A/HRC/42/34
has continued to advise and provide technical assistance to the Government and institutions
of Georgia, civil society organizations and other actors. He continued to focus on
supporting the compliance of legislation, policies and practices with international human
rights standards and assisting in the implementation of the National Human Rights
Strategy.
A.
Support for the implementation of the National Human Rights Action
Plan
7.
Along with other United Nations entities, OHCHR provided support to the
Government of Georgia for the ongoing implementation of the National Human Rights
Action Plan 2018−2020, including in the framework of the Human Rights for All
programme, a joint United Nations initiative funded by the European Union. 7 Such support
included building the capacity of various national counterparts, such as members and staff
of the parliament, staff of the National Human Rights Secretariat in the Administration of
the Government of Georgia,8 representatives of local self-government bodies, the Office of
the Public Defender, judges and court staff, police officers, legal professionals, journalists,
civil society organizations, students and youth groups.
8.
Between 1 June 2018 and 31 May 2019, OHCHR conducted 30 capacity-building
activities in Georgia and developed the following materials: a human rights curriculum for
the Police Academy to train investigators; a handbook on human rights for civil servants;
and an analysis of the compatibility of national legislation with international standards on
freedom of expression. Most of the activities were planned in close consultation with the
National Human Rights Secretariat and were conducted in response to requests by, and in
cooperation with, the Government.
9.
On 23 April 2019, the inter-agency human rights council – the governmental body
tasked with coordinating the elaboration and implementation of the National Human Rights
Action Plan, under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister – convened for the first time
since April 2015. Most ministries were represented at the ministerial or deputy ministerial
levels. OHCHR and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) participated in
the event and gave an overview of the main activities implemented by the United Nations
agencies to support the authorities. Several non-governmental organizations spoke on the
main human rights challenges in Georgia.
10.
During the reporting period, relevant parliamentary committees held hearings on the
implementation by the executive branch of recommendations of international and regional
human rights mechanisms, the Public Defender and decisions of the European Court of
Human Rights. On 15 October 2018, OHCHR participated in the hearing held by the
parliamentary Committee on Human Rights and Civic Integration on the midterm report of
the Government on the implementation of the recommendations emanating from the
universal periodic review. The hearing was open to civil society organizations.9
11.
During the period under review, the Government submitted a midterm report on the
implementation of recommendations received by Georgia during the second cycle of the
universal periodic review. The Independent Expert on protection against violence and
discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity and the Working Group on
the issue of human rights and transnational corporations and other business enterprises
visited Georgia at the end of September and beginning of October 2018 and in April 2019,
respectively. 10 Georgia has yet to submit its next periodic reports to the Committee on
7
8
9
10
4
This joint initiative aims at supporting the implementation and monitoring of the National Human
Rights Strategy and Action Plan of Georgia.
Under the Office of the Prime Minister, the National Human Rights Secretariat is responsible for
coordinating the drafting and implementation of, and reporting on, the National Human Rights Action
Plan, and for supporting the inter-agency human rights council in that regard.
Parliamentary hearings on the implementation of recommendations of international and regional
human rights mechanisms and of the Public Defender have been held since 2016.
Since 2012, Georgia has hosted visits from nine special procedure mandate holders.
Select target paragraph3
Connect to a paragraph
Connect to an entity
Disable highlights
Add to table of contents