Constitutional Foundations of Freedom of Belief, Confession and Conscience
The Constitution of Georgia shapes religious freedom through two interconnected norms. The first part of Article 16 of the Constitution states that every person has freedom of belief, confession and conscience. This norm rests on Article 11 of the Constitution, which establishes the equality of all persons before the law and prohibits discrimination, including on grounds of religion and belief. Under this model, religious freedom is not merely a matter of individual choice: it is a fundamental right recognized and guaranteed by the state, and its protection is one of the pillars of the Georgian legal system. Freedom of belief, confession and conscience extends to every person regardless of origin, ethnic affiliation, language or any other characteristic, because the right to equality and freedom of conscience together form the constitutional foundation on which a multireligious society lives together as equals.
Equality Before the Law and Prohibited Grounds
The first part of Article 11 of the Constitution provides that all persons are equal before the law and that discrimination is prohibited on the basis of race, skin color, sex, origin, ethnic affiliation, language, religion, political or other views, social affiliation, property or title status, place of residence or any other characteristic. This list stands in direct connection with religious freedom: unfavorable treatment of a person because of his or her faith directly contradicts the right to equality. The prohibition concerns the actions of state bodies as well as those of other persons, since the constitutional norm establishes a universal standard of equality and is not confined to the public sphere alone. In practice, this means that a person may not be punished, harassed or refused service on the ground that he or she belongs to another confession or does not recognize any confession at all.
The Right to Preserve Culture and to Use the Native Language
The second part of Article 11 of the Constitution grants a special guarantee to ethnic, religious and linguistic groups: in accordance with the universally recognized principles and norms of international law and the legislation of Georgia, citizens of Georgia, irrespective of their ethnic, religious or linguistic affiliation, have the right, without any discrimination, to preserve and develop their culture and to use their native language in private life or publicly. This norm also matters for religious identity, because confession is frequently interwoven with cultural heritage and family tradition. In addition, under the third part of the same article the state ensures equal rights and opportunities for men and women and takes special measures to secure their essential equality and to eliminate inequality, while under the fourth part the state creates special conditions for the realization of the rights and interests of persons with disabilities. These positive obligations define an active role for the state in transforming formal equality into real equality.