The Council of Europe Office in Georgia launched the Project “Enhanced Access to Legal Aid Services for Marginalised Population” to support legal aid providers in Georgia and to increase the effectiveness, promptness, and accessibility of legal aid throughout the country, especially in regions and among minority populated areas.
The launching event was opened by Natalia Voutova, Head of the Council of Europe Office in Georgia, Lilja Gretarsdottir, Head of Cooperation Programmes Division at the Department for the Implementation of Human Rights, Justice and Legal Cooperation Standards of the Directorate General for Human Rights and the Rule of Law of the Council of Europe, Mahir Mushteidzada, Head of Unit at the Cooperation Programmes Division, Directorate General of Human Rights and Rule of Law of the Council of Europe, Razhden Kuprashvili, Director of the Legal Aid Service, and David Asatiani, Chairperson of the Georgian Bar Association.
Throughout its two-year lifespan the project will support the Legal Aid Service to reform its legislative and statutory framework, bringing it in compliance with the European standards. The project will contribute to the increase in the institutional capacity of the Legal Aid Service to help it comply with its expanded mandate by developing new capabilities and new training modules for the recently created Training Centre. The project will work with legal aid providers to increase awareness on available services in the country, including in rural and minority populated areas.
The project will support coordination meetings between judges, lawyers, and prosecutors within the framework of the Justice Coordination Council established under the auspices of the previous project “Support to the Profession of Lawyer in Georgia”. The project will work closely with the Georgian Bar Association to promote lawyers’ professional ethics in regions by organising information meetings and workshops.
The Project “Enhanced Access to Legal Aid Services for Marginalised Population” is implemented with the support of Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Luxembourg, France, Netherlands, Liechtenstein and Latvia.
