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The Parliament of Georgia, representative body of the people should play a decisive role in establishing the human rights protection standard and monitoring its enforcement. A special committee is operating in Parliament to ensure protection of human rights and civic integration.

Protection of fundamental human rights including rights of vulnerable groups and close cooperation with human rights NGOs should be the starting point for the parliamentary human rights committee in the process of consideration of bills and other matters that fall within the scope of Parliament’s competencies.

For successful performance of the Human Rights and Civil Integration Committee, it is crucial that the chairperson fully understands her role and functions and conducts her work accordingly. It is important that every citizen of Georgia feels that the committee chairperson is protecting his or her rights.

Remarks and initiatives of the Chairperson of the Human Rights and Civil Integration Committee of the 9th Parliament on freedom of expression, rights of minorities and other rights have triggered protest of certain civil society groups including NGOs. Her various statements on humane drug policy initiatives and terminology that she has used during public discussions do not hold water. Her approach towards vulnerable groups is inconsistent with the officially declared policy of the state and sometimes runs against it, it is discriminatory and homophobic and aims to justify oppression of certain groups. Overall, the chairperson’s activities and public statements suggest that her personal approach towards fundamental human rights is completely inconsistent with her current office.

The signatory organizations believe that the chairperson of the Human Rights and Civil Integration Committee should resign and an individual with correct vision about fundamental human rights, who will aim to protect human rights in Georgia, should be chosen as the chairperson of the committee.Transparency International Georgia

International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy (ISFED)

Georgian Democracy Initiative (GDI)

Open Society Georgia Foundation (OSGF)

Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association (GYLA)

Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center (EMC)

Green Alternative

Society and Banks

Institute for Democracy and Safety Development (IDSD)

Georgian Reforms Association (GRASS)

Human Rights Center

Safari

Women’s Movement

Media Development Foundation (MDF)

United Nations Association of Georgia

Tolerance and Diversity Institute

Article 42 of the Constitution

Psychosocial and Medical Rehabilitation Center for Torture Victims (GCRT)

Women’s Fund in Georgia

Partnership for Human Rights (PHR)

Initiative for Rehabilitation of Vulnerable Groups (RICG)

Equity Movement

Women for the Common Future – Georgia

Women’s Initiatives Supporting Group (WISG)

Temida

Georgian Young Greens

Identoba

Harm Reduction Georgia Network

Regional Center for Strategic Research

Institute for Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI)

White Noise Movement