On 18-20 of October 2017 a study visit for the members of the National Preventive Mechanism against torture (NPM) and staff of the People’s Advocate (Ombudspersons) office of the Republic of Moldova was organised to the Office of the Public Defender of Georgia in Tbilisi. The Moldovan delegation was headed by Mr Mihail Cotorobai, People’s Advocate of the Republic of Moldova.  

The main objective of the three day study visit was to enhance knowledge and capacities of the staff members of the Moldovan Ombudsperson’s office and the NPM to implement their mandates effectively in the light of the on-going reforms of the Moldovan Ombudsperson’s institution. This was achieved by means of exchange of experience and gaining insight into the institutional, substantial and operational aspects of the functioning of the Public Defender’s office and the NPM of Georgia.

In his welcoming address Mr Nanuashvili, Public Defender of Georgia, underlined that as the main human rights institution of Georgia, the Ombudsperson’s office has a wide mandate in human rights protection, including human rights education. During 20 years of functioning the Georgian Ombudsperson’s institution faced many challenges and underwent many reforms. Currently, the institution has an ‘A’ status under Paris Principles.

Mr Cotorobai thanked the Georgian counterpart for openness and readiness to share their experience. He highlighted the importance of this visit, given the ongoing reform process of the Ombudsperson’s institution of Moldova. Mr Cotorobai also reiterated the interest in the Georgian experience particularly related to the functioning of the NPM.

During the 3-day visit the delegation discussed a number of topics of the institutional to operational reforms matters. Special importance was given to sharing experiences regarding applied methodologies for monitoring visits to different places of deprivation of liberty, drafting of reports and formulation of recommendations, effective interaction with civil society, as well as human rights education. Moreover, an important element of the study visit contained the part of visiting the places of deprivation of liberty, where the delegation has the opportunity to see in practice how the Georgian NPM operates.