ÿWPC‘ û6°:ßü¶Â €l6¡}¸ìW’‘ˆí ²M ¬­sC-õ-Ä`§*s—Ùm˜>¬ùµþs[`0½$2ü¦›Làê=X.àë¯JûÈ®_)WÆÜ+ÖLÏ|/`d©¿EzJ·àí†ßùÉú-z-ú ŒÝcD£ÛKõ*b{Í}6Tø´–§‡ã){Ò…Æc®Lý-ðމZ­â`ê²cy©WtŒ©È²Ëx †C-Ó3Éj”ÐÔ[\éªbðµ”éb qØÛT2ba¯B‚$z,Ƽҽ+—² Fùù¶Gñµtÿjìð!š|vÞó)ãnXrl(AÎ4ïwqšJ‡šËö? !Jw3£a¢Ôñù¹lÁè7ÿ³=5>H³K#ÜÓ¯ßlrÁ l2Ùw]—KaÇWw_œ’²ºÆoØ:w‰Øí8] q@æâÞþ¶ªÊv]§ßˆA~¬™öw,ËVyÊï–Ä~´J-Ÿ‚Lôè•}ö@®Oö¬&ë>„¢t8À÷G-Ò€Ó·!ƒ‘¦J¹âeSÎxtù4"¥šîÔ·iv+a`Ò³»¤ÖQËA%aƒ ÍUØ`HQ ëO¬2òÉàò°( Æ™lTŽ ŠÔ…¸„aQ #Á¶UNw %Å 0:Ë^ w4)8 m:NQU>S˜HP LaserJet 4P,ü,,,,,ü0(ÈhH  Z‹6Times New Roman RegularX(ûœ$¡¡ÔUKUS.,Ô„g, &bœ+3|xÿU‹ÿÀÀÀô\  `‹&Times New RomanÝ ƒûœ!ÝÔUKUS.,ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÓ  Óò òÔ‡ X-ÐXXXÔÔUSUK.,ÔÔ‡ ¼a|»X X-ÐÔGEORGIAÔ#† X-ÐX» ¼a|}#ÔÐ ° Ðó óÌÓ=ÓÓÓÌò òÔ_ÔCERDÔ_Ô€A/€56/18€Ô_Ô(2001)Ô_ÔÐ œì Ðó óÌ83.€€The€Committee€considered€the€initial€report€of€Georgia€(Ô_ÔCERDÔ_Ô/C/369/Add.1),€which€wasdueÐ t Ä Ðon€2€July€2000,€at€its€1453rd€and€1454th€meeting€(Ô_ÔCERDÔ_Ô/C/SR.1453€and€1454),€on15and16€MarchÐ ` ° Ð2001.€€At€its€1462nd€meeting€(Ô_ÔCERDÔ_Ô/C/SR.1462),€on€22€March€2001,€it€adopted€the€followingÐ L œ Ðconcluding€observations.Ð 8 ˆ ÐÌA.€€òòIntroductionóóÐ `  ÐÌ84.€€The€Committee€welcomes€the€initial€report€submitted€by€the€State€party€and€the€additional€oralÐ è8  Ðinformation€provided€as€well€as€the€opportunity€thus€offered€to€initiate€a€dialogue€with€the€StateÐ Ô$  Ðparty.€€It€expresses€its€satisfaction€with€the€quality€of€the€report€and€its€conformity€with€the€reportingÐ À  Ðguidelines€of€the€Committee.€€It€notes€as€very€positive€the€fact€that€the€State€party€submitted€theÐ ¬ü  Ðreport€within€one€year€of€ratification.€€Ð ˜è ÐÌB.€€òòFactors€and€difficulties€impeding€the€implementation€of€the€ConventionóóÐ pÀ ÐÌ85.€€The€Committee€recognizes€that€Georgia€has€been€confronted€with€ethnic€and€political€conflictsÐ H˜ Ðin€Ô_ÔAbkhaziaÔ_Ô€and€South€Ô_ÔOssetiaÔ_Ô€since€independence.€€Owing€to€the€lack€of€governmental€authority,Ð 4„ Ðthe€State€party€has€difficulty€in€exercising€its€jurisdiction€with€regard€to€the€protection€of€humanÐ  p Ðrights€and€the€implementation€of€the€Convention€in€those€regions.€€€€Ð  \ ÐÌ86.€€In€addition,€the€situations€in€South€Ô_ÔOssetiaÔ_Ô€and€Ô_ÔAbkhaziaÔ_Ô€have€resulted€in€discrimination€againstÐ ä4 Ðpeople€of€different€ethnic€origins,€including€a€large€number€of€internally€displaced€persons€andÐ Ð  Ðrefugees.€€On€repeated€occasions,€attention€has€been€drawn€to€the€obstruction€by€the€Ô_ÔAbkhazÔ_ÔÐ ¼  Ðauthorities€of€the€voluntary€return€of€displaced€populations,€and€several€recommendations€have€beenÐ ¨ø Ðissued€by€the€Security€Council€to€facilitate€the€free€movement€of€refugees€and€internally€displacedÐ ”ä Ðpersons.€Ð € Ð ÐÌC.€€òòPositive€aspectsóóÐ X"¨  ÐÌ87.