Experts of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Welcome Georgia’s Pharmaceutical Reforms, Raise Questions on Law on Foreign Influence and on Impact of Family Value Law on Rights of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex Persons
The Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights today concluded its review of the third periodic report of Georgia under the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. Committee Experts commended the State party’s recent pharmaceutical reforms which had achieved positive results in reducing medicine costs, and raised questions on the impact of the recently adopted law on the transparency of foreign influence on human rights defenders, and how the family value law negatively impacted the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons.
Joo-Young Lee, Committee Expert and Member of the Taskforce for Georgia, said the Committee welcomed the State party’s recent pharmaceutical reforms, including external reference pricing and managed entry agreements for pharmaceuticals, and noted the initial positive results achieved, while raising questions about further steps to ensure affordable medicines.
Asraf Caunhye, Committee Expert and Leader of the Task Force for Georgia, said the law on the transparency of foreign influence and other pieces of legislation appeared to specifically target human rights defenders and curtail their activities and freedom of expression. What was being done to prevent human rights defenders from being subjected to attacks? What had been done towards repairing the situation of human rights defenders in Georgia, based on the recommendations of the Special Rapporteur? How were those who were responsible for undue attacks on human rights defenders prosecuted?
A Committee Expert said the Committee and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights were concerned about the recently approved law on family and protection of minors, which had impacts on a wide range of rights, and had a negative impact on lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons. There was concern this law could fuel violence, hate speech and discrimination. How did Georgia view these concerns? Did the State party have plans to repeal this law? Would Georgia compile specific guides for health care for trans persons? Would a law be passed to recognise gender and self-identification, including sex change in official documents?
The delegation said the law on the transparency of foreign influence had been adopted to defend the country from foreign influences. In 2016, investigations had been undertaken, which showed that it was necessary to develop legislation to protect Georgian society from influences made by foreign financial flows. The subsequent law on transparency adopted in 2024 was the result of one of these recommendations. The law was not against human rights defenders or non-governmental organizations; on the contrary, the first article stated that no action of a non-governmental organization should be restricted under the law. Since the law came into force, more than 400 non-governmental organizations had registered in Georgia and they were acting freely in the country with no restrictions on their activities.
Regarding the family value law, Georgia’s Constitution established equal opportunities for men and women, which was how this law operated. This law did not restrict the rights of any person, regardless of who they were. It simply protected minors’ right to be shielded from propaganda. The rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons were protected under Georgian legislation. Discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation was forbidden under law, and crimes of this nature were considered to be of aggravating circumstances.
Introducing the report, Irakli Sasania, First Deputy Minister of Internally Displaced Persons from the Occupied Territories, Labour, Health and Social Affairs of Georgia and head of the delegation, said a major reform had been the introduction of indexation mechanisms for pensions and social assistance packages, guaranteeing annual increases in line with economic indicators and affecting more than one million people. Georgia had successfully completed the deinstitutionalisation of children’s care institutions and was transitioning from a medical to a biopsychosocial model of disability assessment. Due to the illegal occupation of Georgia’s Abkhazia and Tskhinvali regions by the Russian Federation, as a result of its military aggression, the State was deprived of the possibility to implement all relevant measures for the protection and promotion of human rights in the occupied regions.
In concluding remarks, Mr. Caunhye expressed gratitude to the delegation of Georgia for its commitments to the rights enshrined in the Covenant, as well as all those who had made the dialogue possible.
In his concluding remarks, Mr. Sasania said Georgia was committed to the promotion and protection of human rights at the national level. The recommendations by the Committee would be translated into the country’s national human rights action plans to ensure their effective implementation at the national level.
The delegation of Georgia was comprised of representatives from the Ministry of Internally Displaced Persons from the Occupied Territories, Labour, Health and Social Affairs; the Parliament of Georgia; the Interim Parliamentary Commission on Women and Children’s Issues; the High Council of Georgia; the Ministry of Education, Science and Youth; the Ministry of Culture; the Administration of the Government; the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; the Ministry of Justice; the Ministry of Finance; the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development; the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture; the Office of the Prosecutor General; the Central Election Commission; and the Permanent Mission of Georgia to the United Nations Office at Geneva.
The Committee’s seventy-ninth session is being held until 25 February 2026. All documents relating to the Committee’s work, including reports submitted by States parties, can be found on the session’s webpage. Webcasts of the meetings of the session can be found here, and meetings summaries can be found here.
The Committee will next meet in public at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, 17 February to begin its consideration of the sixth periodic report of Australia (E/C.12/AUS/QPR/6).
Report
The Committee has before it the third periodic report of Georgia (E/C.12/GEO/3).
Presentation of Report
IRAKLI SASANIA, First Deputy Minister of Internally Displaced Persons from the Occupied Territories, Labour, Health and Social Affairs of Georgia and head of the delegation, said Georgia had strengthened its national human rights architecture through the adoption of the human rights strategy 2022–2030 and related action plan. As of the first report, 508 activities out of 555 were either completed or initiated in 2024. Additionally, more than 90 per cent of planned activities under thematic action plans, including those on women, peace and security and on combatting violence against women, had been implemented or were in progress.
