Personal Representatives of OSCE Chairman-in-Office on Tolerance and Nondiscrimination conclude visit to Georgia

On 13 September, the Personal Representatives of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office concluded a country-visit to Georgia. The purpose of the visit was to assess and share information on best practices and challenges pertaining to tolerance and non-discrimination.

Rabbi Andrew Baker, Personal Representative on Combating Anti-Semitism; Regina Polak, Personal Representative on Combating Racism, Xenophobia and Discrimination; and Ismail Hakki Musa, Personal Representative on Combating Intolerance and Discrimination against Muslims met with representatives of the UN Human Rights Office and the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities in Georgia as well as with different civil society representatives and religious groups. 

During the four-day visit, they also had meetings with the office of the Public Defender of Georgia, the Advisor to the Prime Minister of Georgia on Human Rights Issues, the State Ministry for Reconciliation and Civic Equality, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the State Agency for Religious Issues, the Prosecutor’s Office and the Ministry of Internal Affairs. 

They discussed topics such as combating religious discrimination and xenophobia against members of different religions. The meetings provided an opportunity to highlight the importance of actions that enhance equality and reduce the level of discrimination and xenophobia.

“In times of multiple global crises, including war and the rise of far-right movements, this visit is crucial to support the Georgian government in keeping track of its ongoing strategic activities to improve human rights standards, in particular for ethnic and religious minorities, and people who experience intolerance and discrimination based on any other ground such as, for example, gender identity or sexual orientation, ” said Representative Polak. 

The Personal Representatives concluded that, together with governmental actions, there is a need for a meaningful inclusion of civil society. “Georgia is blessed with an active and engaged civil society network and passionate, courageous human rights activists. It is important that they are listened to and included to a bigger extent in the government’s work aiming at the preparation of a comprehensive human rights strategy and effective action plan,” said Rabbi Andrew Baker.

“Taking into consideration suggestions and recommendations by civil society will help Georgian authorities to enhance their integration and equality policies in place as well as their implementation,” underlined Ambassador Musa.