€€The€Committee€notes€with€satisfaction€that,€notwithstanding€the€difficulties€resulting€fromÐ 0$€" Ðconflicts€in€Ô_ÔAbkhaziaÔ_Ô€and€South€Ô_ÔOssetiaÔ_Ô€and€the€challenges€linked€to€the€period€of€politicalÐ %l # Ðtransition,€the€State€party€has€made€important€progress€in€the€area€of€legislative€reform.€€It€notes€withÐ &X!$ Ðinterest€that€Georgia€has€ratified€a€great€number€of€international€and€regional€human€rightsÐ ô&D"% Ðinstruments.€€Ð à'0#& ÐÌ88.€€The€Committee€also€notes€with€satisfaction€that,€upon€ratification,€the€International€ConventionÐ ¸)%( Ðon€the€Elimination€of€All€Forms€of€Racial€Discrimination,€like€other€international€instruments,Ð ¤*ô%) Ðbecame€an€integral€part€of€the€Stateððs€domestic€legislation€and€can€be€invoked€directly€before€theÐ +à&* Ðcourts.€€Ð |,Ì'+ ÐÐ h-¸(, ÐÔ_Ô89.€€The€Committee€welcomes€the€establishment€of€various€institutions€for€the€promotion€andÐ ° Ðprotection€of€human€rights,€such€as€the€Ombudsman€and€the€Committee€for€Human€Rights€andÐ œì ÐEthnic€Relations.€€It€notes€with€special€interest€the€creation€of€the€Committee€on€Civil€Integration,Ð ˆØ Ðwhich€deals€specifically€with€minority€concerns.€€In€this€connection,€the€Committee€notes€withÐ tÄ Ðinterest€the€statement€of€the€delegation€during€the€dialogue€that€the€Committee€on€Civil€IntegrationÐ `° Ðis€developing€a€concept€of€civil€integration€in€Georgia€which€would€include€laws€concerning€nationalÐ L œ Ðminorities,€including€on€language€rights.€€The€Committee€equally€welcomes€the€creation€of€humanÐ 8 ˆ Ðrights€commissions€in€many€òòsakrebuloóó€(local€elective€bodies).Ð $ t ÐÌD.€òò€Concerns€and€recommendationsóóÐ ü L  ÐÌ90.€€The€Committee€notes€that€the€Constitution€takes€into€account€the€provisions€of€article€2€of€theÐ Ô$  ÐConvention.€€However,€the€Committee€regrets€the€lack€of€information€provided€on€measures€for€theÐ À  Ðeffective€implementation€of€the€Convention€which€the€State€party€is€expected€to€take.€€Furthermore,Ð ¬ü  Ðthe€Committee€regrets€that,€although€the€report€notes€the€condemnation€of€racial€discrimination€inÐ ˜è  Ðall€its€forms€by€the€State€party,€racial€segregation€and€apartheid€are€not€expressly€condemned€asÐ „Ô  Ðstipulated€by€article€3€of€the€Convention.€€€Ð pÀ ÐÌ91.€€While€noting€the€information€that€the€Constitution€contains€provisions€to€ensure€theÐ H˜ Ðdevelopment€and€the€protection€of€minorities€and€to€guarantee€their€full€and€equal€enjoyment€ofÐ 4„ Ðhuman€rights€and€fundamental€freedoms,€the€Committee€expresses€its€concern€at€the€failure€ofÐ  p ÐParliament€in€1994€to€adopt€a€special€law€on€national€minorities.€€Taking€note€of€the€informationÐ  \ Ðprovided€by€the€delegation€as€to€the€aims€of€the€Committee€on€Civil€Integration€in€this€regard,€theÐ øH ÐCommittee€encourages€the€State€party€to€continue€to€provide€its€utmost€support€to€this€process€andÐ ä4 Ðto€adopt€legislation€on€minorities.Ð Ð  ÐÌ92.