues in order to promote a tolerant environment for the LGBT+ community and other vulnerable groups in the company.

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