To mark the fifth anniversary of the adoption of the Law on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination, the Council of Europe together with the Public Defender’s Office, organised a public meeting  “The Importance of Equality and the Ways How to Eliminate Discrimination”- for young people on 2 May.

“Non-discrimination is a fundamental principle that informs the work of the Council of Europe. This also includes our work to promote children’s rights. Equality for children, first of all, means their right to be heard and participate in decisions affecting them, in an environment free of any type of violence and abuse. True equality also means equality between girls and boys, and equal opportunities for children with disabilities, children without parental care and children from minorities. Achieving equality should begin in childhood in order to build foundations for our future,” said Vahagn Muradyan, Deputy Head of the Council of Europe in Georgia.

“Today’s meeting has a special importance, because young people have a major role in eliminating stereotypes”, said Nino Lomjaria, Public Defender of Georgia

The participants of the meeting had an opportunity to exchange views about equality, human rights and anti-discrimination policy in Georgia and their importance for securing democracy, development and peace. They also learnt more about the I Choose Equality Campaign - how to get involved and support fight against discrimination, hate crimes and hate speech in Georgia. 

The Law on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination, adopted in 2014, aims at eliminating various forms of discrimination and ensuring equal rights for all regardless of race, colour, language, sex, age, nationality, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or other basis.

The meeting was held within the I Choose Equality Campaign, which is raising public awareness about the risks discrimination, hate speech, and hate crime pose to Georgian society, promoting diversity and tolerance, and informing minority/vulnerable groups about the redress mechanisms.

 I choose Equality Campaign is implemented as part of the Council of Europe co-operation project “Fighting Discrimination, Hate Crime and Hate Speech in Georgia”, conducted with the support of the Danish Neighbourhood Programme in Georgia (DANEP) under the Council of Europe’s Action Plan for Georgia 2016-2019.