Regional dialogue: lessons learned, Challenges, Innovation - Eastern Europe

27.11.2019 Geneva - Ambassador Victor Dolidze delivered a statement at the Event "Regional dialogue: lessons learned, Challenges, Innovation - Eastern Europe" which took place in the frame of the Business and Human Rights Forum.

“Based on recommendations of the international and local non-governmental organizations, the Government of Georgia has developed a comprehensive chapter on Business and Human Rights for 2018-2020 Human Rights Action Plan.

The chapter on Business and Human Rights was drafted with the active participation and support of the local NGOs, Public Defender’s Office, line ministries and international organizations.

The process of developing this chapter entailed conducting the baseline assessment which included consultation and thematic working meetings with business stakeholders, CSOs, government and international organizations and round of regional consultation meetings.

The Business and Human Rights Chapter of the National Action Plan on Human Rights (2018-2020) includes 39 activities under the goal of ensuring/supporting free entrepreneurship. The responsible agencies for implementing these activities, among others the Ministry of Economy and sustainable development of Georgia; the Ministry of Labor and Health,  State Procurement Agency; Human Rights Secretariat of the Administration of the Government; The office of the Business Ombudsman of Georgia; As for the partner agencies they include international organizations, public defender’s office and business sector.

The Business and Human Rights Chapter of the NAP aims:

-           To enhance human rights protection and sustainable inclusive socio-economic development in Georgia through promotion of responsible business conduct.

-           To provide the impact assessment of the market regulations in order to promote free market principles;

-           To develop the respective mechanisms against monopoly activities in any segment or sector of the market;

-           To provide competitiveness on the market by drafting recommendations in order to eliminate all forms of discrimination in this sector;

-           To initiate respective legislative amendments for promoting CSR principles, including women empowerment principles.

 

Some of the results so far:

 

1.         Sexual harassment as a form of discrimination was introduced in Georgian legislation by the Parliament of Georgia in February 2019 and is now sanctioned;

2.         The National Bank of Georgia introduced the obligation for commercial banks to integrate sustainability issues, including ESG (Environment, Social and Governance) standards in their long-term strategic development plans within their corporate social responsibility (CSR). It is noteworthy, that banks should publicly disclose the information of their compliance with ESG standards. In addition, NBG imposed the obligatory 20% female quota for the supervisory boards of the banks to provide the gender diversity in the boards.

3.         Organic Law of Georgia on “Occupational Health and Safety” was adopted by the Parliament of Georgia in 2018, which made labour safety standards protection mandatory. This law is fully in line with the relevant directive under EU-Georgia Association Agreement.

4.         Labour Code amendments are underway to enhance its compliance with international labour standards, such as expanding the list of forms of discrimination; introducing the issue of the equal pay for the work of equal value for women and men; reinforcing parental leave clauses and introducing 14 day paid paternal leave etc.

5.         The discussions to strengthen the role and capacities of labour inspection are also underway.

6.         The efforts to create good examples of mainstreaming human rights perspective in state owned entreprises are also made.

7.         Several state agencies are currenty undergoing gender audits with the support of UN Women and the governments of Norway and Switzerland, which aim at identifying gaps in terms of Gender mainstreaming and implementing the respective follow up measures. The focus is made on agencies which support entrepreneurship, like Entreprise Georgia, Innovations and Technology Agency (legal entities of public law of the Ministry of Economy), Agricultural and Rural Development Agency of the Ministry of Agriculture etc.

 

 

Challenges we are facing:

 

1.         The preparatory phase of Business and Human Rights Chapter development was challenging because there was no baseline data available; so the separate baseline assessmnet had to be conducted;

2.         The coordination issues among several state entities in charge of the implementation of the chapter still remain;

3.         The process of Labour Code revision is facing numerous challenges from the business sector;

4.         Awarness about the importance on the state action to put forward business and human rights agenda is still low.

5.         Lack of qualified human resources for successful implementation of the Occupational Health and Safety legislation.

6.         Lack of the experience of Georgia in mainstreaming human rights in business.”