Georgian PM: equal, free, dignified conditions for Georgian citizens without any distinction - govt’s main priority

The main priority of the Georgian Government is to create equal, free and dignified conditions for Georgian citizens, regardless of belonging to any group, as it is necessary to protect the interests of all groups and individuals, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili said on Saturday, commemorating the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on December 10, 1948.

Garibashvili called the date of adoption of the Declaration a “turning point” in the history of human rights protection and said on this day the civilised world had agreed that all people, regardless of their “affiliations and differences”, have “inherent rights”, which must be respected by all states.

The Head of the Government highlighted that the current Constitution, adopted in 1995, has been based on the “historical-legal heritage” of the 1921 Constitution of the Democratic Republic of Georgia, which was the first modern fundamental law in the country’s history and a “progressive political-legal document in the global constitutional order of that time”, which aimed to strengthen the observance of human rights.

It is in the spirit of the aforementioned basic law that the principle of the social state was set forth as an independent article in the main text of the Constitution of Georgia after the 2017 constitutional reform”, the Prime Minister noted, emphasising that after the ruling Georgian Dream party came to power in 2012, the Government set the “unwavering protection” of the supremacy of the Constitution and human rights as its “primary goal”. 

He also said the Government had approved the first National Human Rights Strategy of 2014-2020, which included three action plans and noted during this period “important” legislative changes had been implemented, which brought Georgian legislation “closer” to international standards. By approving the second strategy for 2022-2030, the Government has been continuing to work in the direction of respect for human rights, which aims at the effective implementation of the legal framework in practice and cover various priority areas, including civil and political rights, institutional democracy, protection of minorities, etc., Garibashvili added.

• Gov’t approves 8-year human rights strategy following discussions with foreign, domestic actors

The Prime Minister stressed the work on the action plan of the strategy would begin “in the near future”, where the involvement of all interested parties would be ensured. He also pointed out that the Government had approved the action plan on the 2022-2024 United Nations Security Council Resolutions on Women, Peace and Security, as well as for taking measures against femicide and domestic violence and ensuring women’s engagement in public life.

• Gov’t approves action plans encouraging women’s public engagement, combating femicide, domestic violence

The Government of Georgia reaffirms the state's commitment to the respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, which, in turn, implies the development and management of a systematic, consistent and long-term policy for the protection of human rights”, Garibashvili said, noting amid the existing challenges in the world “taking care of our country's citizens requires redoubled efforts”.

The PM said he “firmly believed” that with the Government’s efforts and the support of international partners, the country would get “even closer” to its goal [laid down by the Georgian Constitution] - the “full integration” of Georgia into the European Union and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation.