POSITION PAPER
Name: Aadhya Marpally
Portfolio: Georgia
Committee: United Nations Human Rights Council
Agenda: Addressing the Human Rights Implications of Starvation, Water Deprivation and
Denial of Access to Food Systems with Special Emphasis on Conflict and Post-Conflict
Zones
Introduction –
Georgia firmly endorses the basic human rights to food and water, particularly in conflict and
displacement situations. Georgia has suffered illegal occupation, with all its humanitarian
consequences, and has consistently raised the issue at the United Nations when hunger and
cutting off water have been used as weapons of war. Georgia calls on the international
community to ensure safe and unhindered access to food and water in areas affected by
conflict and support displaced populations heavily. In any case, Georgia is committed to
international cooperation and the human rights to food and water for all.
Background –
Access to food and water remains a critical human rights challenge worldwide, particularly in
regions affected by conflict and its aftermath.
In numerous conflict zones and other situations of violence, including Australia, Canada,
Ukraine, Gaza, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen, humanitarian assistance is blocked or delayed, and
access to basic human provisions is being depleted. Under international humanitarian law, it
is considered the weaponizing of food and water when states restrict humanitarian access and
access to food and nutritional support on humanitarian claims. All states engaged in conflicts
have an obligation to respect and adhere to the guarantees provided in the 1949 Geneva
Conventions, including those in regard to civilian populations and access to food and water
and not starvation as a method of warfare.
We have seen this concerning reality in Georgia. Many civilians were forcibly displaced from
their homes, losing not only material shelter but also access to clean water and food after the
2008 conflict with Russia and subsequent military actions in South Ossetia and Abkhazia.
These echoes remain for many in these regions, and continued occupation severely limits the
access of humanitarian provisions.
Georgia has deep ongoing concerns regarding the humanitarian consequences of these
ongoing situational realities and implores the international community to enhance their
collective support to ensure that all rights to food and water are protected for all people
impacted.
Current situation in georgia
Georgia is presently facing a complicated political crisis. Divisive parliamentary elections,
democratic regression, and the proposed "foreign agents" law resulted in widespread protests
and a rupturing of civil society's relationship with the government. The ruling party's claims
of halting work on pursuing EU membership have raised serious concerns of a shift in foreign
policy and weakening of democracy. The events are causing considerable harm to Georgia's
internal stability and its long-standing dedication to democracy and human rights.
In addition to the above-mentioned internal challenges, Georgia still has regions under
Russian-supported occupation, including Abkhazia and South Ossetia. The humanitarian
consequences of this occupation are still felt. During the 2008 conflict, many people from
Georgia were displaced, and many of the thousands of internally displaced persons (IDPs)
continue to have impediments to access fundamental rights such as food, clean water and
public services. These communities are often excluded from access to humanitarian aid and a
fraction of the limited social support they receive, making their situation and participants
become more vulnerable.
Challenges Identified by Georgia
Where parties to armed hostilities have the ability to restrict food and water supplies to
civilians in Georgia's occupied and conflict-affected areas, they will do so. According to
international humanitarian law, these acts are illegal and should be prosecuted as such.
Often humanitarian access restrictions imposed on Abkhazia and South Ossetia obstruct or
prevent the delivery of food and clean water to vulnerable and affected communes.
IDPs in Georgia continue to lose access to, and import, food and water sources that they were
able to rely upon, and continue to be at an even greater risk of hidden hunger and diseases
related to food and water insecurity.
Telephone and technological communications, as well as legislation regarding food and water
rights, exist, but they are rarely understood, enforced, or acted upon in occupied and conflict-
affected areas in Georgia.
Humanitarian assistance to supported affected Georgian populations appear to inconsistent,
uncoordinated, or obstructed, making effective delivery impossible.
Displaced groups continue to be pushed outside the cultural, legal and religious confinements
by those who control resources and divide communities, enabling them to access any
assistance or services.
Political instability and lack of power and control by occupied regions continue to contribute
to the delays and or blockage of necessary action for the human rights of affected Georgian
populations regarding food and water.
Georgia’s Position and Recommendations:
Create a UN emergency task force to ensure safe food and water access in conflict and
occupied areas using technology and coordination.
Strengthen international laws to punish starving civilians and blocking aid as war crimes
by all responsible parties.
Secure humanitarian access with UN-monitored ceasefires and protected aid routes in
conflict zones.
Support displaced people with long-term help, including food, water, healthcare,
education, and social inclusion.
Promote global cooperation through food-sharing agreements and support climate-
resilient farming in fragile regions.
Georgia strongly supports the human rights to food and water as essential for life, especially
in conflict and displacement. We condemn the use of starvation and water denial as weapons
of war, which violate international law. Georgia calls for unhindered humanitarian access in
all conflict and occupied areas to help affected communities, including displaced persons. We
remain committed to working with the international community to protect these rights, hold
violators accountable, and promote peace and durable solutions for displaced people.
Conclusion
In summary, Georgia stresses the immediate need to act against the application of starvation,
dehydration, and food denial as infringements on human rights in conflict areas. The
occupation of Georgian territories serves to remind the world of the devastating impact of the
occupation on civilians and displaced persons. Georgia calls for immediate international
action to get humanitarian assistance to all affected, improve enforcement of international
norms, and encourage a collaborative international approach to food and water security for
all. Together, the international community must protect these primary human rights, and stop
starvation from being used as an instrument of war.
