Gov’t goal is to ensure “effective protection” of human rights - Georgian PM on Human Rights Day

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Sunday said his Government’s goal was to create and “continuously develop” mechanisms that ensure the “effective protection” of human rights and freedoms with the involvement of each branch of Government, public agencies and interested parties.

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In his statement on Human Rights Day, Garibashvili noted that by the protection of universally recognised rights, the state strengthened the institutional democracy and ensured equal enjoyment of civil, political, social, cultural and economic rights, as well as reinforced the policy of equality while protecting the citizens affected by the occupation.

The PM stressed the Government had approved the 2022-2030 National Strategy for the Protection of Human Rights last year, which was adopted by the Parliament later in March 2023, aiming to improve the protection of human rights.

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It creates a unified framework for strengthening the national system of basic human rights and freedoms and institutional democracy in the country. It serves to fulfil the obligations undertaken by the state before the society and the international community [and] ensures unwavering protection of universally recognized human rights and freedoms”, Garibashvili added.

The Head of the Government highlighted the ongoing “active work” on the 2024-2026 National Action Plan for the Protection of Human Rights to ensure the implementation of the goals provided by the Strategy.

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The draft of the Action Plan has been developed with the coordination of the Government Administration and based on the recommendations of the civil sector, he noted, adding the cooperation with the civil sector would also continue during the implementation of the plan.

Our Government has constantly confirmed its commitment to the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms, which implies the development and management of systematic, coherent and long-term policies”, Garibashvili stressed and said the Government's efforts in this regard brought the country “even closer to the European family”.

The concrete, tangible results of Georgia’s “steadfast strengthening”, with the joint efforts of the Georgian people and the Government, as well as the European Union, were also pointed out by the PM.

On this point, Garibashvili cited the signing of the Association Agreement with the EU in 2014, visa-free travel to the Schengen Area, and the European perspective granted last year, as well as the most recent “dignified, reasonable and wise decision” of the European Commission to recommend the European Council to grant Georgia the EU membership candidate status.

The Head of the Government emphasised that “this path” was bringing Georgia “closer to our final goal” - full integration into the EU.

Human Rights Day is marked annually since the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948.