A/HRC/42/34
82.
ICRC suggested that the Government of Georgia set up a body to coordinate the
work on the search for the missing individuals and the provision of support to their
families, similar to commissions on missing persons that exist in other countries. 42
83.
In its information provided to OHCHR, the Government of Georgia reported that a
new investigation into missing persons had been initiated.
84.
The subject of missing persons continued to be raised in the context of the Geneva
international discussions. The work of an expert commissioned by OSCE to focus on
missing persons from South Ossetia has continued.
10.
Confidence-building measures
85.
In June 2018, the parliament of Georgia approved the package of proposals
submitted by the Government entitled “A step to a better future”, which envisages, inter
alia, confidence-building measures between the communities across the Administrative
Boundary Lines. 43 In March 2019, the Government launched a related small grant
programme (“Enterprise for a better future”) aimed at supporting joint business production
and partner projects across the lines. The Secretary-General commended the focus on
concrete measures to encourage and facilitate the free movement of goods, services,
persons and finances across the lines, and he urged the continuation of dialogue and
political will to ensure their implementation. 44
86.
The Council of Europe also continued to implement confidence-building measures
in Abkhazia, while noting the impossibility of developing and implementing such measures
in South Ossetia.45
11.
Incident Prevention and Response Mechanisms
87.
While the Geneva international discussions continued regularly during the reporting
period, OHCHR regrets the suspension of the Gali and Ergneti Incident Prevention and
Response Mechanisms, which offered a platform for joint discussion of a number of issues,
incidents and individual cases. While the Ergneti mechanism was eventually renewed in
December 2018, the Gali mechanism remained suspended as at the date of the finalization
of the present report.
C.
Situation of internally displaced persons and refugees
88.
Pursuant to General Assembly resolution 72/280, the Secretary-General submitted
his annual report to the seventy-third session of the General Assembly on the status of
internally displaced persons and refugees from Abkhazia, Georgia, and the Tskhinvali
region/South Ossetia, Georgia (A/73/880), covering the period from 1 April 2018 to 31
March 2019. The present report therefore does not address this subject.
V. Conclusions and recommendations
89.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights expresses her
appreciation for the continuous cooperation between the Government of Georgia and
OHCHR, which demonstrates the Government’s commitment to the promotion and
protection of human rights. Her Office remains committed to further supporting the
Government and other national stakeholders to further improve the promotion and
protection of human rights in Georgia.
42
43
44
45
See www.messenger.com.ge/issues/4354_march_15_2019/4354_icrc.html. See also A/HRC/39/44,
para. 53.
See also A/HRC/39/44, para. 88.
A/73/880, para. 54.
SG/Inf(2019)12, paras. 64 and 71.
15
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