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At the 56th UN Human Rights Council, Human Rights House Foundation (HRHF) worked alongside civil society partners to highlight the situation for human rights in Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and the Balkans.

On 28 May 2024, the Georgian Parliament adopted the Law on Transparency of Foreign Influence, inspired by the Russian authoritarian-style “foreign agent” legislation. HRHF and partners from Human Rights House Tbilisi have developed this briefer underlining the main concerns regarding the practical effect of the foreign influence law on the Georgian civil society organisations and lays out recommendations for Georgia’s human rights and democracy partners internationally.

On 28 May 2024, the Georgian government adopted the so-called “foreign agent” law. Human Rights House Foundation recently spoke to Georgian human rights defender Baia Pataria about these critical developments and what they mean for civil society.

On the sidelines of the 56th session of the UN Human Rights Council, Human Rights House Foundation welcomed the appointment of Gina Romero in her role as the new UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights to Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and of Association and asked how the Council can best ensure freedom of peaceful assembly and association is upheld, even in contexts such as Georgia that are witnessing rising authoritarian tendencies.

On 1 July 2024, Human Rights House Foundation hosted “Rising Authoritarianism and its Impact on Civil Society in Eastern Europe”, a civil society side event on the sidelines of the 56th session of the UN Human Rights Council.

We, the undersigned members of the Network of Human Rights Houses and other international civil society organisations urge the government of Georgia to immediately end the ongoing repressions against independent voices. We condemn the use of illegal and disproportionate force against largely peaceful protestors, physical attacks against civil society representatives, alleged illegal detention of a well-known blogger, coordinated campaign of smear, harassment and intimidation against journalists, human rights defenders and their family members, including children.

Human Rights House Foundation joins a coalition of press freedom, journalists and human rights organizations led by The International Press Institute (IPI) in writing to Prime Minister of Georgia, Irakli Kobakhidze, urging him to withdraw the Law on Transparency of Foreign Influence, guarantee the safety of journalists and uphold press freedom in Georgia.

As Georgian authorities look to introduce new “foreign agent” legislation, HRHF’s Kety Abashidze outlines the situation unfolding in the country and highlights the importance of international organisations, civil society and like-minded states to show solidarity with the Georgian public and civil society and to call on the authorities to abandon the law.

Human Rights House Foundation (HRHF) advocated alongside partners during the 55th session of the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) on human rights issues including calling for the renewal of key mechanisms and mandates.