A major reform had been the introduction of indexation mechanisms for pensions and social assistance packages, guaranteeing annual increases in line with economic indicators and affecting more than one million people. At the same time, Georgia was undertaking a comprehensive reform of the targeted social assistance programme, which currently supported over 700,000 individuals, including children.
Georgia had successfully completed the deinstitutionalisation of children’s care institutions, and was transitioning from a medical to a biopsychosocial model of disability assessment. Around 16,000 pupils had received multidisciplinary assessments, enabling early identification of special educational needs and targeted support. Access to higher education for ethnic minorities was strengthened in 2024 through a fourfold increase in funding, supporting 800 Azerbaijani and Armenian-speaking students. More than 18,000 representatives of ethnic minorities, asylum seekers, and persons under international protection benefited from State language support between 2021 and 2024.
The establishment and institutional strengthening of the Labour Inspection Office had been a key achievement, with its mandate and operational standards now aligning with International Labour Organization Convention no. 81, and its work had been positively recognised by international bodies. Since the introduction of strengthened occupational safety and health regulations, fatal workplace accidents had decreased by 46 per cent.
Due to the occupation of 20 per cent of Georgia’s territory by the Russian Federation, up to 300,000 internally displaced persons had been registered. Since 2022, a large-scale housing programme had been underway, with around 6,000 apartments expected to be completed by the end of this year. Universal health coverage now reached over 95 per cent of the population and since 2012 public investment had increased approximately four times, with key reforms made in a variety of areas. These efforts had translated into tangible results: life expectancy had increased, neonatal mortality had nearly halved, under-five mortality targets had been achieved, and Georgia had made notable progress in eliminating hepatitis C.
Over the past decade, judicial reform had been among the State’s highest priorities. Between 2020 and 2025, 1,272 corruption prosecutions were initiated, resulting in 945 convictions, with over 4.3 million euros in assets recovered. In 2025, the Anti-Corruption Unit within the Office of the Prosecutor General was reformed and its resources increased by 92 per cent. To address discrimination, specialised prosecutors had led hate crime cases since 2020, resulting in over 5,500 prosecutions and recognition of more than 5,600 victims.
Between 2021 and 2025, Georgia had recorded one of the highest average economic growth rates globally, at approximately 9.3 per cent. As a result, public debt remained below 35 per cent of gross domestic product, creating fiscal space for social investment. Poverty was reduced significantly, falling to a historic low of 9.4 per cent in 2024, almost half the pre-pandemic level.
Due to the illegal occupation of Georgia’s Abkhazia and Tskhinvali regions by the Russian Federation, as a result of its military aggression, the State was deprived of the possibility to implement all relevant measures for the protection and promotion of human rights in the occupied regions, where the humanitarian situation was deteriorating day by day. The Russian Federation, as the occupying power, bore full responsibility for human rights violations in the occupied regions. Despite the ongoing occupation, the Government of Georgia continued to address human rights violations in the occupied regions, including through raising the issue on the international agenda. Georgia approached the dialogue with the Committee in a spirit of openness and cooperation.
Questions by a Committee Expert
ASRAF CAUNHYE, Committee Expert and Leader of the Task Force for Georgia, noted with appreciation the legislation and policy measures in place for the implementation of the rights of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, including the national human rights strategy (2022-2030). Could examples be provided where the Covenant rights had been invoked and applied in domestic law? Had civil society organizations participated or been consulted in the preparation of the report? What mechanism was in place for the collection of statistical data for monitoring of the Covenant rights?
The law on the transparency of foreign influence and other pieces of legislation appeared to specifically target human rights defenders and curtail their activities and freedom of expression. What was being done to prevent human rights defenders from being subjected to attacks? What had been done towards repairing the situation of human rights defenders in Georgia, based on the recommendations of the Special Rapporteur? How were those who were responsible for undue attacks on human rights defenders prosecuted?
What had been done to ensure Georgia’s Public Defender’s Office could effectively and independently discharge its mandate? Despite judicial reforms, there were still reports of a lack of independence of the judiciary being subjected to dominant pressure of the executive in high profile cases? What steps were being taken to ensure the independent functioning of the judiciary? How was the selection of judges ensured to be free from political interference?
What steps had been taken to adopt a comprehensive framework for all businesses in Georgia, both local and foreign, on the conduct of their activities? Had steps been taken to develop a national mitigation plan to address the adverse impacts of climate change on human rights? What measures had been taken to combat illegal logging and deforestation activities?
It was recognised that Georgia had implemented a series of anti-corruption measures, which had helped tackle petty corruption over the past few years. However, concerns around corruption such as “cronyism” and “kick-backs” still existed, with little ways to address these crimes. What mechanisms were in place to monitor corruption in the country? What had been done to ensure the prompt investigation of high-level corruption situations? Were there cases where high-level prosecutors had been charged?
