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In many parts of the Balkans, Caucasus and Eastern Europe human rights defenders face threats and violence, slander and intimidations, and are the targets of new laws restricting their rights to freedom of expression, association and assembly, and simply to work to defend human rights.

On February 3rd, the Georgian Centre for Psychosocial and Medical Rehabilitation of Torture Victims (GCRT) presented the EC funded project – Helping those who suffer in silence – ensuring civic engagement to raise awareness on domestic violence and sexual abuse of women and children in Georgia.

In Georgia (84th, +17), the 2013 presidential election was less tense that the previous year’s parliamentary elections, which were marked by physical attacks and hate campaigns against journalists. Thanks to political cohabitation and then a change of government through the polls, Georgia has recovered some of the terrain lost in recent years as the Saakashvili administration’s reforming zeal ran out of steam. Media polarization will nonetheless continue to be a challenge in the coming years.

On December 14-15, the South Caucasus Network of Human Rights Defenders (SCN HRD) together with Human Rights House Tbilisi (HRHT) and Human Rights House Foundation (HRHF) organized meeting of South Caucasus Network of Human Rights Defenders.

Panel discussion: “traditional (national) values versus universal human rights norms – How can human rights defenders react?”

The South Caucasus Network of Human Rights Defenders was founded in 2009 and unites NGOs from Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia. The Human Rights House Foundation has from the start been an international associated member invited to take part in the selection of member organizations and the development of the Network.

Presidential elections were held in Georgia on 27 October 2013, it was the sixth presidential elections since the country’s restoration of independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. Giorgi Margvelashvili from the Georgian Dream won the elections with 62%. According to BBC news “The election is taking place is a peaceful and balanced environment. This is the first European-style election in Georgian history.”

Members of the Human Rights House Network (HRHN) express their concern to learn that the European Union is aiming at further reducing the ordinary budget of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. The NGOs call upon the European Union to support the work of the Office, by increasing its ordinary budget as a way to strengthen the impact of its work and cooperation by all States.

Members of the Human Rights House Network (HRHN) express their concern to learn that the European Union is aiming at further reducing the ordinary budget of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. The NGOs call upon the European Union to support the work of the Office, by increasing its ordinary budget as a way to strengthen the impact of its work and cooperation by all States.