Public Defender Ucha Nanuashvili has sent a letter of invitation to UN Special Rapporteur on Minority Issues Rita Izsák in order to improve protection of the rights of national minorities in the country. The invitation is aimed at studying individual and systemic violations of human rights, making assessments and identifying active response mechanisms.

The letter of invitation reviews the challenges in terms of protection of the rights of ethnic/national minorities and the factors, existence of which limit development of a consolidated civil society based on common values​​, tolerance, diversity, preservation of minority identity and development opportunities.

Among various problems the letter highlights the issues such as participation of ethnic/national minorities in the decision-making processes, their representation in the central and regional authorities, access to information, education opportunities, preservation of cultural identity, etc. Acute problems facing the Roma community are reviewed separately.

Special Rapporteur's visit is an important tool, which allows mandate holders to make an overall assessment of human rights situation and/or specific institutional, legal, judicial and administrative situations in the country. During the visit, the Special Rapporteur meets with representatives of the government, non-governmental organizations, civil society, the United Nations agencies, academic circle, diplomats, journalists and victims of human rights violations in order to develop recommendations, which are then published as public reports.

The Public Defender hopes that in case of successful cooperation with the UN Special Rapporteur, the efforts of the Government and other responsible parties will become more effective, which will be reflected in the improvement of the rights situation of national/ethnic minorities.