What steps had been taken to establish a comprehensive anti-discrimination framework, including sexual orientation and gender identity? What had been done to ensure equal rights for same sex couples? What mechanisms were in place to provide protection and remedial actions for victims of discrimination? How was it ensured that all cases of hate crime, including those online, were investigated and the perpetrators punished?
What measures were being taken to ensure that those in the occupied territories ensured the same level of Covenant rights as their counterparts in the rest of Georgia? What measures were in place to prevent the abandonment of children with disabilities? What had been done to promote public awareness, training and education programmes, to prevent hate speech and stigma against victims of discrimination?
Despite growth in gross domestic product, poverty remained a major challenge in Georgia, affecting marginalised and vulnerable groups. What concrete measures were being taken for the eradication of poverty? How was assistance provided to those living in extreme poverty? What was being done to tackle the growing problem of child poverty?
What measures were being taken for effective gender equality legislation? What concrete measures were in place to address women’s vulnerability and exposure to gender-based violence, including femicide, and ensure that all cases of gender-based violence were investigated and prosecuted? What had been done to eliminate the existing gender wage gap between men and women across all sectors? How was gender parity being ensured at all levels of Government?
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said the law on the transparency of foreign influence had been adopted to defend the country from foreign influences. In 2016, investigations had been undertaken, which showed that it was necessary to develop legislation to protect Georgian society from influences made by foreign financial flows. The subsequent law on transparency adopted in 2024 was the result of one of these recommendations. The law was not against human rights defenders or non-governmental organizations; on the contrary, the first article stated that no action of a non-governmental organization should be restricted under the law. Since the law came into force, more than 400 non-governmental organizations had registered in Georgia and were acting freely in the country with no restrictions on their activities.
If there was a situation where financial flows were trying to influence the political situation in Georgia, this could be restricted, under the law on grants. These kinds of activities were not limited to Georgia but were forbidden under all democratic countries’ legislation. Recently, the Council of Europe had taken recommendations to respond to the growing threat of foreign influences, and Georgia had been proudly invited to participate in this exercise and had provided its recommendations.
The recommendations of the Public Defender’s Office reached around 90 per cent of people, and its budget had been increased over the past few years. The Public Defender was consistently involved as a consultive participant in the public legislative process. All public and municipal bodies were required to provide information to the Public Defender, if requested, within 10 days. Around 123 authorised positions had been approved in the Public Defender’s Office and around 20 of these were vacant. Over the past five years, the Public Defender had examined 676 cases of discrimination.
A business and human rights plan had been drawn up and there was also a section dedicated to this topic in the country’s broader human rights plan. An online training course on business and human rights had been developed and 225 people had taken this course since 2022. A company had been established to provide reviews of public and private partnerships. In 2024, the national bank of Georgia had completed its first climate risk test, looking at the impact of climate change on the country’s economy.
The Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia had been granted authority to seek damages for victims of cybercrimes, with the amount to be decided by the courts. Since 2023, all legal acts adopted by the Government had been made public to promote accountability. Violence, including hate-motivated violence, was criminalised under Georgian law, and law enforcement was required to investigate all acts of violence, regardless of the victims.
To ensure institutional independence of the judiciary, the High Council of Justice of Georgia had been transformed and was competent to appoint, promote and initiate administrative proceedings in the judiciary. The judiciary’s independence was strengthened by this Constitutional amendment. The Supreme Court of Georgia had directly invoked the Covenant in around 80 cases in the past two years, in cases relating to education, housing and pension insurance, among other issues.
During the past five years, economic growth in Georgia had reached around nine per cent. Capital expenditure was kept at a high level and was estimated to be more than seven per cent of gross domestic product. Georgia’s debt and deficit were declining due to these and other Government activities, while its economy was growing.
Protecting the rights of internally displaced persons until they could return to their houses was one of the top priorities of the Georgian Government, as well as providing them with social protection. The Government provided cash assistance for newborns to socially vulnerable families, including those living in remote, mountainous regions.
Questions by Committee Experts
A Committee Expert asked if the State had a national standing mechanism aimed at follow-up of and reporting on human rights recommendations? Did the State party intend to sign and ratify the Convention on Migrant Workers or the Convention against Enforced Disappearances? Was there a protection framework in place for human rights defenders under the current legal framework? If not, were there plans to establish one?
Could the delegation explain the reforms around the grants law and the law on political associations? How did the State ensure that the far-reaching amendments to the law on grants did not restrict activities on human rights and impact the work of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights? How could the State justify the eight-year restriction on joining political parties for those who had worked in foreign companies? How did the State ensure that the restrictions imposed on business activities were compatible with the Covenant?
JOO-YOUNG LEE, Committee Expert and Member of the Taskforce for Georgia, asked what measures were being taken to ensure the full enjoyment of Covenant rights by internally displaced persons? The Committee was concerned that the reform of the 2024 law on the protection of family values, which prohibited the distribution of sexually explicit information in educational institutions, could have implications for minorities. Had the State party reviewed this legislation in light of the principle of non-discrimination? What measures were being taken to enhance the progressivity and equity of the tax system?
