Human Rights Council 40: Explanation of vote: Georgia
The UK commended Georgia for its ongoing cooperation with the Council, but raised concerns regarding access to the Georgian regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
Thank you, Mr President,
The UK wishes to thank the delegation of Georgia for its presentation of L.24 entitled “Cooperation with Georgia”. We commend Georgia for its ongoing and constructive cooperation with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights through its representation in Tbilisi. Georgia’s recognition of its own ongoing challenges and its willingness to accept international assistance from the OHCHR deserve our positive recognition and support.
We deeply regret that staff of the Office of the High Commissioner are still systematically denied access to the Georgian regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. This concern was raised in the latest report by the High Commissioner for Human Rights from September 2018. The report regrets that there has been no progress in granting access to OHCHR and other international human rights mechanisms despite concerns about serious human rights issues and the need for credible and verified information. Key concerns include increasing restrictions on freedom of movement and the need to investigate unresolved cases of alleged unlawful killings to ensure justice and accountability.
This resolution seeks to respond to this concern, in a moderate and balanced way, by calling for access to all parts of Georgia by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. It aims to raise the level of knowledge of, and attention to, the human rights situation there through the provision of reporting by OHCHR to the Council.
This resolution is about access, it is about cooperation and it is being brought before the Council by the country concerned. The Council should support cooperation with the UN’s human rights mechanisms, whether these be the mechanisms of this Council, the treaty bodies, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights or regional mechanisms.
Furthermore, given the highly troubling reports of violations in the Georgian regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, independent monitoring and reporting by respected institutions such as OHCHR is clearly needed and would serve to improve the human rights situation in these regions. Uncertainty over the recent death of Irakli Kvaratskhelia in Abkhazia further demonstrates that.
The United Kingdom will therefore vote YES on L.24 and we call on all members of the Council to joins us in supporting this draft resolution.
Thank you, Mr President.