EU General Comment - HRC60 - Cooperation with Georgia

EU General Comment - HRC60 - Cooperation with Georgia

UN Human Rights Council

60th session - Item 10

L.16 - General Comment

Cooperation with Georgia

EU General Comment

Mr. President,

I have the honor to speak on behalf of the EU member states that are members of this Council. This statement has been agreed by the EU as a whole.

The EU welcomes that Georgia presents again the resolution "Cooperation with Georgia".

We welcome Georgia's continuing cooperation with the Office of the High Commissioner to implement its international human rights law obligations. During this Human Rights Council, the EU has expressed its concern for the deteriorating human rights situation in Georgia, and called on Georgia to ensure that its civil society can function without restrictions, to uphold the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly, of association and of expression,.

In this resolution, Georgia demands immediate and unimpeded access for the OHCHR and international and regional human rights mechanisms to the Georgian regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali/South Ossetia, to assess human rights protection needs of the population. To our deep regret, despite repeated calls by the Council since 2017, such access has not yet been granted.

The European Union reiterates its firm support to the territorial integrity of Georgia within its internationally recognised borders.

The EU hopes this resolution will be adopted by consensus and, if a vote is called, urges all members of this Council to vote in favor.

Thank you.