€€Concern€is€expressed€that€the€legislation€currently€in€force€in€Georgia€does€not€fully€cover€theÐ ¨ø Ðrequirements€of€article€4€of€the€Convention.€€The€Committee€is€concerned€at€the€absence€ofÐ ”ä Ðprovisions€explicitly€banning€the€advocacy€of€national,€racial€and€religious€hatred€that€constitutesÐ €Ð Ðincitement€to€discrimination,€as€well€as€racist€propaganda€and€organizations.€€The€CommitteeÐ l¼ Ðconsiders€that€the€national€legislation€currently€in€force€is€not€sufficient€to€comply€with€theÐ X ¨ Ðrequirements€of€article€4€(b),€as€the€latter€covers€the€offence€of€promoting€and€inciting€racialÐ D!” Ðdiscrimination€which€may€fall€short€of€ð ðfomenting€ethnic,€local,€religious€or€social€strifeðð€as€providedÐ 0"€  Ðfor€in€article€5€(2)€of€the€State€partyððs€law€on€political€associations€of€citizens.€€The€CommitteeÐ #l! Ðemphasizes€that,€in€the€absence€of€the€establishment€of€racial€discrimination€as€a€specific€offence,Ð $X" Ðit€might€not€be€punishable€and€would€be€difficult€to€prosecute.€€The€Committee€recommends€that€theÐ ô$D # ÐState€party€take€steps€to€ensure€that€national€legislation€is€in€full€conformity€with€article€4€of€theÐ à%0!$ ÐConvention.Ð Ì&"% ÐÌ93.€€With€regard€to€article€142€(1)€of€the€new€Criminal€Code,€which€deals€with€the€infringement€ofÐ ¤(ô#' Ðequal€rights€on€account€of,€òòinter€aliaóó,€race,€skin€colour,€language,€sex,€and€national,€ethnic,€social€orÐ )à$( Ðclass€origin,€the€Committee€is€concerned€that€this€provision€is€qualified€by€the€requirement€that€theÐ |*Ì%) Ðinfringement€of€equal€rights€result€in€a€substantial€violation€of€human€rights.€€The€Committee€notesÐ h+¸&* Ðthe€statement€by€the€delegation€that€serious€consideration€should€indeed€be€given€to€reviewing€thisÐ T,¤'+ Ðprovision€and€encourages€the€State€party€to€initiate€the€necessary€Ô_Ôsteps.Ð @-(, Ї94.€€The€Committee€recommends€that€the€State€party€include€in€the€next€periodic€report€statistics€onÐ ° Ðcases€in€which€the€relevant€provisions€of€the€Civil€and€Criminal€Codes€have€been€applied.€€TheÐ œì ÐCommittee€reminds€the€State€party€that€the€absence€of€complaints€and€legal€action€by€victims€ofÐ ˆØ Ðracial€discrimination€could€possibly€be€an€indication€of€a€lack€of€awareness€of€available€legalÐ tÄ Ðremedies€or€a€result€of€the€absence€of€relevant€specific€legislation.€€It€is€therefore€essential€to€provideÐ `° Ðfor€the€relevant€provisions€in€the€national€legislation€and€to€inform€the€public€of€the€availability€ofÐ L œ Ðall€legal€remedies.Ð 8 ˆ ÐÌ95.€€In€the€context€of€the€implementation€of€article€5,€the€Committee€expresses€its€concern€at€theÐ  ` Ðunder-representation€of€ethnic€minorities€in€Parliament.€€The€Committee€notes€with€concern€theÐ ü L  Ðbarriers€to€participation€of€minorities€in€political€institutions,€for€instance€with€regard€to€theÐ è 8  Ðlimitation€on€the€participation€of€minorities€in€local€executive€bodies€owing€to€a€lack€of€knowledgeÐ Ô$  Ðof€the€Georgian€language.