HRC 61 - Georgia: Organizations Share Findings on the Dismantling of Georgian Civil Society

Item 10: General Debate

Joint statement by the World Organization against Torture and

The International Federation for Human Rights

Oral statement by Issa Hernández Herrera

Thank you, Madame Vice-President,

We thank the High Commissioner for his oral update on Georgia, and wish to add our recent findings on the dismantling of civil society by Georgian authorities based on a field mission conducted in 2025 together by the World Organization against Torture and the International Federation for Human Rights.

Since 2022, civic space in Georgia has sharply deteriorated. New laws, including the so-called "foreign agents" framework and amendments to the Law on grants have severely restricted access to funding and even exposed organisations to criminal liability. At the same time, human rights defenders and journalists face arbitrary prosecution, detention, and intimidation, smear campaigns, often linked to their work monitoring protests or supporting victims.

This environment has had a chilling effect across civil society where organisations are forced to suspend activities, reduce staff, and in some cases shut down entirely. As a result, vulnerable groups-including survivors of torture-are losing access to essential services and protection.

Our report also highlights growing risks for exiled defenders in Georgia, once considered a safe hub, who now face increasing insecurity and legal uncertainty.

We call on States to respond decisively: to ensure accountability, support civil society, and uphold the fundamental freedoms that remain under serious threat in Georgia.

Thank you.