EU Notes Progress in Sphere of Human Rights in Georgia

• Thursday, June 21, 18:27

Tbilisi. Since last session in June 2011, justice reforms, progress regarding freedom of religion, support to internally displaced persons, and independent monitoring by the Public Defender's Office have continued. The orderly conduct of most demonstrations since May 2011 has also been noted, is said in a statement of the head of EU Delegation to Georgia, Ambassador Philip Dimitrov on behalf of the Heads of Missions of the European Union Member States to Georgia, which was disseminated on Tuesday, June 19.

The next round of the EU-Georgia Human Rights Dialogue will take place in Tbilisi on 26 June. The EU- Georgia Human Rights Dialogue is a two-way process and provides an opportunity to both recognize achieved progress and raise issues of concern, including individual cases. The previous round was held in Brussels in June 2011.

In light of upcoming parliamentary elections, the EU looks forward to hearing about further progress in establishing a tolerant and pluralistic political culture, and towards the prompt handling of allegations of intimidation or dismissals, a statement reads.

Discussions will also cover a broad range of topics, including large prison population, accountability of law enforcement officers, minorities, functioning of civil society, and the human rights situation in the breakaway regions.

The EU will continue raising the issue of labor rights and promotion of social dialogue, particularly in connection with the current Generalized System of Preferences (GSP+) and negotiations on Deep and Comprehensive Free and Trade Agreement.

On June 21-22 a Civil Society Seminar under EU auspice will be held, which will focus on justice and labor issues.