Human Rights Center

Non-governmental organization the Human Rights Center (HRC), formerly Human Rights Information and Documentation Center was founded on December 10, 1996 in Tbilisi, Georgia.

The HRC activities are focused on protection and promotion of human rights, rule of law and peace in Georgia.

The HRC aims to increase respect for human rights, fundamental freedoms and facilitate peacebuilding process in Georgia.  To achieve this goal it is essential to ensure that authorities respect the rule of law and principles of transparency and separation of powers, to eliminate discrimination at all levels, increase awareness and respect for human rights among the people in Georgia. 

Human Rights Center’s Priority Areas

• Strengthening the rule of law by:

• Supporting harmonization of national legislation with international human rights standards and monitoring their implementation;
• Raising public awareness about their rights and available legal remedies/mechanisms for their realisation;
• Providing free legal aid to individuals and groups to defend their rights and freedoms at national and regional/international levels;
• Monitoring, documenting and reporting on human rights violations.

• Supporting Freedom of Expression and Media by:
• Supporting development of independent media;
• Promoting creation of environment conducive of free expression;
• Capacity building of journalists and media representatives;
• Promotion and development of new media.

• Promoting Equality and Social Inclusion by

• Fighting against discrimination;
• Protecting the rights of minorities and other vulnerable groups;
• Promoting gender equality and women empowerment.

• Supporting Transitional Justice by:
• Documenting and reporting human rights violations committed in relation with armed conflicts;
• Promoting accountability for human rights violations;
• Advocating restitution and reparation;
• Confidence building, reconciliation and peace building.

• Reinforcement of Democratic processes by:
• Strengthening development of civil society organizations through capacity building and networking;
• Encouraging involvement of social groups in public activities;
• Promoting free and fair elections, good governance and transparency.

Activities:

• Monitoring and Documenting human rights violations in Georgia;
• Reporting on human rights situation in Georgia to the EU, Council of Europe, OSCE, UN, ICC and others international bodies on regular basis;
• Lobbying and Advocacy of legislative and policy reforms before national and international institutions;
• Litigating cases on human rights violations through Legal Aid Centre free of charge;
• Public Awareness Raising on human rights situation in Georgia by daily-updatable bi-lingual online magazine www.HumanRights.ge and video-portal www.hridc.tv
• Networking among human rights organizations on national and regional level.