Georgia has transitioned to European standards for migration management. A new organic law “On Citizenship in Georgia” has been developed, aligning current regulations with the UN conventions “On Reducing the Number of Stateless Persons” dated 1961 and “On Citizenship” dated 1997. A new law “On the Legal Status of Aliens and Stateless Persons” has been developed, addressing issues related to migration and migrant rights in a new manner. New rules have also been established regarding identity documents and civil records. The migration strategy documents for Georgia for 2013-2015 and 2016-2020 were approved and a five-year action plan was prepared, with the main objectives being: combating illegal migration, returning and reintegrating Georgian migrants, developing asylum policy, promoting legal migration, conducting information campaigns, addressing migration and development, etc.” The digitalization of all civil records in the country has commenced and continues at the Public Service Development Agency. Each year, the Agency’s staff digitizes an average of two million pages. As of the end of 2014, over five million records had been digitized and by the end of 2016, this figure had increased to more than seven million. In 2014, the Minister of Justice issued a decree determining that the digitization project must be completed by December 2024. This involves the digitalization of over 10 million records. In order to ensure the issuance of secure identity documents, a project for the implementation of an information security system was launched in August 2013 and is still ongoing. The principle of “one person – one document,” necessary for the visa liberalization, has been successfully implemented. Over the past four years, 2 061 732 electronic identity cards have been issued. These are secured documents. Out of the total number of electronic identity cards issued over the past four years, approximately 960 000 cards were issued free of charge based on relevant decrees of the Minister of Justice. Additionally, 191 000 more cards were issued at a reduced rate. Biometric passports have replaced older passports, including those issued abroad at the consulates of Georgia after July 28, 2014. The tools for the protection of personal information have been strengthened as part of the main focus areas of the plan for liberalizing visa regulations. This requires significant involvement from the Ministry of Justice, as LEPL Public Service Development Agency is one of the primary institutions responsible for processing personal data in Georgia.
A draft of the first national human rights strategy for Georgia (2014-2020), government action plans for 2014-2015 and 2016-2017 have been prepared. To eliminate all forms of discrimination, an anti-discrimination law has been drafted and adopted. A new concept of “complex discrimination” has been introduced into the legislation, providing a higher level of protection for vulnerable groups. For the first time in Georgian history, the law prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity and other characteristics. Taking into consideration the recommendations of international organisations, two anti-corruption strategies and action plans have been developed for Georgia (for 2010-13 and 2015-2016). Work is currently underway on the third strategy and plan for 2017-2018.The scope of officials required to file property returns has been expanded, in line with the scope of monitoring exercising persons provided for in the Georgian laws “On Assistance in Preventing the Legalization of Illegally Gained Income” and “On Lawyers”; this measure aims to strengthen efforts against corruption. A new law has been drafted to provide for the confiscation and transfer of assets to the state of individuals convicted of financing terrorist activities and money laundering.
According to the 2016 report of the State Department, Georgia’s efforts to effectively combat human trafficking have improved and the country has been moved to the “first category”. Action plans for 2013-2014 and 2015-2016 to combat human trafficking were approved. A unified information strategy to combat human trafficking was also approved in February 2014. Based on this strategy, measures to raise public awareness of the issue of human trafficking are implemented continuously, consistently and in a coordinated manner. In 2014, a new and comprehensive definition of “human exploitation”, adapted to international standards and contemporary forms and challenges of human trafficking, was introduced. In 2015, an amendment was made to Article 1433 of Criminal Code of Georgia, with the aim of encouraging reporting of crimes related to trafficking and facilitating the receipt and submission of evidence. Georgian legislation has been harmonized with the Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse 2007.
A set of laws has been drafted and enacted to protect the rights of children who live and/or work on the streets. The concept of a “homeless child” has been established for the first time. The procedure for issuing identification documents to these children free of charge has been developed and the role of social workers has been increased in responding immediately to cases of child abuse. Legislative measures have been implemented to tighten the regulations for the removal of children born through surrogacy arrangements from Georgia, with the aim of protecting this group of children from all forms of abuse and exploitation abroad. In December 2013, a State Strategy for Combating Drug Addiction and a corresponding action plan for the period 2014-2015 were developed and adopted. The key objectives of the strategy and action plan include reducing demand, implementing harm reduction measures, reducing supply, combating stigma and discrimination, preventing crime, enhancing coordination and international cooperation, conducting research and evaluating information. Following amendments to Article 260 of the Criminal Code of Georgia, the illicit production, manufacture, acquisition, possession, and transportation of narcotics, their analogues, precursors or new psychoactive substances have been separated from their illegal sale, and penalties have been differentiated. A memorandum was signed between the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) to establish a national centre for monitoring the drug situation in Georgia. The main function of this centre will be to monitor the drug situation within Georgia and to exchange information with the EMCDDA.
