Georgia’s constitution, policy documents, and international commitments made under UN conventions and agreements protect human rights and liberties. Georgia is still working to ensure meaningful protection of human rights for all citizens. This includes vulnerable and marginalized groups.
Recent research shows the Georgians are more aware of human rights, and they expect the authorities to take more proactive measures to protect the rights of all citizens. Two out of five respondents (38.5%) believe that the state is not adequately responding to acts of discrimination and violence against LGBTQI+ individuals. The vast majority of respondents believe that the state should better safeguard the rights of people who have disabilities, including more support for inclusive education (70%), infrastructure inclusive of all (85%) and assistance to those with disabilities (82%).
In the belief that education is a critical step towards a society based on human rights, the European Union and the United Nations work together to provide Georgia’s public sector and civic sectors with practical, real-world insights into human right protection.
In July, a series of trainings organized by the United Nations Development Program and the South Caucasus Field presence of the Office of the Haut Commissariat for Human Rights (OHCHR) with EU support brought together representatives from state institutions, media associations, and civil society. This educational initiative focused primarily on the tools and mechanisms available to ensure respect for all human rights.
A training session for journalists, held in partnership with the Office of State Minister for Reconciliation & Civic Equality on 15-16 July, focused on the impact of misinformation & disinformation when it comes to protecting the rights of ethnic and national minorities. The training program highlighted that the media plays a critical role in combating hate speech, fake news, and providing reliable and trustworthy information to the public.
Lawyers from the Legal Aid Service (LAS) and the Georgian Bar Association (GBA) participated in a training session on the rights of persons with disabilities, which took place between 17-18 July. They discussed the international standards for protecting disability rights, and the challenges that people with disabilities face in Georgia when trying to access justice.
On 19-20 July 2018, human rights activists and representatives from organizations that protect and promote the rights of LGBTQI+ people learned how to create and submit alternative reports, communications and other documents to the UN Human Rights Treaty Bodies. They also learned how to use UN human rights mechanisms to advocate and to engage in strategic litigation.
On 28-29th July, representatives from Georgia’s Public Defender’s Office discussed ways to better protect Georgia’s Right to Health and updated their knowledge in this area.
Anna Chernyshova is UNDP’s Deputy Resident Rep in Georgia. She said, “We at UNDP believe that respecting human rights is the basis of democracy.” “A democratic society’s ability to protect the rights and freedoms of minorities, not just those of the majority, is the primary measure of its democracy.” In this spirit, we join forces with the European Union and partners to help journalists, lawyers and civic activists, as well as the LGBTQI+ community, better understand human rights and protect them more effectively, ensuring no one is left behind.
“Education, awareness, and commitment are essential investments in the effort to create a just society where all human rights are valued, respected, protected, and recognized,” said Vladimir Shkolnikov Senior Human Rights Advisor of the South Caucasus Field Office of the UN High Commission for Human Rights.
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Through their ‘Human Rights for All” program, the European Union and United Nations promote a culture of human rights in Georgia, and help to increase public awareness about human rights values. The EU and UN, working with a variety of local and international partner, seek to ensure that every citizen – without exception – can enjoy the rights, freedoms, and commitments guaranteed by Georgia’s constitution and major policy documents, in accordance with the country‘s priorities and international obligations under the Association Agreement, Sustainable Development Goals and UN human rights treaties.
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