The present overview is a brief analysis of the challenges existing in terms of human rights protection in the occupied territories of Georgia. 2019-2020 is the reporting period. While the area of human rights, in accordance with international human rights standards, covers a wide range of our lives, the present report primarily focuses on the most acute issues that persisted in Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali Region/South Ossetia in the reporting period. Therefore, the emphasis is placed on the following issues:

• The aggravated humanitarian situation caused by the so-called borderisation and setting up illegal border infrastructure. This mainly involves mass violations of the right to property and systemic restriction of economic activities within the occupied territories;
• Violation of the freedom of speech, thought and expression. This part of the report discusses incidents of persecution and harassment, often manifested in severe oppressive measures, of NGOs and civil activists operating in Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali Region/South Ossetia as well as incidents of purposeful obstruction of activities of individual journalists;
• Systemic practice of torture and inhuman treatment established in the penitentiary establishments and the so-called law-enforcement agencies and armed forces;
• The situation in terms of health care, including the situation in terms of public health care, accessibility of health-care services and the situation in terms of reproductive health of women; 
• The situation in terms of women’s rights including domestic violence and discrimination against women.

The recommendations, given at the end of the report, point out the minimum measures that are necessary for improving the quality of human rights protection in Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali Region/South Ossetia. 

An overview of challenges to human rights protection in Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region / South Ossetia