The Public Defender of Georgia assesses the legal and practical situation related to the use of asbestos in Georgia in the context of human rights in a special report.

Asbestos is a substance that poses a high risk to human health and its exposure is associated with serious diseases, including mesothelioma and lung cancer. The report reviews the impact of asbestos on the realization of the right to occupational safety, health and a healthy environment. The document analyzes both international standards and national regulations and the practice of individual municipalities.

The report highlights a number of challenges, including:

• International standards relating to asbestos regulation have not been fully implemented in Georgia;
• Some types of asbestos, including chrysotile (white asbestos), are still permitted in Georgia;
• No technical regulations have been adopted to regulate in detail the protection of employees from exposure to asbestos in the workplace;
• There are no mechanisms for the systemic detection and recording of asbestos-containing materials;
• Municipal practices regarding the management of asbestos-containing infrastructure are inconsistent;
• The population's awareness of the dangers of asbestos is low.

In the report, the Public Defender recommends that the Government of Georgia develop a unified vision and strategy for the comprehensive regulation of the issue, which would ensure compliance of the national standard with international obligations and take effective steps in this direction.