A/HRC/17/2 treatment, and expressed its satisfaction at Georgia’s commitment to continue its effort to implement judicial reforms. 3. General comments made by other relevant stakeholders 512. The Indian Council of South America recommended the implementation of recommendations 106.24, 106.9, 106.38, 106.39 and 106.40. It stated that the right of expression and protest should be restored. It called upon Georgia to adopt a more rigorous, systematic and transparent inquiry policy for the investigation of allegations of use of excessive force by its internal security forces, and stated that perpetrators should be systematically held accountable (recommendation 106.43). The Council called for a thorough and objective investigation into the cruel treatment of demonstrators in the past, as well as of those currently demonstrating for improved conditions in Georgia (recommendation 106.44). 513. The Russian Peace Foundation declared that the outcome document identified serious human rights problems in Georgia and drew attention to a recent nocturnal break-up of a peaceful demonstration. It stated that the Georgian authorities were confident that they would go unpunished and could ignore the Human Rights Council. This was the only explanation that the Foundation could find for the recent repression of opponents and the lack of desire on the part of Georgia to adopt recommendations from the Russian Federation. The authority of the Council had been challenged as a result of these events. 514. Amnesty International welcomed Georgia’s support for recommendations to strengthen the independence of the judiciary and to carry out effective and independent investigations into cases of excessive use of force by law enforcement officials, and urged Georgia to ensure that these cases were properly investigated and those responsible brought to justice. It also welcomed the large number of recommendations made to address the situation of internally displaced persons, the recommendations to guarantee that evictions of displaced persons were carried out in accordance with international standards, as well as those to ensure that the rights to decent housing, work and access to health services and education were respected. Amnesty International urged Georgia to give prompt effect to these recommendations. 515. Conscience and Peace Tax International welcomed the acceptance by Georgia of the recommendation that it should reduce the length of alternative service for conscientious objectors so that it is the same length as the military service. It hoped that Georgia would take this opportunity to review its current alternative service provisions in order to ensure that conscientious objection may be declared at any time, that alternative service is completely independent of the military, and that the same is applied to any service obligations. 4. Concluding remarks of the State under review 516. The delegation reiterated its gratitude to all delegations and stakeholders who participated in good faith in the review of Georgia. The universal periodic review process was a human rights forum that should not be abused for political considerations or interests. Most of the rejected recommendations did not enjoy the State’s support since they were of a clearly political nature. It called on all delegations, when assessing the human rights situation in Georgia, focus on the progress achieved in the past six or seven years. Georgia was a young democracy, still striving for the reforms of a system based on a Soviet heritage that was characterized by total disregard for human rights and fundamental freedoms. Mindful of the challenges ahead, and acknowledging its own shortcomings, Georgia was slowly building a State based on the rule of law and respect for human rights. Moreover, the Government was motivated to do everything in its power to ensure that human rights were enjoyed by every citizen in Georgia. GE.12-13630 161