Tolerance and Diversity Institute

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TDI
Oct/2410

TDI at the Warsaw Human Dimension Conference

On 7-8 October, TDI representatives participated in the Warsaw Human Dimension Conference 2024, supported by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR). The conference is dedicated to human rights and fundamental freedoms in the OSCE area and the implications of current events and trends for the region’s security. 

On October 7, the plenary session on fundamental freedoms addressed how States can best respond to security challenges in ways that promote human rights and thereby build greater levels of comprehensive security across the OSCE. Mariam Gavtadze, Strategic Litigation, and Advocacy Program Director at the Tolerance and Diversity Institute (TDI), presented an introductory remark about the importance of protecting fundamental human rights, including freedom of religion or belief and the right to peaceful assembly and the unique role of national human rights institutions for democracy and security. She also talked about laws, policies, and practices in the OSCE area that go against fundamental human rights principles and focused on “foreign agents law” in Georgia. 

In the speakers’ interventions, Eka Chitanava, director of the Tolerance and Diversity Institute (TDI), also referred to the implications of the Russian Law on freedom of religion or belief in Georgia, in general, on fundamental human rights and civil society. She also underlined the trends of securitization and instrumentalization of religion by the government. Luka Kiliptari, speaking on behalf of the Tolerance Center under the auspices of the Public Defender of Georgia and UN Association Georgia, also talked about the appalling dynamics of human rights violations in Georgia, particularly the encroachment on freedom of religion or belief. 

In the frames of the conference, on October 8, TDI and the Oslo Coalition on Freedom of Religion or Belief, the Norwegian Center for Human Rights (NCHR) at the University of Oslo held a joint side event titled Decline in Democracy and Increased Threats to Freedom of Religion or Belief in Georgia.  The event was co-organized in partnership with the USAID Unity Through Diversity Program, implemented by the United Nations Association of Georgia. The event hosted representatives of OSCE participating States, OSCE institutions and other structures, civil society, experts, and other interested parties. 

The side event aimed to exchange information with international stakeholders and advocate for freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) and other fundamental human rights in Georgia. Panelists Ekaterine Chitanava - Tolerance and Diversity Institute (TDI), Beka Mindiashvili and Luka Kiliptari - Tolerance Center under the auspices of Public Defender of Georgia and  Jennie Holck-Clausen - Oslo Coalition on Freedom of Religion or Belief, NCHR, University of Oslo, and John Kinahan - Forum 18 discussed how Georgia's significant backslide in democracy, the rule of law, and respect for human rights affect FoRB and other fundamental human rights. The discussion was moderated by Mariam Gavtadze (TDI). Among the challenges, the primary focus was on the issues related to the implications of Russian Law on fundamental human rights and civil society, including human rights defenders and faith-based communities in Georgia. The Forum 18 expert also drew on examples of how Russia's "foreign agents" law has been used against human rights defenders and FoRB and highlighted the similarities of the Georgian government's actions with undemocratic regimes. 

The participants also underscored the unique role that united civil society and citizens play in Georgia in resisting undemocratic laws and practices and protecting Georgia's European future.