The United Nations General Assembly Adopts Resolution on the Status of Internally Displaced Persons and Refugees from Abkhazia, Georgia and the Tskhinvali Region/South Ossetia, Georgia
On 3 June 2025, within the framework of its 79th session, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the resolution titled “Status of Internally Displaced Persons and Refugees from Abkhazia, Georgia and the Tskhinvali Region/South Ossetia, Georgia.” The resolution was initiated by Georgia and co-sponsored by 63 countries from various regions of the world. It received a record level of support, with 107 countries voting in favor.
Since May 2008, Georgia has annually presented this resolution to the General Assembly. It is humanitarian in nature, aiming to reaffirm the rights of forcibly displaced persons. The resolution condemns the demographic changes carried out through the use of force in Georgia’s Russian-occupied regions, reaffirms the right of all internally displaced persons (IDPs) and refugees - regardless of ethnicity - to return to their homes in safety and dignity, and underscores the necessity of respecting and protecting their property rights.
Beyond its humanitarian focus, the resolution also has practical significance. It mandates the UN Secretary-General to prepare an annual report on its implementation. This is particularly important in light of the grave human rights situation in the occupied regions of Georgia and the absence of international monitoring mechanisms on the ground.
The resolution further calls on the participants of the Geneva International Discussions to intensify efforts aimed at improving the security and human rights situation in the Abkhazia and Tskhinvali regions. Progress in these areas is essential for enabling the safe and voluntary return of IDPs and refugees to their places of origin.
In recent years, this resolution has evolved into a truly global initiative, garnering support from dozens of countries.
During the debate on the resolution on 3 June, supportive statements were delivered by the European Union, the United Kingdom, Lithuania (on behalf of the Baltic and Nordic countries), Canada (on behalf of Australia and New Zealand), and Japan.
It is particularly noteworthy that Georgia not only maintained but also expanded the scope of international support for the resolution compared to previous years.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia expresses its gratitude to all the countries that voted in favor of the resolution and joined as co-sponsors. Through their support, each of these countries reaffirmed the right of displaced persons and refugees to return to their homes and expressed solidarity with every individual affected by displacement.
The co-sponsors of the resolution include: Albania, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Cabo Verde, Costa Rica, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kiribati, Latvia, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mexico, Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, the Netherlands, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Norway, Palau, Poland, Portugal, Republic of the Congo, Romania, Samoa, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Türkiye, Tuvalu, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Vanuatu.
