On December 10, the civilized world celebrates Human Rights Day.  Since 1950, the whole civilized world has been coming together on this day to proclaim loudly once again that the human being is the ultimate value and every government is obligated to protect human rights, obligated to introduce the highest standards of respect for human rights.

Our government has proclaimed more than once that respect for human rights is our priority and has backed up its words with deeds.  It is in the field of human rights precisely that impressive changes and progress have been achieved in the past year.  We refused to implement a policy aimed at cheap PR campaigns and at making façade changes in life.  Our policy focuses on the human being.  Our primary concern is to ensure a dignified life for every citizen of Georgia.  This is exactly why respect for human rights is our guiding principle.  Human rights imply much more than freedom and equality only.  Besides these, a human being needs social justice as well.  And it is our duty to protect human beings from poverty, cherish those most needy, most vulnerable and neglected social groups.

And now, as our government has succeeded in enabling people freely to speak up their minds, to vote for their representatives in free and fair elections, and to view themselves as free citizens, we are obligated to make an all-out effort to ensure the social and economic empowerment of our citizens.  The state is obligated to create all necessary conditions for its citizens to lead a dignified life.  And this, along with our political will, takes a great deal of work.

I believe that our government will handle this serious challenge and overcome all difficulties, ensuring this way the inevitability of our success.

Irakli Garibashvili