EU sees continued progress regarding human rights in Georgia
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There has been continued progress as regards human rights in Georgia over the past year, reads the statement of Spokesperson for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Maja Kocijancic.
The statement was released following the 11th annual Human Rights Dialogue between EU and Georgia held on April 24 in Brussels.
"The EU reaffirmed its support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia within its internationally recognised borders. It reiterated its concerns about the deprivation of life in custody of Georgian citizen Archil Tatunashvili in Tskhinvali in February and about the overall deterioration of the human rights situation in the Georgian regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali region/South Ossetia in particular with regard to ethnic discrimination, freedom of movement, property rights, and education in mother tongue, as well as about continued obstacles to the rights of internally displaced persons and refugees to a safe and dignified return to their homes,” reads the official statement.
The EU and Georgia agreed on the importance of unhindered access of international human rights monitoring mechanisms under international organisations, as well as the EU Monitoring Mission (EUMM) to the breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, and recalled that the Russian Federation has an obligation to implement the EU-mediated 12 August 2008 Ceasefire Agreement.
On the other hand, the EU welcomed the new peace initiative of the Georgian government "which can benefit the populations living on both sides of the administrative boundary lines by facilitating trade, education and mobility and fostering people-to-people contacts and confidence building between the divided communities.”
While noting the increasingly free and active media that fostered greater political debates, both the EU and Georgia agreed on the importance of maintaining a free and pluralistic media environment, and political pluralism as a prerequisite for the conduct of democratic elections. Also, the EU encouraged Georgia to increase the participation of women and national minority representatives in politics.
Moreover, the EU encouraged Georgia to continue ensuring the effective implementation of its anti-discrimination law, including in the private sector. The participants stressed their commitment to the universality of human rights for all, regardless of religion or belief, race, sex, language, sexual orientation, gender identity, ability or other.
The EU underlined the progress made by Georgia with regard to the protection of ethnic minorities and their civic integration and encouraged the government to continue taking steps in this regard.
The parties also agreed to continue and further develop their fruitful cooperation on human rights related matters in multilateral formats, such as the UN, OSCE and the Council of Europe.
During the eleventh round of annual Human Rights Dialogue the EU delegation was led by Dirk Schuebel, Head of Division for Eastern Partnership bilateral relations in the European External Action Service, while the Georgian delegation was headed by Vakhtang Makharoblishvili, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs.
The next Human Rights Dialogue between the EU and Georgia is scheduled to take place in Tbilisi in 2019.
The Council of Europe reported today that Protocol No. 16 to the European Convention on Human Rights is coming into play from August 1, 2018, which establishes dialogue between the Strasbourg-based European Court of Human Rights and the higher courts designated by the Council member states
The European Union Monitoring Mission (EUMM) has released a statement over the release of Georgian citizen Archil Tatunashvili’s body from the occupied region of Tskhinvali.
According to the report, one of the most significant human rights issues were arbitrary detentions and deprivation of life by Russian and de facto authorities of the country’s citizens along the administrative boundary lines with the Russian-occupied Georgian territories of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
The European Union’s Political and Security Committee has appointed a new head of the EU Monitoring Mission (EUMM) in Georgia. The position was given to Danish diplomat Erik Hoeg, who prior to this, was serving as Deputy Head of the mission.
The project will look at ways of combining legislative, capacity-building and awareness raising actions to ensure the appreciation of diversity in Georgia and the possibility for everyone to freely enjoy their rights.
The Council of Europe in Georgia has presented the findings of its study regarding hate crime, hate speech and discrimination in Georgia on the International Day for Tolerance marked worldwide today.
The recent Human Rights World Report by the Human Rights Watch summarises human rights problems in Georgia.
European Commission Against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI), which is the Council of Europe’s independent human rights monitoring body, says Georgia still needs to implement two of its “priority recommendations”.
The Council of Europe’s European Committee of Social Rights (ECSR), has published its conclusions assessing compliance of 35 countries and territories with the European Social Charter on issues related to labour rights. It also includes Georgia.
MPs from the ruling Georgian Dream party have proposed amendments to the country’s Law on Broadcasting to include ban on ads or other media content containing hate speech or calls to terrorism.