Organization “Young Barristers” will implement further advocacy of the recommendation package designed for the research “Business and human rights in Georgia – current situation, international jurisdiction structure and how the situation can be improved”. Co-founder and leader of the organization, Archil Kaikatsishvili made a statement concerning this fact at the presentation of the research. 

 

The implemented monitoring, with the authorship of law specialist, Mariam Asanishvili and with financial support from the foundation of “Open Society’s” Budapest office, taking place between March – September, 2014 and being published on 20th of December, 2014, was the first to discuss the issues and circumstances of business and human rights in Georgian reality. The research displayed international legal documents and standards that hold a leading position in various company’s social responsibilities and obligations. On the other hand, the evaluations were made on Georgian business and human rights related issues and the focus was made on those problematic points, which arose during the process of research. 

 

“Young Barristers” provided the author with several practical suggestions during the process of published research, which was concerning the human rights violation from business-companies and court practices. As the leader of the organization, Archil Kaikatsishvili stated on the presentation, the most common customer rights violation happens with banking, insurance and communication companies. Archil Kaikatsishvili labeled the existing situation as an irresponsible environment and called for social groups to put more efforts in improving the circumstances.

 

The presented research evaluated the relationship between business and human rights as critical. The monitoring displayed next challenges and problems: 

 

• For the majority of Georgian companies, notions of social responsibility and business obligation, to defend human rights are identical; 

• Many Georgian companies identify social responsibilities only with charity; 

• Major Georgian companies attempt to have a specific policy concerning business and human rights, however, the majority of them is not consequent and does not have clarified priorities; 

• The part of Georgian companies perceives social responsibilities as part of marketing and/or PR campaign instead of doing human rights oriented business approach; 

• The majority of Georgian companies, usually, do not deliver reports concerning company’s social responsibilities; 

• Georgian companies are more aware of their social responsibilities rather than in business and human rights; 

• Georgian companies believe, that business and human rights are only for the big companies, firm’s social responsibility (which mostly includes charity and philantrophic activities) can also be implemented by small and medium sized companies; 

• E-mail communication with majority of Georgian companies happens to be a serious difficulity, which restrains the interested person from the possibility of getting to know company’s internal rules and policies. During the research, less than 5% of the contacted respodents responded on having a conversation about business and human rights. 

 

“Young Barristers” will provide the lobbying of a published research recommendation within the framework of institutional dialogue. In addition, the author Mariam Asanishvili has an experience in both, private and human rights law. Has published several researches in English concerning human rights. Has a Masters degree in Law in Great Britain and practical experience at European human rights protection court. Has been working as lawyer-researcher in Montenegro. 

 

For the information: the research was published in Georgian and English. The part of the printings has been provided to the libraries of national universities and business representatives. The author, during the researched, was supported by: Jurisdiction firm “Mgaloblishvili, Kipiani, Dzidziguri”, “East European University” and NGO “Young Barristers”