Water is a limited natural resource and a vital public good. The human right to water ensures that everyone has access to sufficient, safe, acceptable, physically accessible, and affordable water for personal and household use.

In 2024, the Public Defender’s Office (PDO) of Georgia, with support from the United Nations, the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI), and the Government of Norway, made the right to water a priority. Following a human rights-based approach and in line with international standards, the PDO developed a research methodology and conducted fact-finding visits to 35 villages across 15 municipalities in 5 regions of Georgia.

This special report examines:

• International standards and state obligations related to the right to water.
• Key principles and substantive elements of this right.
• Georgia’s national regulations and current practices.

The report also identifies major challenges that hinder the full realisation of this right in Georgia, including:

• Limited coverage by the country’s 8 licensed water supply companies, leading to unequal access across regions.
• Insufficient water supply, long distances between homes and water sources, inadequate attention to vulnerable groups, poor water quality, and irregular monitoring.
• A widespread lack of public access to information about water safety and quality.

Finally, the report presents concrete proposals and recommendations to relevant authorities. Implementing these measures will help advance the realisation of the right to water for all in Georgia.