United Nations General Assembly Distr.: General 19 April 2006 Original: English Sixtieth session Agenda item 11 2 (e) Elections to fill vacancies in subsidiary organs and other elections: election of 47 members of the Human Rights Council Note verbale dated 12 April 2006 from the Permanent Mission of Georgia to the United Nations addressed to the Secretariat The Permanent Mission of Georgia to the United Nations presents its compliments to the Secretariat of the United Nations and has the honour to enclose Georgia's voluntary pledges and commitments in accordance with General Assembly resolution 60125 1 of 15 March 2006. 06-31718 (E) 280406 I111 111111111111111111111111 1111 1 Annex to the note verbale dated 12 April 2006 from the Permanent Mission of Georgia to the United Nations addressed to the Secretariat Aide-memoire: Georgia and the Human Rights Council Voluntary pledges and commitments in conformity with General Assembly resolution 601251 The Government of Georgia made a decision to nominate the candidacy of Georgia for a membership in the United Nations Human Ri&ts Council for a seat allocated to Eastern European countries, Having gained its independence, Georgia made its choice to build a state based on democratic values and the rule of law, to integrate into international community,' European structures. Human rightsissues have & h a y s represented one of the highest hibritics for Georgia. Since the Rose Revolution of 2003, the new Government of Georgia .has unequivocally expressed its commitment to improve human rights situation in the country. For the time being, many significant steps have already been made to better promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms. Georgia is a State party to a series of United Nations and Council of Europe human rights instruments, in particular: > Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and its Optional Protocols. 3 Covenant on Economical, Social and Cultural Rights. > Convention of the Rights of the Child and its Optional Protocol on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and'Child P.ornography. 3 Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treabnent or Punishment and its Optional Protocol. P Convention on the Elimination of All Fonns of Discrimination against Women and its Optional Protocol. Convention on the Elimination of All forms of Racial Discrimination. > Lnternational Convention on the Suppression and Punishment of the Crime of Apartheid. European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms and its Protocols 2,4, 6, 7, 11,' 12 and 13. 3 European Convention for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment; 3 European Convention on Human Rights and Biomedicine. Framework Convention on the Protection of National Minorities. 3 ~ u r o ~ e Social Charter (revised). an The Georgian Parliament ratEed the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court that entered into force for Georgia in December 2003: Most recently, the instrument of ratification or accession has been sent to the depositary with respect to: 3 Amendment to Article 20, paragraph 1 of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. 9 Protocol 14 to the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms. > Protocol to the European Convention on Human Rights and Biomedicine concerning Transplantation of Organs and Tissues of Human Origin. Georgia has never been a member of the United Nations human rights bodies; however, Georgia has always participated in the constructive dialogue with the United Nations agencies and representatives dealing wit'h human rights issues and wl continue following this way in the future. il From the very beginning, ~ e o & a supported the initiative to establish the Human Rights Council, with a stronger mandate to-. monitor and ensure the implementation, of commitments undertaken by member States. As regards fixture actions aimed at huther strengthening promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms, in the nearest future Georgia pledges itself to: - At the domestic level: Accede to the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families. Sign and ratify European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. Ratify Additional Protocol to the Convention on Human Rights and Biomedicine, concerning Biomedical Research Rat@ the European Convention on Action against Trafficking in Hurnan Beings. Complete and submit to the respective Treaty Monitoring Bodies the next periodic reports on the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Co-operate with the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI), within the framework of the next ECRI country visit to Georgia' - At the international level: Promote strengthening of the Human Rights Council's involvement and activities, fwst and foremost, in conflict areas worldwide (including de-facto uncontrolled territories), in order to promote the respect for and implementation of human rights and fundamental fieedoms for all, especially most vulnerable groups. Closely co-operate with the Human Rights Council, other respective human rights bodies and related agencies within the United Nations, Organization for Becurity and Cooperation in Europe and the Council of Europe, in order to promote and ensure full realization of civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights in their interrelation and indivisibility and without any discrimination. Promote active international reaction and monitoring of human rights violations in Abkhazia and South Ossctiflskhinvali region, especially in Gali district of Abkhazia, Georgia including the establishment of joint UNIOSCE human rights office in Gali, deployment of IR.l civilian police component and unimpeded insbxction of mother tongue for the ethnic Georgian population in the district as important human rights protection and conjidenoebuilding measures: .. Contribute to preservation and enhancement of the systems of special procedures. In this respect, Georgia reafEms its readiness to further co-operate with the UN special procedures, including-the readiness to receive their visits. Mcrebver, it is in the interests of Georgia that these ,visits encompass whole territory under its jurisdiction, including a e regions currently de-facto out of control on the part of the State. Participate in the constructive dialogue with United Nations Treaty Monitoring Bodies. In 2006, this is about Committee against Torture and Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination a g s Women, in connection with the consideration of periodic reports of .&t Georgia under CAT and CEDAW. Make special emphasis on the strengthening of gender equality, the rights of women, the rights of the child and minority rights.