Elections, law enforcement abuses, labour rights in focus of Human Rights Watch 2022 report
HRW pointed at a ‘lack of accountability for law enforcement abuses.’ Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge
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Human Rights Watch has released its 2022 World Report, noting setbacks in labour, journalists’ and children’s rights in Georgia, and pointed at a ‘lack of accountability for law enforcement abuses.’
BREAKING: World Report 2022 is live – @hrw tracks rights trends in 100+ countries around the globe. https://t.co/30UXtn2jOY #Rights2022 pic.twitter.com/n9loaYb7PE
— Human Rights Watch (@hrw) January 13, 2022
The report noted that labour reforms came into force in Georgia last year. However, fair labour conditions and workplace safety remain a 'persistent concern.'
Social protections are minimal, unions lack legal guarantees that would allow them to effectively bargain for systemic changes, and the Labor Inspectorate’s effectiveness has been hampered by a shortage of resources, they wrote.
HRW said that Georgian journalists endured 'numerous threats and attacks' throughout 2021, pointing out the assault of about 53 media workers by hate groups during the July 2021 Pride March.
Police appeared to be present but failed to prevent the violent incidents, they added.
The report further observed children's rights in the country, citing UNICEF's report that at least 50,000 children lost access to education when Georgia switched to online schooling.
HRW added that the ruling Georgian Dream party won a 'significant' majority in the 2021 municipal elections, while the opposition rejected the results and announced mass demonstrations.
The report also said that in January 2021, the European Court of Human Rights issued a ruling in the inter-state complaint lodged by Georgia, finding Russia’s conduct in the aftermath of the 2008 war breached six articles of the European Convention of Human Right