On this page, you will find:
To find organisations working for LGBTQI+ rights, visit our Georgia LGBTQI+ Resources page.
For Georgia country of information (COI) experts, reports, commentaries, and relevant documents visit our Georgia COI page.
Refugee protection
Click here to see the numbers and origins of refugees hosted by Georgia.
The following sections contain information on the most important international treaties and agreements of which Georgia is signatory, as well as national legislation relevant to the protection of refugees.
Since 1999 Georgia has been both a party to the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and to its 1967 Protocol. In 2011, Georgia acceded to the 1954 Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons.
Furthermore, in March of 2023, Georgia joined the European Qualifications Passport for Refugees (EQPR), a European integration initiative that helps refugees rebuild their lives in their host countries by giving them the opportunity to have their qualifications assessed even in cases of insufficient or lacking documentation.
In February 1998 the Law of Georgia on Refugees was adopted for the purpose of implementing the obligations prescribed by the Convention and its Protocol. Together with the Convention and the Protocol, the Law of Georgia creates legal basis for regulations of refugee related issues in Georgia.
Under the current state of Georgian domestic law, international treaties and agreements agreed to by Georgia prevail over domestic legislation. However, the 2011 Georgian Law on Refugees and Humanitarian Status is in full conformity with the regime of the 1951 Convention, since in certain cases international treaty provisions are not subject to direct application and require such domestic implementation.
Additionally, on 1 December 2016 Georgia adopted the Law on International Protection that entered into force on 1 February 2017. The law brought the national legislation closer in line with international standards for international protection provision.
Legal aid organisations
Website
Facebook
Address: Tbilisi, Uznadze str. #101
Tel: +995 32 93 61 01 or +995 32 95 23 53 (General Inquiries) | 995 32) 299 50 76 (Legal Inquiries)
Email: gyla@gyla.ge
The Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association (GYLA) is a non-governmental organisation dedicated to promoting human rights and the rule of law. The GYLA provides both over the phone and online legal aid services, as well as private, in-person consultations. All consultations are confidential.
For online consultations, you must fill out their contact form online. They accept requests from any part of the world, and a consultant should respond to such queries within two days, depending on the legal complexity of the question.
Website
Address: Napareuli str 4 Tbilisi 0179, Georgia
Tel: +995 32 2 243 244
Email: lag@lag.ge
The Consortium Legal Aid Georgia (LAG) is an umbrella organization uniting four national NGOs based in the different regions of Georgia.
The four organizations include the Social Programs Foundation, Organization Future Prosperity House, Legal Protection Institute and Kakheti Regional Development Foundation.
The LAG Consortium offers free legal aid to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), IDP Returnees and Refugees in Georgia. The organization works to increase access to qualified legal services for all in need with a particular focus on IDPs, refugees and returnees, among other vulnerable groups.
The LAG Consortium achieves its goals through a variety of activities implemented together with its partners which include: provision of relevant legal information through printed materials, radio programs and information sessions during outreach activities; organization of thematic trainings, seminars, and workshops, and provision of comprehensive legal counseling and assistance including in-court representation. The organization also carries out researches and analysis of the needs of the target groups and service users.
Website
Facebook
Address: #140a, David Aghmashenebeli Avenue, Tbilisi 0102, Georgia
Tel: +995 (32) 2920055
Email: info@legalaid.ge
Legal Aid Service is a state-run organization which provides free legal assistance for socially vulnerable citizens who would not be able to pay for attorney’s services otherwise. The Legal Aid Service offers free legal consultations in order to ensure protection of rights of asylum seekers. They are entitled to use person-to-person and telephone/online consultation services. Additionally, Legal Aid Service provides legal assistance (court representation) to asylum seekers despite their insolvency.
To find out more about their services and the scope of their work, visit Legal Aid for Asylum Seekers. Additionally, to find out more about contacting their regional offices, visit their Contact page.
Website
Facebook
Address: 18 Zhiuli Shartava Street, III entrance, 3rd floor, 0179, Tbilisi, Georgia
Tel: (+995 32) 299 88 56 (General Inquiries) | (+995) 593 111 405 (Hot Line)
Email: office@rights.ge
NGO Rights Georgia is the partner of UNHCR providing free legal assistance to asylum-seekers and refugees in Georgia. In addition to their legal services, they provide information on migrants’ rights and protections, accessible on their My Rights page.
Website
Facebook
Address: 67b Zhiuli Shartava Str., Tbilisi, Georgia
Tel: (+995) 577045645
Email: office@rights.ge
World Vision is one of the leading children’s rights non-governmental organizations in Georgia. Their Multi-Service Center is a partner of the UNHCR working on community mobilization activities for asylum-seekers and refugees in Georgia.
One of the aspects of their support services is the provision of Legal Consultation services. To learn more about the Center, explore their Information Leaflet.
Organisations providing other support to refugees
Website
Facebook
Address: 32 Alexander Kazbegi Ave, Tbilisi, Georgia
Tel: (+995 32) 214 02 42 / +995 511 14 23 84
Email: info@idp.gov.ge
Since 2017, The Integration Center has been supporting those with international protection status living in Georgia. The Integration Center is the primary state center providing Georgian language classes and other integration programmes, including education on current Georgian legislation and lessons on historical and cultural features of the country.
Website
Facebook
Address: #55 Egnate Ninoshvili str. Tbilisi, 0112
Georgia
Tel: (+995 32) 2 501 105
Email: info@redcross.ge
The Georgia Red Cross Society provides asylum-seekers and people granted protection in Georgia humanitarian assistance. They specifically specialize in psychological support services. Since 2008, the Georgia Red Cross Society has gained tremendous knowledge and experience in providing psychosocial support. Their psychosocial support team and trained volunteers are involved in every emergency across the country, whether it is an armed conflict (Russo-Georgian war in 2008) or natural disasters ( Flood in 2015).
To learn more, visit their What We Do page.
Georgia LGBTQI+ Resources
Find organisations working for refugee LGBTQI+ rights in Georgia.
Georgia COI
Find Georgia country of information (COI) experts, reports, commentaries, and relevant documents.
We are always looking to expand the resources on our platform. If you know about relevant resources, or you are aware of organisations and/or individuals to include in our directories, please get in touch.
Last updated April 2023