ASRAF CAUNHYE, Committee Expert and Leader of the Task Force for Georgia, asked what steps were being taken to include the issues of sexual orientation and gender identity as grounds of discrimination? Why did Georgia withdraw from the corruption monitoring network for Eastern Europe and Central Asia? Was there any law in the pipeline directing business entities to exercise human rights due diligence?
A Committee Expert asked what compulsory due diligence mechanisms were in place governing foreign investment mechanisms?
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said there had been several instances in Georgia which had contributed to the amendments to the law on the transparency of foreign influence. These included individuals who held leadership positions in non-governmental organizations who had publicly demanded the replacement of the current government, using the organization as a sham to use foreign resources for their individual political activities. Anyone who hid the origins of their finances was evading democracy.
The monthly wage was a national priority, and this had decreased in recent years. A 25 per cent quota introduced in 2020 had increased women’s participation in parliament. Following the abolition of quotas in 2024, progress continued with women having high representation rates in public life including the judiciary. Georgia ensured access to free legal aid and comprehensive support services for victims of domestic violence, without requiring victim status as a precondition for receiving support.
Georgia had adopted the law on family values, and rights on discrimination were protected by other legislation and mechanisms. The recent adoption of the Labour Code applied to the whole jurisdiction of the country. Everyone participating in the country’s economic development was obliged to protect laws on environmental protection. In 2020, the labour law was amended, and the concept of equal pay for equal work was introduced in the Labour Code. In 2022, the Georgian Statistics Office conducted research on this topic and aimed to incorporate these issues into key policy documents such as the human rights strategy.
The Prosecution Service of Georgia was the key anti-corruption body. Georgia had implemented all six recommendations concerning prosecutors, in areas such as reform, recruitment and promotion of prosecutors, and had updated the Ethics Code, among others. Resources to combat corruption had been significantly increased. In 2025, more than 925 people were convicted for corruption in public and private sectors.
Questions by Committee Experts
JOO-YOUNG LEE, Committee Expert and Member of the Taskforce for Georgia, said Georgia’s unemployment rate remained at nearly 17 per cent, and its youth unemployment was significantly higher than the national average. What specific measures were being taken to reduce unemployment and underemployment and increase access to decent work? Did the State party provide high-quality technical and vocational training programmes tailored to labour market needs?
According to the International Labour Organization, a large portion of the workforce remained in the informal economy, particularly in agriculture and construction. What measures had been taken to ensure that workers in the informal economy benefitted from labour standards and social protection, including access to social security? How was the State accelerating the transition from the informal economy to the formal economy, and to diverse employment opportunities in rural areas?
What measures had the State party taken to promote the equality of opportunity for ethnic minorities and internally displaced persons in employment and occupation? How were barriers addressed regarding discrimination faced by lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons in employment? How was reasonable accommodation ensured for persons with disabilities?
The Committee noted with concern the high number of occupational injuries and fatalities resulting from unsafe working conditions, particularly in mining and construction sectors. How was Georgia reducing occupational diseases, injuries and fatalities, especially in high-risk sectors, such as mining and construction? How was effective compliance with labour standards ensured? Did the State party plan to establish an explicit upper limit for overtime work? How were labour inspection mechanisms strengthened to monitor working conditions in the formal and informal economy?
The level of the minimum wage was insufficient to secure an adequate standard of living for workers and their families, and it was not regularly adjusted to the cost of living. How was it ensured that all workers were covered by minimum wage protection? What measures were being undertaken to ensure they were regularly reviewed and adjusted in line with the cost of living? What measures were being taken to promote collective bargaining and effective social dialogue? What safeguards were in place to protect trade union members and ensure they could exercise their rights to freedom of association and assembly?
The Committee noted with concern that the monthly amount of the benefits under the targeted social assistance programme remained far below the nationally determined subsistence minimum and was insufficient to meet basic needs of individuals and children living in poverty, among other concerns. What plans were in place to increase the level of cash benefits for children and families under the targeted social assistance programme, and to regularly adjust benefit levels to the actual cost of living? How was access to decent employment ensured for persons in vulnerable situations? What was being done to improve the proxy means testing methodology?
What measures were being taken to ensure job security and protection for platform workers? What concrete plans were in place to introduce unemployment insurance? How was Georgia ensuring that old age pensions, disability-related cash benefits, and benefits for internally displaced persons were indexed to the actual cost of living? Did Georgia plan to ratify key International Labour Organization conventions with a view to ensuring safe working conditions?
Another Expert asked if there were specific mechanisms of due diligence relating to foreign investment?
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said since 2015, vocational training had been provided to job sectors. The public employment programme was introduced in 2022, which enabled socially vulnerable families to receive a benefit for four years. This included programmes such as professional support services to integrate job seekers into the labour market. A programme had been implemented to promote the employment of those who permanently resided in high mountain settlements through providing wage subsidies. Georgia understood the importance of promoting the employment of persons with disabilities, and steps had been taken in this direction, including two policy papers drawn up on reasonable accommodation in employment.
