Human Rights Day is observed by the civilised world every year on 10 December. On 10 December 1984, through the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the United Nations General Assembly, the Member States proclaimed the idea of respect for inherent human dignity and equality to be the common achievement of all people and nations. Today, almost 70 years after the adoption of the Declaration, when the main achievement of the humanity is questioned in the face of authoritarian regimes and terrorist threats, the Declaration, as a living document, obliges us to raise our voices for the protection of each individual’s rights.

In line with the spirit of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Public Defender of Georgia, as the national institution of human rights protection, submits in the form of the present report the assessment of the situation in Georgia in terms of protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms in 2017. The report is the continuation of the initiative started by the Public Defender of Georgia in 2013 – every year on 10 December – to summarise and share with the public the main challenges and achievements in terms of protection of fundamental human rights in the country.