Georgia

Background

Georgia’s independence was restored in 1991 following the collapse of the Soviet Union. Armed conflicts ignited shortly afterwards in Abkhazia and South Ossetia as these regions tried to secede from Georgia. Successive ceasefire agreements have provided for the deployment of peacekeeping forces, but a final peaceful solution has yet to be found. Armed confrontations of varying levels of intensity continue to erupt sporadically, culminating with the August 2008 full-fledged armed conflict and the involvement of Russian forces.

The conflicts in Georgia resulted in contamination by landmines and explosive remnants of war, including cluster munitions.

Activities

Geneva Call is engaging the internationally partially recognized authorities in Abkhazia and South Ossetia in adhering to an anti-personnel (AP) mine ban and in adopting immediate preventive humanitarian measures to reduce the effects of landmines on the civilian population. This includes lobbying conflict parties and international actors engaged in conflict resolution efforts for the inclusion of the ban on AP mines in peace talks and negotiations. Geneva Call is also supporting local civil society in raising awareness of the AP mine issue and addressing the needs of landmine victims, and is encouraging coordination and cooperation of civil society organizations at the regional level. Geneva Call’s work is undertaken in partnership with several Abkhazian, Georgian, and South Ossetian civil society actors: the Agency on Social Culture Development, the Association of Disabled Women and Mothers of Disabled Children (DEA), the Public Union "Bridge of Friendship - KARTLOSI", the , and Inva-Sodeistvie Association (AIS).

Reports:

Geneva Call, 2007, , Press release, 18 December.

Geneva Call, 2007, , Kiev, 26-27 November, Workshop Report.

Georgian Times, 2007, , 13 April.