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Package (SNGP). We established Joint “as a longstanding supporter of the
Training and Evaluation Centre (JTEC) and human right Council, we are proud to
Defence Institution Building School (DIB).
We engaged in strategic discussions on be presenting Georgia’s candidacy for
Black Sea Security and elaborated concrete membership in the human rights Council for
steps and mechanisms to contribute to this
process. At the same time, we managed to the term 2023-2025.”
have first ever Ministerial and Heads of State
and Government level meetings of the NATO
Georgia Commission in the margins of NATO mechanisms to Georgia’s occupied regions of
Summits, which produced joint documents. Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali/South Ossetia.
We also hosted North Atlantic Council (NAC)
and Military Committee (MC) as well as joint Georgia has made the promotion and
exercises. protection of human rights the linchpin of its
democratic and rule of law transition and in
Both, NATO visibility and practical this regard, the cooperation with the United
engagement were increased, bringing Georgia Nations human rights system, including the
closer to NATO standards and membership. I Council and its mechanisms, the Treaty Bodies,
am glad to have been personally involved in and OHCHR is of an utmost importance.
all of the above and consider those five years Georgia committed to translating universal
productive and constructive in the practical norms into real and tangible improvements in
and political dimensions of NATO-Georgia the lived reality of rights-holders throughout
relations. Once again, it is a matter of “when” the country. As a longstanding supporter
rather than “if” Georgia joins NATO. of the Human Right Council, we are proud
to be presenting Georgia’s candidacy for
If one wanted to try to compare NATO and the membership in the Human Rights Council for
United Nations, could one find similarities? the term 2023-2025.
Both the UN and NATO aim to promote peace
and prosperity—this is what I see as the main If elected, Georgia, will continue to actively
similarity between the two. NATO stands on contribute to ensuring effectiveness in
UN core principles of peace, development, and addressing human rights violations and
security. Nevertheless, the two organizations’ realization of the values and principles of the
specificities and structures are different. United Nations and its human rights system
In terms of working environment, every globally.
diplomatic city has its own social scene, if you
please, which serves as the informal platform As Geneva is a hub of multilateralism and
of exchanging experiences and impressions, hosts the highest number of International
which might be helpful in formal matters later. Organizations, the Permanent Mission of
Both Brussels and Geneva are great examples Georgia remains as vocal as possible and
of network diplomacy in action. closely cooperates with the wide range of
organisations based in Geneva, would it be
Here, in Geneva, we are actively engaged in economic, humanitarian, disarmament,
in the work of the Human Rights Council, environmental or other fields.
particularly focusing on initiatives aimed at
advancement of rights of the most vulnerable This year, we mark the 30 Anniversary since
th
groups, with special emphasis on children, Georgia joined the United Nations family and
women, girls, and internally displaced persons. from the time of continues to deepen its ties
We are presenting on yearly basis the resolution with the UN.
“Cooperation with Georgia” which calls for
immediate and unimpeded access to be given In a few days, Georgia also marks its
to the Office of the High Commissioner and Independence Day, commemorating May 26,
international and other regional human rights 1918 – the day when the Act of Independence

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