46 UN states make joint declaration on “difficult situation” in Georgia’s occupied regions

Forty-six member states of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) have signed a joint declaration about the "difficult situation” in Georgia’s two occupied regions.

Georgia’s delegation made the joint declaration on behalf of all but one UN member states at the 33rd session of the UN Human Rights Council. The document expressed "deep concern” about human rights and humanitarian situations in Georgia’s two occupied regions Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia), said the Foreign Ministry of Georgia.

The statement was signed by all UNHRC member nations except Russia.

The statement is based on the September 13 statement of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and expresses its deep concern over the systematic refusal of the controllers of Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region concerning the entry of representatives of the High Commissioner's Office,” said Georgia’s Foreign Ministry.

The statement emphasised the importance of launching monitoring mission in the two breakaway regions and the necessity to prepare international, independent and objective reports about the goings-on in the two areas.

The document also stressed the need for trainings, as well as more engagement of the UN High Commissioner's Office, regional and international human rights mechanisms and special mandate holders. 

Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) were recognised as independent republics by Russia in 2008 in the wake of the Russia-Georgia war. 

In the declaration the UN member states reaffirmed their support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity within the internationally recognised borders of Georgia,” announced the Foreign Ministry.

The UNHRC is an inter-governmental body within the United Nations that’s made up of 47 states responsible for the promotion and protection of all human rights around the globe.