€€The€Committee€recommends€that€the€State€party€take€all€necessary€stepsÐ À  Ðin€order€to€increase€the€representation€of€national€minorities€in€Parliament€and€in€local€bodies.Ð ¬ü  ÐÌ96.€€The€Committee€notes€the€commitment€undertaken€by€the€State€party€to€repatriate€Ô_ÔMeskhetiansÔ_ÔÐ „Ô  Ðwho€had€been€expelled€from€southern€Georgia€to€the€Central€Asian€republics€of€the€Soviet€Union.€Ð pÀ ÐThe€Committee€recommends€that€the€State€party€take€the€necessary€measures€to€facilitate€the€returnÐ \¬ Ðof€Ô_ÔMeskhetiansÔ_Ô€and€the€acquisition€of€citizenship€by€them.Ð H˜ ÐÌ97.€€Expressing€its€satisfaction€at€the€positive€measures€taken€by€the€State€party€to€establish€nationalÐ  p Ðhuman€rights€institutions,€the€Committee€requests€that,€in€its€next€periodic€report,€the€State€partyÐ  \ Ðprovide€additional€information€on€the€role,€responsibilities€and€achievements€of€national€institutionsÐ øH Ðsuch€as€the€Commission€on€Civil€Integration,€the€Committee€for€Human€Rights€and€Ethnic€RelationsÐ ä4 Ðand€the€Ombudsman€in€monitoring€treaty€obligations€and,€in€particular,€with€regard€to€activities€forÐ Ð  Ðthe€integration€of€minorities€and€the€promotion€of€human€rights.€Ð ¼  ÐÌ98.€€The€Committee€notes€the€absence€of€provisions€with€regard€to€stateless€persons€and€encouragesÐ ”ä Ðthe€State€party€to€take€appropriate€measures€to€remedy€this€situation.€€Ð €Ð ÐÌ99.€€The€Committee€recommends€to€the€State€party€that€its€reports€and€the€present€concludingÐ X ¨ Ðobservations€be€widely€distributed€to€the€public.€€The€Committee€also€recommends€the€disseminationÐ D!” Ðof€the€text€of€the€Convention€and€the€organization€of€education€and€training€programmes€aimed€atÐ 0"€  Ðall€sectors€of€society,€especially€law€enforcement€officials,€regarding€human€rights€in€general€and€theÐ #l! Ðprovisions€of€the€Convention€in€particular.€€Ð $X" ÐÌ100.€€It€is€noted€that€the€State€party€has€not€made€the€optional€declaration€provided€for€in€article€14Ð à%0!$ Ðof€the€Convention,€and€the€Committee€recommends€that€the€possibility€of€making€such€a€declarationÐ Ì&"% Ðbe€considered.Ð ¸'#& ÐÌ101.€€The€Committee€recommends€that€the€State€party€ratify€the€amendments€to€article8,€paragraphÐ )à$( Ð6,€of€the€Convention,€adopted€on€15€January€1992€at€the€Fourteenth€Meeting€of€StatesParties.Ð |*Ì%) ÐÌ102.€€The€Committee€also€recommends€that€the€State€party€submit€its€second€periodic€report€jointlyÐ T,¤'+ Ðwith€its€third€periodic€report,€due€on€2€July€2004,€and€that€it€address€all€of€the€points€raised€duringÐ @-(, Ðthe€consideration€of€the€initial€report.Ð ° ÐÓïÓÔ#†X-ÐXX X-ÐL#ÔÔUK.,US.,kÔÔ_Ôò òó óÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_Ô