Georgia’s Labour Inspections fully met the standards set out in International Labour Organization Convention 81. In 2025, Georgia recorded zero fatal accidents in the mining sector, reflecting the positive impact of safety measures. Awareness raising on labour norms was a priority. Each year, a report was published on the State’s work in this regard, which was made publicly available.
The Government promoted opportunities for rural women, ensuring they received access to subsidised finance and micro loans, among other measures. Digital support programmes strengthened digital literacy in rural communities.
The State had initiated an audit from 2023 to 2025 which would result in further measures to promote employment for socially vulnerable families.
In recent years, Georgia had strengthened climate change mitigation efforts with action plans, including over 100 measures across many sectors. Georgia was on track to meet its current target of a 35 per cent reduction of emissions. Significant funds had been mobilised to meet the agricultural and rural development strategy. Between 2013 and 2025, around 140,000 agreements were signed with minorities in various municipalities. Two large projects concerning irrigation systems were being implemented across regions, benefiting a myriad of stakeholders. In recent years, Georgia had advanced disaster risk reduction through the implementation of a national strategy. Between 2022 and 2025, the National Environment Agency had initiated 22 administrative proceedings, with more than 100 cases sent to criminal courts.
A Gender Equality Council had been established in Georgia since 2011, operating as a consultative mechanism for women’s participation in electoral practices. Gender disaggregated electoral data was systematically collected and was publicly available on an online portal. In the 2024 elections, 150 members were elected, with 22 per cent of them being women, with women comprising approximately 30 per cent of candidates.
One chapter of the labour legislation was fully dedicated to freedom of association and the prohibition of discrimination. Sanctions could be applied by the Labour Inspectorate when these rights were violated. The Labour Inspectorate was responsible for discrimination issues on professional grounds, and inspections were carried out proactively and reactively. More than 80,000 inspections had been carried out by the Inspectorate since its creation, covering more than 13,000 workplaces.
If an individual employed in the platform economy had an employment contract, they would enjoy all rights under Georgian labour law. A social package was provided monthly to persons with disabilities, elderly persons and survivors, among others. Information had been received from the International Labour Organization as it was working on the rights of platform workers. Georgia would implement these recommendations into its national jurisdiction.
Pursuant to the 2026 State budget law, funding for social assistance had increased compared to the previous year. The share of the population living below the absolute poverty line had continued to decline, standing at 9.4 per cent. The unemployment rate stood at 13.3 per cent. Compared to previous years, funding for persons with disabilities, the elderly, and internally displaced persons from the occupied territories had increased, as well as the budget of the Ministry of Education. There were many issues which still needed to be addressed, but Georgia was on the right track.
Questions by a Committee Expert
LAURA ELISA PÉREZ GÓMEZ, Committee Expert and Member of the Taskforce for Georgia, hailed Georgia’s commitments in providing additional information as requested in the list of issues. Were there specific support measures for persons living in poverty, for persons with disabilities, and for persons in situations of internal displacement? Who was covered by the social assistance programme for specific recipients? What were obstacles preventing the publication of the "Unified Social Code"?
What were the specific objectives and scope of the new national action plan against trafficking in persons for 2025-2026? How did the new guidelines on the elimination of deficiencies detected in the investigation of femicide cases work? What was annual data on femicide for the past five years? Could annual statistics on domestic violence be provided, including the crimes recorded and the number of restraining orders issued? What progress had been made on the training of social workers on the "practical guide for social workers on the management of child and early marriage"?
Would Georgia consider establishing strategies for the right to care that provided
structural options to persons who performed assistance and unpaid care work? Did the State have standards governing the characteristics of social housing? What data was available on the number of people who benefitted from Government programmes to address housing problems, particularly
internally displaced persons, persons with disabilities and homeless families?
Did the State party intend to increase investment in access to safe drinking water, domestic sanitation, and social housing, especially in rural areas? Had policies been adopted to regulate the land and rental market to protect tenants and ensure security of tenure? What legal, procedural and judicial safeguards existed to regulate evictions?
Did the State have a strategy for addressing the right to food for those in the population who were food insecure? What measures did the State have to support small-scale producers of local food production? Were there standards in place to protect the population from the commercialisation of ultra processed foods? Could information on public spending on health be provided?
The Committee recognised Georgia's initiative and results achieved for the regulation of the price of medicines. Had the State taken other measures to address the commercial determinants of health? Had Georgia considered applying special taxes on alcohol, tobacco or sugary drinks?
The Committee thanked the State party for the information provided on its national policy on illicit drug use and trafficking, and acknowledged the work based on the national drug strategy 2023-2030, the Inter-Agency Council for the Coordination of the Fight against Drug Abuse, and the National Drug Observatory, which suggested an empirical basis for follow-up. What treatments were underway?
