PM, Council of Europe Commissioner discuss human rights situation in Georgia and occupied territories
The security environment and challenges in the wider Eastern European region were also on the agenda, with the head of the Georgian government noting the steps taken by Russia with regard to Ukraine and Georgia undermined European security and the rules-based international order. Photo: Government of Georgia.
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The current situation with human rights in Georgia and the Russian-occupied regions, as well as matters of ongoing reforms and questions of media freedom and pluralism were on the agenda for a meeting between Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Garibashvili and Dunja Mijatović, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, on Tuesday.
The Prime Minister highlighted important reforms that have been implemented as part of Georgia’s commitment to fulfil the obligations under the European Union-Georgia Association Agreement, and thanked the Commissioner for the contribution of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe to strengthening human rights and democratic development in the country.
Noting the Georgian government remained committed to maintaining fundamental human rights as its priority, the PM spoke about the Second National Human Rights Strategy that covers the years 2022-2030, the government administration said. The strategy is being elaborated in cooperation with the Public Defender's Office, non-governmental organisations and international partners.
The original version of the strategy was first approved by the government in 2014, based on a report on the human rights situation in Georgia and prepared by the EU Special Advisor on Constitutional and Legal Reforms and Human Rights, Thomas Hammarberg. The report covered the years 2014-2020.
Last year, in close cooperation with UN agencies, the Public Defender’s Office and the civil sector, the government administration established the Interagency Coordinating Committee for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which is accountable to the government and ensures international and national obligations and recommendations under the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
In the meeting with the Council of Europe Commissioner, Garibashvili said the government also remained committed to ensuring media freedom, transparency and pluralism, adding Georgia's leading position in international rankings indicated progress in this regard.
The parties also discussed the challenging humanitarian and human rights situation in the occupied regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia). Garibashvili thanked Mijatović for supporting the country’s territorial integrity and sovereignty and reaffirmed his government’s commitment to a peaceful policy of resolving the conflicts.
The security environment and challenges in the wider Eastern European region were also on the agenda, with the head of the Georgian government noting the steps taken by Russia with regard to Ukraine and Georgia undermined European security and the rules-based international order.