OSCE Mission to Georgia

The Mission promotes international human rights standards with the aim of integrating these fundamental principles into Georgian society and legislation. It supports national human rights institutions such as the Public Defender's Office and the Human Rights Departments of the National Security Council and the General Prosecutor's Office.

The Mission also supports a range of human rights and civil society activities in the zone of the Georgian-Ossetian conflict (see link in the menu on the left), and it seconds an officer to the United Nations' Human Rights Office in Abkhazia, Georgia (HROAG) (see link in the menu on the left).

Strengthening legal mechanisms

In 2006, the Mission trained and hired 10 lawyers to support victims of human rights violations. The lawyers are set to monitor judicial proceedings over cases related to human rights, torture and human trafficking in Tbilisi, and Western and Eastern Georgia. Based on their observations, the lawyers and relevant experts are drafting recommendations for the Government to strengthen the independence and impartiality of the judiciary.

Human rights monitoring

In 2006, the Mission increased its ad hoc monitoring visits to penitentiary facilities throughout Georgia. During the visits, assessments are made of human rights conditions or violations within the penitentiary system.

Human rights education

In 2006, the Mission expanded its programme for human rights education in schools in four more districts in Georgia: Samegrelo, Ajara, Guria and Mtskheta. In close co-operation with the education authorities, the Mission is training teachers in Georgia, including in the zone of the Georgian-Ossetian conflict, using the methodology of the Council of Europe COMPASS manual.

The Mission supported the integration of ethnic minorities by establishing community centres in Kvemo Kartli. The centres run regular training sessions on Georgian and English languages, computer studies and human rights, and arrange discussion groups on topics relevant to the multi-ethnic community. Through these centres, the Mission facilitates dialogue on relevant human rights related issues between representatives of central and local government and non-governmental organizations.

Promoting human rights standards in rural areas

The Mission continued to work with state bodies, and non-governmental and international organizations to promote human rights standards in rural areas. The Mission used a two-fold approach: implementing projects that promote human rights and working on human rights cases. The casework involved monitoring trials, providing legal advice and raising concerns about alleged human rights violations with the relevant authorities at the highest levels.

The Mission helped to strengthen human rights protection mechanisms in rural areas mainly by advising the Public Defender's Office, making free legal advice available and conducting seminars for officials, lawyers and human rights defenders.