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said due to the illegal occupation and militarisation of the Abkhazia and Tskhinvali regions of Georgia by the Russian Federation, human rights were being grossly violated. The occupying power was committing violations, including the right to life, violations on ethnic grounds, and restrictions on receiving education, among others. Waves of ethnic cleansing had resulted in mass displacement. Georgian citizens were killed and illegal detentions by Russian occupied forces were undertaken regularly. The Russian Federation as the occupying power bore full responsibility for human rights in the occupied regions. Despite the ongoing occupation, the Georgian Government continued to address human rights in the occupied regions, including through raising it on the international agenda, and introducing programmes for internally displaced persons.
Each year, more inmates in Georgia were engaged in vocational and work programmes, helping them to develop skills to reintegrate into society. This figure currently stood at 1,000.
In more than 26 per cent of corruption cases, there had been sanctions of imprisonment. In the last five years, more than 4.3 million euros had been confiscated due to corruption crimes.
Since the law on transparency on foreign influence took effect, more than 385 agencies had registered with the public agency, and they continued to operate without interference. The Government had issued funding for grants for non-governmental organizations, with each organization receiving these funds in 2025. One year ago, there were two female ministers in the cabinet. Georgia had developed a range of measures to tackle structural inequality and promote women in leadership roles. Housing had been provided to 229 homeless families. In 2021, there were around 10,000 restraining orders issued on behalf of women. This number fell to around 8,000 in 2025. The high number in 2021 could be attributed to the pandemic, which had resulted in a spike in domestic violence.
The school curriculum envisaged teaching subjects where human rights education was integrated. Georgia ensured that persons living in poverty, including persons with disabilities and displaced persons, had publicly funded health care programmes. Essential drugs were provided free of charge, and co-payments were minimal for these groups. Residents of the occupied territories could access free medicines within the Georgia region.
The absence of the unified Social Code did not limit Georgia’s social protection system, which had expanded in recent years. More than 2,000 internally displaced families had been accommodated last year, and more than 1,000 were provided with monetary assistance for temporary housing. Significant funds were planned for the next few years to provide internally displaced persons with durable housing. Internally displaced persons were provided with small business grants and specialised training, as well as livelihood programmes. Continued professional development of social workers was ensured through regular training. More than 200 social workers had participated in a meeting last year that addressed child marriage.
Since 2018, there had been specialisation at the Prosecutor’s Office to deal with domestic violence cases. Awareness raising was also undertaken by the Office, including Georgia’s own campaign “no to femicide”, launched in 2022, which carried out more than 300 events across the country. During the past five years, more than 4,900 people were prosecuted for the crime of domestic violence.
Combatting human trafficking remained top of the Government’s agenda. Georgia’s anti trafficking policy bought all relevant stakeholders together to respond to modern challenges, which were outlined in regular national action plans. The national drug strategy 2023–2030 was currently being implemented, following the approach of prevention, rehabilitation, harm reduction and destabilisation. Georgia had implemented complex legislation in the field of drug policy and was focused on combatting drug dealers. More than 1,200 individuals participating in drug trafficking were brought to justice in 2025 and 1,000 kilogrammes of heroin were seized by the authorities.
According to the 2024-2027 agricultural action plan, significant funds were mobilised to focus on food production. State funds had ensured the purchasing of large amounts of agricultural machinery, which had led to the planting of orchards which would produce tonnes of crops. A microloans programme provided guarantees of up to 80 per cent of the loan principle and offered a competitive interest rate.
Tobacco in Georgia was subject to specific tax, per amount of sticks and based on the products value. The State was in the process of aligning this with European Union standards. Alcohol was taxed depending on its alcoholic level, which was also in line with these standards. Regulations applied to all media and outdoor advertising that prohibited the advertisement of tobacco products, including vapes, as well as any action which encouraged tobacco consumption.
In 2023, an external reference pricing policy was introduced for more than 7,000 registered pharmaceutical products in Georgia, which had reduced pricing by around 40 per cent on average. Urban water supply coverage was being systematically expanded, and the Government had launched dedicated programmes to expand water supply to all regions. Sewage networks and treatment facilities were being improved in remote areas.
There had been approximately 11 eviction cases discussed when appropriation was granted to the State and compensation had been paid. If the owners did not agree on the compensation, they could object.
Questions by Committee Experts
LAURA ELISA PÉREZ GÓMEZ, Committee Expert and Member of the Taskforce for Georgia, asked if the mental health strategy included actions on mental health at the community level? What was the budget allocated to this strategy and the persons who benefitted from it? Were there complaints mechanisms for those who had experienced negligence or been excluded from the public health system? What was this coverage in the country? Could the delegation comment on the shortage of nursing staff and unequal distribution of staff, with data from the past five years?
LAURA-MARIA CRACIUNEAN, Committee Expert and Member of the Taskforce for Georgia, said commercial surrogacy was legal in Georgia, but was a complex issue. Many women who underwent surrogacy risked their lives and were often victims of trafficking. Taking into account these circumstances, what were the legal guarantees in place to protect surrogate mothers’ right to health? How was age-appropriate information on sexual and reproductive health made available in schools?
