EU, UN and Public Defender launch Human Rights Week in Georgia

The European Union, the United Nations and the Public Defender of Georgia have launched a joint communication campaign dedicated to Human Rights Day 2018 to raise awareness for human rights in the country.

The slogan of the campaign is “I raise my voice for human rights.”

A launch event was held outside of Rustaveli Metro Station in Tbilisi yesterday and it included the opening of an open-air photo exhibition curated by Kolga Tbilisi Photo.

It showcases seven projects funded and supported by the European Union that focus on human rights issues in Georgia.

Also, the EU funded project "Human Rights for All” implemented by UNDP presented the newly published online platform "StandUp4HumanRights.ge", which is built around the 30 articles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Human Rights Day is marked on 10 December annually. Photo: EU in Georgia press office. 

Users can discover the Declaration in a visual and user-friendly way and gain a better understanding of human rights in the Georgian context, UNDP  Georgia says.

70 years after the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, we still talk about the achievements and challenges in the field of protection of human rights and freedoms in Georgia. The core principles of the Public Defender's activities are based on the spirit of the Declaration, which is of particular importance for achieving high standards of human rights in the country,” said Nino Lomjaria, Public Defender of Georgia.

Munkhtuya Altangerel, acting head of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Georgia said that fundamental rights stated in the declaration are as important now as they were 70 years ago.

Although the Declaration has been accepted by nearly every state in the world, its implementation still presents a challenge to many countries", said Altangerel said.

Throughout Human Rights Week the EU, UN and the Georgian Public Defender will run a focused communication campaign on TV and social media highlighting human rights in Georgia.

Citizens are encouraged to participate in the campaign by tagging themselves with the hashtags #standup4humanrights and #ადამიანისუფლებებიჩვენია.

More events will take place throughout Human Rights Week.

• 14 December, 2pm. EU and UN conduct a public lecture on human rights at Ilia University with a closing event of a contest for students’ essays on human rights. (Ilia University, Tbilisi)
• 14 December, 6-8 pm. UNDP and EU conduct Human Rights evening with the 30 readers of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, depicted on the abovementioned media platform. Public figures, journalists and representatives of human rights NGOs will take part in a discussion. (Tbilisi Mediatheka, Vake Branch, 76 Chavchavadze Ave., Vake Park, Tbilisi).
• 22 November – 14 December, EU and UN conduct public lectures on human rights in Georgian universities in regions (Kutaisi, Zugdidi, Batumi, Akhalkalaki, Telavi, Tbilisi).
• 22 November – 7 December, A series of training for lawyers of the Georgian Bar Association focusing on combating discrimination and hate speech. (36, Dzmebi Zubalashvilebi St, GBA training center, Tbilisi.
• Human Rights Day, December 10, is observed worldwide every year to commemorate the day on which, in 1948, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.