Georgia: UN rights expert to follow up on the situation of internally displaced persons

GENEVA / TBILISI (22 September 2016) – United Nations expert Chaloka Beyani will carry out a visit to Georgia from 25 to 29 September 2016 to review the human rights situation of internally displaced persons. He will follow up on the recommendations made in his 2014 report* to the UN Human Rights Council.

“During my visit, I will consider progress made with regard to the protection and assistance provided to IDPs and look at current challenges and opportunities for durable solutions in Georgia, particularly the integration of IDP needs into broader development plans and initiatives,” said the UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights of internally displaced persons.

“I have continued to pay attention to the protracted situation of IDPs in Georgia and the current inability of IDPs to return voluntarily to their places of origin,” Mr. Beyani said. “Some of those who did return to Abkhazia, Georgia, continue to face difficulties in accessing their rights, including to documentation and freedom of movement.”
During his five-day visit, the expert will meet with Government officials, UN partners and civil society organisations, as well as displaced persons and affected communities.

At the end of his visit, Mr. Beyani will present the findings in statement.

(*) Check the Special Rapporteur’s 2014 report on Georgia: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/HRC/RegularSessions/Session26/Documents/A_HRC_26_33_Add_1_ENG.doc

Mr. Chaloka Beyani, professor of international law at the London School of Economics, was appointed Special Rapporteur on the human rights of internally displaced persons by the Human Rights Council in September 2010. As a Special Rapporteur, he is part of the Special Procedures of Human Rights Council. Special Procedures, the largest body of independent experts in the UN Human Rights system, is the general name of the Council’s independent fact-finding and monitoring mechanisms that address either specific country situations or thematic issues in all parts of the world. Special Procedures’ experts work on a voluntary basis; they are not UN staff and do not receive a salary for their work. They are independent from any government or organization, and serve in their individual capacity. Learn more, visit: http://www.ohchr.org/en/special-procedures/sr-internally-displaced-persons

Check the UN Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement:  http://www.ohchr.org/en/special-procedures/sr-internally-displaced-persons/international-standards

UN Human Rights, Country Page - Georgia: http://www.ohchr.org/en/countries/georgia 

For more information and media requests, please contact:
In Tbilisi: Nino Kajaia (kajaia@unhcr.org )
In Geneva: Mr. Graham Fox (+41 22 917 9640 / gfox@ohchr.org) or Ms. Harriet Hirst (+41 22 739 8110 / hirst@unhcr.org)

For media inquiries related to other UN independent experts:
Mr. Xabier Celaya – Media Unit (+ 41 22 917 9383 / xcelaya@ohchr.org)  

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