Georgia

Each year, the Georgian government administration prepares reports on the protection of the rights of persons with disabilities based on information about the implementation of internal action plans provided by state agencies. In 2023, the Prosecution Service of Georgia adopted its third annual Action Plan on "Protecting the rights of persons with disabilities".

In 2023, the Human Rights Protection Department of the Prosecutor General's Office monitored hate crime cases. The analysis of the 2023 hate crime cases was published both in Georgian and English on the prosecution service website.

In October 2023, the Prosecution Service, with the support of the Council of Europe, organized a joint meeting on the topic of hate crime for the Prosecution Service managers and judges. Representatives of the Special Investigation Service (SIS), Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) and the Supreme Court of Georgia also participated in discussions on national and international standards in identifying bias motives.

In October 2023, a new memorandum was signed by the Supreme Court of Georgia, the Prosecution Service of Georgia, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia, the Special Investigation Service (SIS), and the National Statistics Office of Georgia. The new memorandum reflects additional responsibilities of the parties to collect and publish even more detailed statistical data on hate crime.

With the support of the Council of Europe, representatives of the MIA, the General Prosecutor's Office and the Supreme Court held a presentation of the joint analysis of hate crime statistics. Part of the meeting was devoted to discussions with civil society organizations about the criminal justice policy on hate crimes, focusing on related challenges and future plans. The discussion touched on the deficiencies in the investigation, prosecution and adjudication of hate crime cases, measures to address these gaps and the importance of uniform approaches.

In 2023, the SIS joined the fifth "Equality Week" of the Council of Europe. Employees of the Investigation Quality Monitoring and Analytical Department conducted a training on the subject of hate crime investigation to students of various higher educational institutions.

As part of Equality Week, the MIA held a working meeting with the heads of police units to discuss current issues in combating hate crimes. The meeting was held within the framework of a Council of Europe project on "Promoting the Effective Protection of Equality and Non-Discrimination in Georgia".
In November 2023, the Prosecution Service of Georgia organized a meeting with other state agencies and civil society representatives. The meeting touched on criminal law related hate crime, challenges of addressing hate crime, and prospects for deepening co-operation with civil society organizations.

On 23 March 2023, the Parliament of Georgia adopted a second National Strategy for the Protection of Human Rights in Georgia, 2022-2030. The new comprehensive strategy addresses all fundamental human rights and freedoms and puts a special emphasis on the protection of the rights of vulnerable groups. It covers four priority areas: 1) strengthening justice, rule of law principles, and the effective application of civil and political rights; 2)strengthening the protection of economic and social rights; 3) reflecting the constitutional guarantees of equality in the state policy and the enjoyment of human rights and freedoms without discrimination; and 4) protecting the rights and freedoms of the population affected by the illegal occupation of the territories of Georgia by the Russian Federation. The Strategy attaches particular importance to ensuring equality at all levels of the public and private sectors, eliminating conditions conducive to inequality, and combating intolerance and hate crimes and other offences. The objectives of the Strategy include the continuous improvement of equality and anti-discrimination legislation and its effective enforcement, and improvement of victim-oriented responses to crimes committed on the grounds of discrimination/intolerance. 

Following the approval of the Strategy, an Action Plan on Human rights protection for the period of 2024-2026 was developed. 

In January of 2024, "National Referral Procedures for Identification, protection, assistance and Rehabilitation of victims of violence against women and/or domestic violence" was approved. The referral procedures ensure rapid, effective communication and mutually agreed action between relevant agencies within their competence to protect victims and prevent re-victimization.