U.S. Ambassador’s Address on Human Rights

In a video address on International Human Rights Day, marked on December 10, U.S. Ambassador to Georgia, John Bass, said that Georgia had made some progress in human rights this year and listed areas where additional progress would be important.
 
“Georgia has registered some important accomplishments this year in advancing human rights. Introducing jury trial, developing a national action plan for women and passing legislation that improves the legal status of religious faiths practiced by minority of population. Some of these actions were easier, or less controversial than others, but all of them were important and necessary,” he said.

“There are other areas where additional progress will be important to protecting universal rights in Georgia, including strengthening equal application of the law, basic labor rights, freedom of assembly and the press and reducing scourge of domestic violence,” the U.S. ambassador said.
 
He said that coming two years, when Georgia plans to hold parliamentary and presidential elections, would provide an important opportunity for the Georgian citizens to engage in building more democratic and pluralistic country.

“Governments alone can not build strong democracies,” he said. “It is the people themselves, who elect their officials and hold them accountable through ballot box, who ultimately protect their freedoms.”

“We do not support any particular candidate or party in the upcoming parliamentary and presidential elections in Georgia. We support and we will continue to work with the people of this country in achieving those freedoms.”

“Success requires every Georgian citizen, regardless of his or her political affiliation or ethnicity to take interest, to take part in the civic life,” Ambassador Bass said. “I hope that all of you will participate in the coming elections and play an active role in civic life.”