JOO-YOUNG LEE, Committee Expert and Member of the Taskforce for Georgia, said the Committee welcomed the introduction of the universal health care programme in 2013, which expanded health care coverage. However, out of pocket payments remained high; what measures had been taken to improve the public financing and enhance the affordability of health care? The Committee also welcomed the State party’s recent pharmaceutical reforms, including external reference pricing and managed entry agreements for pharmaceuticals, and noted the initial positive results achieved. However, consistent reports of the high costs of medicines remained a concern. What measures were being taken to ensure affordable medicines for all? Persistent disparities in health care between urban and rural areas were a concern. What measures were being taken to ensure universal registration and access to primary health care in rural and remote areas?
A Committee Expert said the Committee and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights were concerned about the recently approved law on family and protection of minors, which had impacts on a wide range of rights, and had a negative impact on lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons. There was concern that this law could fuel violence, hate speech and discrimination. How did Georgia view these concerns? Did the State party have plans to repeal this law? Would Georgia compile specific guides for health care for trans persons? Would a law be passed to recognise gender and self-identification, including sex change in official documents? Was it true that there were trans people who had been required to stay in mental institutions after going through surgery to change their gender?
An Expert said the Committee had heard that families sometimes created informal settlements as a result of high housing prices. How did the State party deal with this?
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said Georgia’s mental health strategy promoted deinstitutionalisation, early interventions, and the expansion of services to ensure care closer to patients’ homes. Mobile teams provided care to improve access to remote areas. Investment in mental health had increased in recent years. Complaints could be addressed to the Public Prosecutor’s Office, and patients could also pursue compensation through the courts. Georgia had undertaken important reforms to strengthen the nursing workforce. A new legislation framework had been adopted in 2025, recognising nurses as professionals within the health system and strengthening their role in primary care. Nurses were now required to undergo formal registration.
Unfortunately, there were situations where people took State owned land and built houses without permission. This occurred often within the regions. The situation was being reviewed by the municipalities. While it was forbidden, if these people were homeless, they would be registered as such by the municipality. This was an ongoing issue.
Regarding the family value laws, Georgia’s Constitution established equal opportunities for men and women, which was how this law operated. This law did not restrict the rights of any person, regardless of who they were. It simply protected minors’ right to be shielded from propaganda. The rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons were protected under Georgian legislation. Discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation was forbidden under law, and crimes of this nature were considered to be of aggravating circumstances.
The reduction in costs of pharmaceuticals continued to be seen as time went on. Cancer treatments had previously been costly, and the State had now introduced mechanisms for these medicines to ensure full coverage. Every rural patient was registered for specialised services and had access to services in semi-urban areas.
Commercialised and altruistic surrogacy was permitted in Georgia, and regulations were defined under the law on healthcare. Georgian legislation criminalised human trafficking and sexual exploitation. Over the past two years, investigations had been initiated into two cases of human trafficking related to surrogacy, and had determined that no cases of trafficking were present in one, while the other was still pending.
Questions by Committee Experts
LAURA-MARIA CRACIUNEAN, Committee Expert and Member of the Taskforce for Georgia, said the Committee on the Rights of the Child had made recommendations to Georgia in 2024 in regard to poor school attendance, insufficient inclusive education, and low salaries for teachers, among others. Could more information be provided, including on statistics and measures taken, and their impact to ensure the participation of students with disabilities in education? What financial resources had been allocated to early childhood education?
A programme allowing for one language preparatory year and four years of a bachelor’s degree had been in place since 2010. This allowed students with a minority background to take an aptitude test in their native language, instead of four exams that persons with Georgian as their first language were required to take, then enrolling in an intensive Georgian language programme prior to enrolling in a bachelor’s degree. Was there a plan to improve the quality of education during this one year to enable students to have a decent command of Georgian? Were there measures to ensure suitable jobs for graduates of this programme?
What measures had been taken to address the negative impact of the disruption to education resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic on children’s access to education, taking into account effects on disadvantaged and marginalised children? What had been done to address gaps in learning due to school closures?
How did the State discharge its obligations under the Covenant to fulfil the right to education in South Ossetia and Abkhazia? How did this work in practice? Was the right to education shared with local authorities? Could more data be provided on the results of the post-secondary education programme for 2024-2025? What had been the impact of measures taken to facilitate access to quality education for young persons living in Abkhazia, Georgia, and Tskhinvali region or South Ossetia, Georgia, within the reconciliation and engagement policy?
Had action been taken regarding recommendations from the Committee on the Rights of the Child on children’s right to education at different levels? Was there a mechanism in place with a view to follow up on recommendations by United Nations treaty bodies? What were the main aims of the education reform in the field of primary education, secondary education and tertiary education? Would recommendations of the treaty bodies be taken into account during these reforms?
