OHCHR / GEORGIA FOREIGN INFLUENCE LAW

UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk expressed deep regret at the adoption by Georgia's Parliament of the Law on Transparency of Foreign Influence, noting that the legislation seriously undermines the freedoms of expression and association. OHCHR

• Video Length: 00:01:42
• Production Date: 15 May 2024
• Asset Language: English
• Personal Subject: VOLKER TÜRK
• Corporate Name: OFFICE OF THE UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS - OHCHR
• Subject Topical: HUMAN RIGHTS; PRESS FREEDOM; PROTEST MOVEMENTS
• Geographic Subject: GEORGIA
• MAMS Id: 3207445
• Parent Id: 3207445
• Alternate Title: unifeed240515b

Description

STORY: OHCHR / GEORGIA FOREIGN INFLUENCE LAW
TRT: 01:42
SOURCE: OHCHR
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: 15 MAY 2024, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND / FILE

Shotlist

FILE - GENEVA, SWITZERLAND

1. Various shots, exterior Palais Wilson

15 MAY 2024, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Ravina Shamdasani, Spokesperson for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR):
“Georgian authorities and lawmakers have chosen to disregard the many warnings given by human rights defenders and civil society resulting in significant risk to the freedom of association and assembly in Georgia. The law, adopted yesterday, declares civil society and media organisations which receive more than 20 percent of their funding from foreign sources as organisations acting in interest of a foreign power. This overbroad law risks these organisations being stigmatised, facing an atmosphere of mistrust, fear, and hostility. The registration requirement may also have a chilling effect, significantly curtailing their activities of these organizations. Stifling diverse voices on matters of significant public interest will only complicate the Government’s ability to respond effectively to the many challenges facing the country. We call for the law to be shelved, and for the government to engage in dialogue with concerned media and civil society organisations. The authorities also need to promptly investigate allegations of excessive use of force and ill-treatment in the context of protests, including reported assaults on protesters and their families. We call on the authorities in Georgia to build on recent important human rights achievements and to work with the country’s vibrant civil society to resolve current challenges through to an inclusive and rights-based process.”

Storyline

UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk today (15 May) expressed deep regret at the adoption by Georgia's Parliament of the Law on Transparency of Foreign Influence, noting that the legislation seriously undermines the freedoms of expression and association.

“Georgian authorities and lawmakers have chosen to disregard the many warnings given by human rights defenders and civil society resulting in significant risk to the freedom of association and assembly in Georgia,” his spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani said.

The law, adopted yesterday, declares civil society and media organisations which receive more than 20 percent of their funding from foreign sources as “organisations acting in interest of a foreign power,” she said.

The ability of associations to seek, secure and use resources is essential to their effective operation.

“This overbroad law risks these organisations being stigmatised, facing an atmosphere of mistrust, fear and hostility,” Shamdasani said.

“The registration requirement may also have a chilling effect, significantly curtailing their activities of these organizations. Stifling diverse voices on matters of significant public interest will only complicate the Government’s ability to respond effectively to the many challenges facing the country,” she added.

“We call for the law to be shelved, and for the government to engage in dialogue with concerned media and civil society organisations,” the spokesperson said.

“The authorities also need to promptly investigate allegations of excessive use of force and ill-treatment in the context of protests, including reported assaults on protesters and their families,” said Shamdasani.

“We call on the authorities in Georgia to build on recent important human rights achievements and to work with the country’s vibrant civil society to resolve current challenges through to an inclusive and rights-based process.”