Norway contributes €1.1 million to boost human rights in Georgia

Norway will contribute more than €1 million to enhance the judiciary, human rights and administration of elections in Georgia.

The Council of Europe Office in Georgia announced the news, saying Norway’s contribution of €1.1 million was to help the implementation of the Council of Europe 2016-2019 Action Plan for Georgia.

The announcement came when Deputy Secretary General of the Council of Europe Gabriella Battaini-Dragoni met with Permanent Representative of Norway to the Council of Europe Astrid Helle last week.

At the meeting Helle confirmed the importance Norway attached to the cooperation activities delivered by the Council of Europe in Georgia.

With this new pledge, Norway’s voluntary contribution to the current Action Plan for Georgia reached approximately €1.8 million.

The contribution from Norway will allow the Council of Europe to increase support to the Georgian authorities and stakeholders, in areas such as reform of the judiciary, human rights and administration of elections,” the Council of Europe Office in Georgia said in a statement.

This additional support is particularly timely, coming at the beginning of a new governance cycle, when reform directions are being reconfirmed in line with the European values of human rights, democracy and rule of law.”

What will Norway’s money will be spent on?

Norway’s contribution will support the implementation of the Council of Europe Action Plan for Georgia 2016-2019.

The Action Plan is a joint initiative of the Council of Europe and the authorities of Georgia, which focuses on the following priority sectors:

• Protecting and promoting human rights and dignity, including social rights
• Ensuring justice
• Strengthening democratic governance
• Countering threats to the rule of law
• Confidence building measures in conflict-affected areas.

The document aimed at strengthening the link between policy, legal framework and practice, and participation of the key stakeholders, with a view to fostering democracy, human rights, and the rule of law.