More than 50 human rights organizations from around the world signed a letter in solidarity with Georgian civil society, condemning the efforts of the Georgian government to introduce the law on the transparency of foreign influence. 

A group of Georgian and international also addressed a letter to the main international financial insitutions operating in Georgia (Asian Development Bank, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and the International Monetary Fund), to express concerns on the draft law and call on these financial institutions to condemn this attempt to stigmatize civil society organizations and stifle independent voices.

CHECK OUT THE LETTER AND ADD YOUR SIGNATURE HERE.

As human rights defenders across the globe, we are deeply troubled by efforts of the Georgian government to stifle civil society voices through the introduction of the law “on the transparency of foreign influence”.

To our friends and allies in Georgia, please know that we stand with you as you stand up against your government’s attempt to adopt the law, which clearly targets civil society organizations and independent media. This attack on freedoms of speech and assembly, as well as on basic and fundamental rights for a democratic and pluralist society affects all of us. It is an attempt to dehumanize and stigmatize civil society activity, something that runs contrary to  Georgia’s human rights commitments, as well as international human rights standards and values.

In some of our own countries we too are witnessing similar developments designed to curtail accountability and defense of human rights. This kind of legislation has led to reprisals, attacks, red-tagging, imprisonments, abductions and killings of human rights defenders, environmental activists, legal professionals, journalists, workers, community leaders and other civil society actors. It is disturbing to see the same risks now facing the people of Georgia who have been fiercely fighting for liberty, independence, freedom and democracy for the past 35 years. 

We stand in solidarity with the people of Georgia. We greatly appreciate your fight for freedom and democracy and we acknowledge that the adoption of this law in Georgia will have implications for our countries too. 

We call on the Georgian government to vote down the draft law and return to the reform agenda which is so much needed for Georgia’s continued leadership in democratization and development.

As the Annual General Meeting of the Asian Development Bank takes place in Tbilisi in the coming days,  we call on international financial institutions and other international partners of Georgia to publicly condemn this attack on human rights and democracy and publicly state their support to Georgian civil society and people of Georgia who demand democracy and human rights. 

Signatures (organizations)

1. Accountability Counsel | USA
2. Action Paysanne Contre la Faim APCF | DRC
3. African Law Foundation (AFRILAW) | Nigeria
4. Alyansa Tigil Mina (Alliance to Stop Mining) | Philippines 
5. Amnesty International | Global
6. Ardha Jabesa Foundation | Kenya
7. Asia Indigenous Peoples Network on Extractive Industries and Energy (AIPNEE) | Asia
8. Bank Climate Advocates | US
9. Bank Information Center | US
10. International Rivers | US
11. Brot für die Welt | Germany
12. Business & Human Rights Resource Centre | Global
13. Cambio Sistémico | Mexico
14. CEE Bankwatch | Czech Republic
15. Centre for Community Mobilization and support NGO | Armenia
16. Cohesión Comunitaria e Innovación Social | Mexico 
17. Collectif des ONG Œuvrant dans le secteur de mines, Environnement et Electricité COMEE| DRC
18. Conseil Régional des Organisations Non Gouvernementales de Développement CRONGD | DRC
19. Crude Accountability | US
20. Deca Equipo Pueblos | Mexico
21. FIDH (International Federation for Human Rights), within the framework of the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders | Global
22. Freedom House | US
23. Front Line Defenders | Ireland
24. Global Rights | Nigeria
25. Gobierno y Análisis Político AC (GAPAC) | Mexico 
26. Green Development Advocates | Cameroon 
27. HRM Bir Duino | Kyrgyzstan
28. Indian Social Action Forum | India 
29. Iniciativas para el Desarrollo de la Mujer Oaxaqueña (IDEMO) | Mexico
30. International Accountability Project | Global
31. International Indigenous Fund for development and solidarity “Batani” (Batani Foundation) |  Russia/USA
32. Kashi Jermaine, Kwale Mining Alliance | Kenya
33. Participatory Research & Action Network – PRAAN | Bangladesh
34. Kazakhstan International Bureau for Human Rights and Rule of Law  | Kazakhstan
35. KRuHA – People’s coalition for the right to water  |  Indonesia
36. Latinoamérica Sustentable, Regional  | Latin America
37. Lawyers’ Association for Human Rights of Nepalese Indigenous Peoples (LAHURNIP)  | Nepal
38. lM Defensoras  |  Latin America  
39. Otros Mundos Chiapas  |  Mexico
40. OTWatch |  Mongolia
41. Phenix Center |  Jordan
42. Protection International (PI) | Belgium and Global
43. Proyecto sobre Organización, Desarrollo, Educación e Investigación (PODER) | Latin America
44. Recourse | Netherlands
45. Rivers without Boundaries International Coalition  | Global
46. The Bretton Woods Project, United Kingdom
47. Unidosc | Mexico
48. Urgent Action Fund for Feminist Activism | Global
49. Uzbek Forum for Human Rights  | Germany
50. Workers’ Assistance Center (WAC) | Philippines
51. World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), within the framework of the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders | Global
52. Yayasan Keadilan Iklim Indonesia (Climate Justice Indonesia Foundation) | Indonesia
53. Yayasan Srikandi Lestari,( Srikandi Lestari Foundation) | Indonesia 

Signatures (individuals)

1. Maurice Ouma Odhiambo, Jamaa Resource Initiatives, Kenya
2. Mirvari Gahramanli,Oil Worker’s Rights Protection Organization, Azerbaijan
3. Nora Sausmikat, Urgewald/Germany
4. Oleg Dulgaryan, Rights Defender, Armenia
5. Eduardo Aguilar, independent human rights advocate, Mexico