The Public Defender of Georgia responds to the recent increased cases of hate speech against women and minors in public and political discourse and explains that the use of hate speech that spreads, incites, promotes or justifies hatred based on dissent or social status is unacceptable, especially when the aforementioned rhetoric directly or indirectly refers to children.

Participation of minors or their family members in political discussions, including in public spaces or on social networks, should not become a means of disseminating content that is humiliating, stigmatizing or hateful towards children. It is important for every member of society to fully respect the rights of children and to exercise special caution in order to avoid possible harm to minors through public speeches.

In addition, it is noteworthy that according to the standards of the European Court of Human Rights, although the margin of criticism towards public figures is wider, this does not include manipulation of the details of their private lives or sexist assessments.

A politician’s marital status can become a subject of public interest only if it is directly related to his or her public activities – for example, in the case of a conflict of interest or abuse of power.

In a democratic society, attention should be focused on the content of political decisions and their impact and consequences on citizens.

The Public Defender once again calls on all relevant entities – especially representatives of political parties, public figures, media platforms and journalists – to demonstrate a high standard of political and social responsibility, refrain from hate speech, unethical statements and promote dignified public dialogue based on the principles of equality.