RES/34/37 Cooperation with Georgia

GE.17-05272(E)



Human Rights Council Thirty-fourth session

27 February–24 March 2017

Agenda item 10

Resolution adopted by the Human Rights Council on 24 March 2017

34/37. Cooperation with Georgia

The Human Rights Council,

Guided by the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations,

Reaffirming the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other relevant

international human rights instruments,

Bearing in mind relevant regional instruments, in particular the European

Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms,

Reaffirming its commitment to the sovereignty, independence and territorial

integrity of Georgia within its internationally recognized borders,

Reaffirming also the primary responsibility of States to promote and protect human

rights and fundamental freedoms,

Recognizing the importance of the Geneva international discussions as an instrument

for addressing security, stability, human rights and humanitarian issues,

Welcoming the cooperation of the Government of Georgia with the Office of the

United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, its office in Tbilisi, and other

relevant international and regional human rights mechanisms and actors,

Welcoming also the cooperation of the Government of Georgia with the special

procedures of the Human Rights Council, in accordance with its standing invitation, noting

with appreciation the participation of Georgia in the universal periodic review process in

November 2015, and welcoming its commitment to implement the recommendations made

by United Nations and regional mechanisms, including universal periodic review

recommendations,

Recognizing with appreciation the efforts of the Government of Georgia to

strengthen democracy, the rule of law and the promotion and protection of human rights,

Noting the statement made by the High Commissioner to the Human Rights Council

on 13 September 2016, where he expressed deep concern at the repeated refusals to permit

staff of the Office of the High Commissioner access to Abkhazia, Georgia and the

Tskhinvali region/South Ossetia, Georgia,

Expressing serious concern at the human rights and humanitarian situation in those

regions of Georgia,

Concerned about reported kidnappings, arbitrary detention, interference with

property rights, restrictions on access to education in one’s native language, free movement

and residence, as well as continued discrimination on the grounds of ethnic origin in both

regions,

Expressing concern that internally displaced persons and refugees continue to be

deprived of the right to return to their homes in a safe and dignified manner,

Expressing serious concern at the repeated denial of access to international and

regional monitors, including United Nations human rights mechanisms, to both Georgian

regions, by those in control of those regions,

Bearing in mind the statement made by the High Commissioner regarding the

situation in both regions, during the most recent visit of the High Commissioner to Georgia,

in May 2014, and the denial of permission to visit those regions,

Recognizing in this context the importance of and need for periodic reports of the

Office of the High Commissioner for an objective and impartial assessment of the situation

of human rights in both Georgian regions,

1. Requests the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to

continue to provide technical assistance through his office in Tbilisi;

2. Calls for immediate access for the Office of the High Commissioner and

international and regional human rights mechanisms to Abkhazia, Georgia and the

Tskhinvali region/South Ossetia, Georgia;

3. Requests the High Commissioner to present to the Human Rights Council, in

accordance with its resolution 5/1 of 18 June 2007, an oral update on the follow-up to the

present resolution at its thirty-fifth session, and to present a written report on developments

relating to and the implementation of the present resolution at its thirty-sixth session.

59th meeting

24 March 2017

[Adopted by a recorded vote of 18 to 5, with 24 abstentions. The voting was as follows:

In favour:

Albania, Belgium, Botswana, Croatia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Hungary,

Japan, Latvia, Netherlands, Panama, Paraguay,1 Portugal, Slovenia, Togo,

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of

America

Against:

Bolivia (Plurinational State of), Burundi, China, Cuba, Venezuela (Bolivarian

Republic of)

Abstaining:

Bangladesh, Brazil, Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador,

Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Nigeria,

1 The representative of Paraguay subsequently stated that there had been an error in the delegation’s

vote and that it had intended to abstain.

Philippines, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, South Africa,

Switzerland, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates]