Speech

37th Universal Periodic Review: UK statement on Georgia

Rita French, UK Ambassador for Human Rights, delivered this statement on Georgia at the 37th Session of Universal Periodic Review (UPR), sharing recommendations to improve their human rights record.

• From: Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and Rita French
• Published: 26 January 2021

This was published under the 2019 to 2022 Johnson Conservative government

• Location: Geneva, Switzerland
• Delivered on: 26 January 2021 (Transcript of the speech, exactly as it was delivered)

The United Kingdom welcomes significant progress made by Georgia on human rights since its last review, and its ongoing co-operation with the OHCHR.

The UK welcomes the creation of an independent agency to investigate human rights violations by law enforcement officers and the creation of a domestic violence unit. However we remain concerned that the judicial reform programme has not been completed. Further reforms are also needed to ensure protection of minorities, including LGBT, women and children; and safeguard media independence.

We recommend that Georgia:

1. Ratify and implement the Protocol of 2014 to the Forced Labour Convention.

2. Adopt an open, merit-based process when selecting national candidates for UN Treaty Body elections.

3. Implement all the recommendations of the recent OSCE/ODIHR election report as soon as possible to restore public confidence in democratic institutions and processes.

Thank you.

Published 26 January 2021