On July 28, 2021, a Report on the Rights Situation of Aliens and Stateless Persons in Georgia was presented as part of the joint project of the Public Defender's Office and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees.

The report reviews the situation of aliens, including migrants, asylum seekers, internationally protected persons and stateless persons in Georgia and reflects the findings of the monitoring conducted by the representatives of the Public Defender of Georgia, as well as the positive trends and challenges identified during the monitoring.

At the opening of the event, Public Defender Nino Lomjaria reviewed the impact of the Covid epidemic on aliens, especially migrants, asylum seekers, internationally protected persons and stateless persons, who had been considered vulnerable even before the pandemic. She positively assessed the inclusion of these individuals in socio-economic programmes aimed at relieving the damage caused by the novel coronavirus, although noted that asylum seekers and persons with labour residence had been left out of certain components.

In her opening remarks, UNHCR Representative Kemlin Furley highlighted the progress in the asylum system and access to asylum procedures and basic services during the Covid pandemic. She noted, however, that systemic overload, delays in the issuance of identity cards, and integration issues remained particular challenges. With regard to stateless persons, it was noted that despite improvements in legislation, policies and approaches, there remain areas that need to be immediately responded in order to improve the rights situation of these persons.

Deputy Public Defender Tamar Gvaramadze spoke in detail about the activities of the Public Defender and the rights situation of aliens, including migrants, asylum seekers, internationally protected persons and stateless persons. She also spoke about the positive and negative trends in the recommendations offered in the report for state agencies.

The chapters on the rights situation of aliens and stateless persons can be found in the Report of the Public Defender of Georgia on the Situation of Human Rights and Freedoms in Georgia (pp. 459-468).