Georgia Approves Action Plan for National Human Rights Strategy

TBILISI - The Georgian government has approved an action plan that aligns the country’s human rights initiatives with the European Union and United Nations.

Known as the National Human Rights Strategy, the bill enhances human rights protection over a three-year period.

The EU's ambassador to Georgia, Janos Herman, UN representative Niels Scott, Georgian parliamentarians and local NGOs came together in recent days to discuss Georgia’s National Human Rights Strategy.

The discussions acknowledged Georgia’s progress in promoting human rights, which included the development of the National Human Rights Strategy by the Georgian Parliament in May 2014.

Georgia’s Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili has continually stated that the protection of human rights is a top priority for his government.

"The National Human Rights Strategy is the most important document developed by our government, through a very inclusive and transparent process that involved non-governmental and civil society stakeholders in the decision making. Some of our international partners agree that this comprehensive document can be described as one of the best of its kind,” Kvirikashvili said.

"We have set high standards for ourselves and we need to work harder to uphold our expectations,” added Kvirikashvili.

The three-year action plan will support the implementation and monitoring of the National Human Rights Strategy for minorities and other at-risk groups. It will also provide internal and external oversight of law enforcement, children’s rights, labor rights, privacy and protecting freedom of expression.

The EU’s current human rights program is jointly implemented by the four UN agencies – the United Nations Development Programme, United Nations Children Fund, Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and International Labour Organization.

By Tamar Svanidze
Edited by Nicholas Waller