EU praises Georgia for continued progress on human rights

The European Union (EU) is recognising Georgia's "good progress” in combatting torture and ill-treatment, and particularly noted recent efforts had led to an improvement in prison conditions and the treatment of prisoners.

The European organisation stressed the Independent National Prevention Mechanism under the Public Defender's Office enjoyed full access to monitor closed facilities and this was extremely positive.

The EU and Georgia held the ninth round of their annual Human Rights Dialogue in Brussels on Tuesday.

In a press statement released after the meeting the EU said it welcomed the "continued progress” on human rights in Georgia, and acknowledged by the positive recommendation on Visa Liberalisation by the European Commission in December 2015.

The EU also welcomed the adoption of the Juvenile Justice Code and the law on early and preschool education as good progress to address children rights, as well as the efforts of the Georgian Government to prevent trafficking among minors.

The EU also praised the changes to the electoral systems aimed at ensuring equality of suffrage, and encouraged Georgia to continue efforts to further increase participation of women and national minority representatives in politics.

"The EU commended Georgia for its initiative to further strengthen the institutional mechanism on gender equality at the executive level and encouraged the country to proceed with the ratification of the Istanbul convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence,” the press release said.

The EU reaffirmed its support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia within its internationally recognised borders and expressed concern about the human rights situation in Georgia’s regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia), currently occupied by Russia.

Read more details about the latest round of the EU-Georgia Human Rights Dialogue here.