Project Title: Monitoring Covid-19 related public spendings and human rights protection during the state of emergency and after
Funded by: European Union
Project Number: ENI/2020/417-626
Total Budget: EUR 59,960
Duration: July 22, 2020 – July 21, 2021
Background
Due to the state of emergency and COVID-19 related regulations, the Government of Georgia (GoG) is entitled to perform its duties bypassing important accountability mechanisms and restricting several human rights. Moreover, GoG has announced a 3.5 bln anti-crisis plan which will be directed towards the social support of citizens, business recovery and health care. Also, the StopCov Fund was established, through which individuals and companies can donate money to overcome the coronavirus crisis. As of now, 133 million is raised. In addition, donor organisations have announced readiness to provide Georgia with $3 bln, aimed at assisting the economic recovery of the country. Therefore, conducting effective civic monitoring over public spendings and human rights restrictions is important to ensure government accountability in its efforts to fight against the pandemic.
The measures taken by the government to fight against the coronavirus create the risk of disproportionate restriction of human rights. In general, the most serious breaches of human rights take place in situations of proclaimed state of emergency and states may be inclined to use their power of derogation for other purposes or to a larger extent than is justified by the exigency of the situation. During the crisis exercising effective external control over the government and monitoring the human rights situation gains more and more importance, because the risks of abuse of power by the authorities is especially high.
The action will contribute to increasing government accountability regarding Covid-19 related public spending, implementation of the Government Anti-Crisis Plan, spending of StopCov Fund and allocation of donor support. In addition, the risks of disproportionate restriction of human rights during the COVID-19 crisis will be studied and mitigated.
Action Objectives
Overall objective
Contribute to increasing effectiveness and proportionality of actions to fight against the pandemic in Georgia
Specific objectives
1: Contribute to increasing government accountability, and transparency regarding Covid-19 related public spendings and Anti-Crisis Plan through monitoring, reporting, public awareness raising and advocacy efforts.
2: Contribute to strengthening human rights standards through monitoring, advocacy and civil society engagement.
Action Activities
1. Monitoring Covid-related public spending, public procurements, implementation of the Government Anti-Crisis Plan, spending of StopCov Fund and allocation of donor assistance.
2. Monitoring the state of human rights during Covid-19 related restrictions.
3. Publish and disseminate monitoring results/recommendations online and offline during presentations and workshops
4. Hold 3 online public discussions
5. Elaborate policy recommendations
6. Advocate policy recommendations through 2 presentations and 2 workshops
Action Results:
- Cases of alleged mismanagement of Covid-19 related public funds, donor assistance and ineffective implementation of Anti-Crisis Plan are revealed and remedied.
- The risks of disproportionate restriction of human rights during the COVID-19 crisis are mitigated.
- Public Awareness about revealed challenges and shortcomings related to Covid-19 related public spending and human rights protection is increased.
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