On 25 January 1994, the Georgian Parliament adopted a decision by which Georgia acceded to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (hereinafter the “Covenant”). The Covenant entered into force for Georgia on 3 August 1994.
This alternative report is prepared in response to the list of issues to be taken up in connection with the consideration of the initial report of the government of Georgia concerning the rights covered by the Covenant.
This report is prepared by the Human Rights Information and Documentation Center (HRIDC) - a Tbilisi, Georgia based human rights NGO, in cooperation with the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH).
We believe that the enjoyment of social, economic and cultural rights is indivisible from the enjoyment of all other human rights, as laid down in by the international human rights instruments. We note deterioration over the last decade in the standard of living for a large number of Georgians.
Growing poverty rates have become significant particularly in the transitional economies of Europe and Central Asia.
The development of Georgian economy and the state as a whole greatly depends on the improvement of the current social situation. While the transition to a market economy has significantly benefited some sectors of society, it has produced unanticipated material difficulties and uncertain futures for others.