How were the culture strategy 2025 or other instruments adopted at the national level responding to the challenge to protect cultural diversity and the cultural heritage of persons belonging to national minorities as an integral part of the Georgian cultural space? What measures had been taken, and their impact, to ensure unhindered and affordable access to the Internet in rural areas and among disadvantaged groups? Were there any plans to prevent the degradation of important cultural monuments in Georgia?
JOO-YOUNG LEE, Committee Expert and Member of the Taskforce for Georgia, asked about measures to address language barriers? Information before the Committee indicated that widespread exploitative practices had contributed to household indebtedness, contributing to forced evictions. What measures had been taken to regulate such exploitative lending practices to ensure effective legal protection?
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said a child-centred school readiness programme for children aged five to six had been prepared in partnership with the World Bank. Construction was planned for 22 schools in 2026. Since 2026, ethnic minorities had been able to undergo vocational training in Russian, Azerbaijani, Armenian and other languages. Higher education level funding for students admitted for the ethnic minorities’ skills test had increased fourfold, ensuring opportunities for Azerbaijani and Armenian speaking minorities.
The programme allowing for one language preparatory year and four years of a bachelor’s degree was never intended to be a full-time programme, but was meant to be an assistive programme for ethnic minorities. The success of the bilingual programme in kindergartens at schools would eventually eliminate the need for this programme. Any applicant admitted in the Georgia language programme was awarded an application grant. A student who received a State grant was funded for one academic year during the programme.
A school for public administration developed training across State language learning, aiming to strengthen the professional language skills of ethnic minorities. Thirty-three Georgian language courses were available in 2025, and between 2021 and 2024 more than 18,000 beneficiaries completed training under this programme. Many who had undertaken these programmes had obtained jobs in the public sector. The Government ensured opportunities for young people living in occupied regions to enrol in universities.
Funding ensured the operation of integrated classrooms, with up to 90 students with disabilities receiving support across Georgia. Special education services, including a transitional education programme had been implemented to ensure the education of street and other vulnerable children. A regulation for inclusive vocational training was currently being developed. Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, a general education programme to ensure access to education for Ukrainian minors was being implemented.
Georgia had recently adopted a comprehensive reform for higher education in the country. Around 87 per cent of students were receiving education in the capital; this challenge was currently being addressed in the reform, as well as the modernisation of university infrastructure. The reform was being carried out in close consultation with the academic community and universities.
It was hoped the process of restoring the sites of cultural monuments would go smoothly. They were being restored following the guidelines of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. The Ministry of Culture was working on the development of a cultural strategy. Financial support could be given to individuals working in the cultural sector. Azerbaijani and Russian State drama theatres had been funded by the Government. There were several museums, including for the Jewish population of Georgia, which had also been funded by the State. To mark the World Day of Cultural Diversity in May, events would be organised to showcase the country’s rich cultural traditions, and examples of contemporary Georgian culture.
Georgia’s budget for paralympic sports had increased significantly since 2011 and the country had ranked third in the world at the recent Paralympic games in Paris. This placed Georgia ahead of most European nations.
To maintain and increase the pace of Georgia’s digital economy, activities were being conducted, including a programme to facilitate the coverage of hi-speed internet in rural settlements. In 2023, a law was adopted on sharing physical infrastructure used for telecommunications purposes. The bylaws defined by this law covered issues relating to the simplification of permits for the development and construction of broadband infrastructure.
Legal aid services were provided around the country, and 175 staff were employed lawyers. In recent years, there had been 100 cases dealing with surrogacy groups, including disputes with clinics.
Georgia had a special council and commissions within the Government administration that were tasked with studying recommendations from United Nations treaty bodies and other international organizations, and coordinating with agencies to implement these specific issues.
Mobile clinics had been introduced to provide health services to people living in mountainous areas, including ethnic minorities. Ninety villages were served on a weekly basis. Fifty-five members of ethnic minorities were currently employed in the region to explain the services to the local population in their native language.
There had been cases where people living in the occupied territories had died, as they had not been able to cross into non-occupied areas of Georgia to receive the free health care they were entitled to.
Closing Remarks
ASRAF CAUNHYE, Committee Expert and Leader of the Task Force for Georgia, thanked Georgia for the fruitful dialogue, the positive spirit and the enriching discussions. The constructive dialogue provided the Committee with a sound basis to develop appropriate recommendations. Mr. Caunhye expressed gratitude to the delegation of Georgia for its commitments to the rights enshrined in the Covenant, as well as all those who had made the dialogue possible.
IRAKLI SASANIA, First Deputy Minister of Internally Displaced Persons from the Occupied Territories, Labour, Health and Social Affairs of Georgia and head of the delegation, thanked the Committee for the constructive review and for all those who had made the dialogue possible. Georgia was committed to the promotion and protection of human rights at the national level. The recommendations by the Committee would be translated into the country’s national human rights action plans to ensure their effective implementation at the national level. Georgia was committed to human rights protection and fully supported the work of the human rights treaty bodies.
__________
Produced by the United Nations Information Service in Geneva for use of the media;
not an official record. English and French versions of our releases are different as they are the product of two separate coverage teams that work independently.
CESCR.26.004E