UN pledges to assist Georgia in peaceful settlement of territorial conflicts

The United Nations Human Rights Council has discussed a report of the High Commissioner concerning the human rights situation in the Russian-occupied regions of Georgia.

The discussion took place at the 36th session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva yesterday.

UN Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights Kate Gilmore presented the report and said that the document sets out examples of the technical assistance provided by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Georgia in the areas of administration of justice, combating torture and ill-treatment; protecting the right to privacy; promoting gender equality; and combating discrimination.

"Regrettably the authorities in control have not granted OHCHR access to either Abkhazia or South Ossetia which in our view only heightens questions about and intensifies concern for the human rights situation of the people living in these regions”, Gilmore said.

#Georgia: We haven't been granted access to Abkhazia & S.Ossetia. This heightens our concerns about human rights https://t.co/e0joV7MUBE

— UN Human Rights (@UNHumanRights) September 28, 2017

She stressed that nonetheless, the report does present key human rights issues and developments, based on information received and analysed by OHCHR. She said that the human rights costs of earlier conflicts continue to weigh heavily on these communities today – who are left with a legacy of anxiety and distrust, including those still missing a loved one.

"Lingering restrictions on freedom of movement and impediments to the exercise of various rights, including to health and education, significantly affect the daily lives of the local populations. Controls of movement often lead to deprivation of liberty and have driven related allegations of torture and ill-treatment”, she said.

In Gilmore’s words, it is for these reasons that the UN calls upon duty-bearers in Abkhazia and South Ossetia to take measures so that all rights guaranteed under international law are upheld, without discrimination.

"We reiterate our request that unhindered access be granted to the human rights office and to international and regional human rights mechanisms in order that we might assist in protecting the human rights of the affected populations”, she said.

Gilmore added that the UN Human Rights Council is very grateful for "the openness of the government of Georgia to addressing human rights concerns, as has been demonstrated through the cooperation extended to our Human Rights Adviser”.

The Council encouraged the government to pursue further efforts to enable an environment conducive to the peaceful settlement of protracted conflicts.

"We stand ready to provide assistance in this regard”, she added.