FM David Zalkaliani Gives Speech at UN Human Rights Council

Georgian foreign minister David Zalkaliani gave a speech at the 40th session of the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council on February 25 as part of a 2-day visit to Geneva.

Beginning his speech with the topics of “raging conflicts and instability,” Zalkaliani spoke of a variety of global human rights violations. “People continue to suffer in Syria and Venezuela, in occupied parts of Georgia and Ukraine,” he said.

Zalkaliani stressed the role of institutions in the protection of human rights to address issues such as conflict, instability, inequality and discrimination.

He also spoke of the importance of civil society in Georgia’s progress in human rights protection. He believes that reforms such as in Georgia’s penitentiary system have allowed the country to become a role model.

The foreign minister thanks the UN Human Rights Council for adopting resolutions such as “Cooperation with Georgia” to help Georgia protect its sovereignty. Nonetheless, he is concerned by the presence of occupying forces: “Even more alarming is that up to this moment, the perpetrators of the murders of Archil Tatunashvili, Giga Otkhozoria and David Basharuli in the occupied regions have not been brought to justice.”

Zalkaliani emphasised the Georgian government’s commitment to improving human rights not just in Georgia, but also across the border in occupation zones.

By Amy Jones

Photo source - Ministry of Foreign Affairs