Statement of the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Georgia, Maka Botchorishvili at the high-level segment of the 61st session of the United Nations Human Rights Council

Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is an honour to address the High-Level Segment of the United Nations Human Rights Council on behalf of Georgia.

The universal principles of human rights are increasingly challenged today - not only by conflict and occupation, but also by attempts to instrumentalize international organizations for political pressure and to politicize human rights for narrow interests.

The credibility of this Council depends on remaining principled, impartial, and committed to protecting human dignity.

Over the past decade, despite complex security challenges, Georgia has strengthened democratic institutions, the rule of law and fundamental freedoms, reflected in international rankings, and in a more than 85% drop in the number of applications to the European Court of Human Rights.

We view human rights not only as international obligations, but as the foundation of our government’s vision, reflected in our Human Rights Strategy, which provides a unified framework for civil, political, economic, social, and cultural rights.

Human dignity begins with economic opportunity and social justice. Over the last decade, Georgia has reduced poverty from around 30% to below 10%, reflecting sustained economic growth and targeted social programs for vulnerable groups.

We have strengthened mechanisms against violence toward women and advanced women’s economic empowerment, facilitating over 5,000 women-led small businesses since 2021. The rights of persons with disabilities have been reinforced through comprehensive legislation aligned with international standards, promoting accessibility, inclusion, and independent living.

Last year, Georgia spotlighted autism on the sidelines of this Council, emphasizing the urgent need for inclusion, dignity, and equal opportunity, and we call on all States to join us in scaling up action, sharing best practices, and advancing inclusion of persons with autism everywhere.

Georgia values cooperation with HRC mechanisms and treaty bodies and recently completed its fourth Universal Periodic Review, accepting around 90% of previous recommendations, and we thank all delegations for their valuable input.

Mr. President,

While Georgia has made progress, grave challenges still persist: Integral parts of Georgia - Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region remain under occupation by the Russian Federation, where residents are denied fundamental freedoms and face arbitrary detention, ill-treatment, and ethnic discrimination.

Hundreds of thousands of displaced persons cannot return home, and international human rights mechanisms are blocked, leaving accountability entirely absent where it is most needed.

Georgia continues to raise these issues in international fora, including through the annual “Cooperation with Georgia” resolution at this Council, and we count on your continued principled support.

Excellencies,
Tomorrow marks the four-year anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, causing immense suffering, displacement, and destruction. Georgia reaffirms its firm support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and for upholding a rules-based international order rooted in the UN Charter and accountability for violations.
Let me conclude by reaffirming Georgia’s steadfast commitment to the universal and interdependent nature of human rights as this Council approaches its twentieth anniversary.

We will continue advancing democratic governance at home and supporting collective efforts to protect human dignity everywhere.
Thank you.