On 20-22 July 2022, representatives of the Public Defender’s Office of Georgia participated in the study visit to Dublin, Ireland, where they held meetings with the representatives of the Human Rights and Equality Commission (IHREC), Ombudsman for Children (OCO), The Office of the Ombudsman and two NGOs – Community Action Network (CAN) and the Irish Traveller Movement.

Within the framework of the held meetings, the representatives of the Public Defender’s Office received information about the mandate of the organisations, their structure, and peculiarities of their activities. Participants got familiarised with the experience of the host organisations regarding the preparation of European Social Charter alternative reports, work planning, monitoring of social rights, collection/processing of relevant information and involvement in the implementation of the European Social Charter.

Study visit participants had the opportunity to discuss the importance of ratifying the relevant articles of the ESC at the meetings held with the representatives of NGOs. Particular emphasis was put on the benefit of the procedure of collective complaints.

Tamar Gvaramadze, First Deputy Public Defender noted that the information and experiences shared by colleagues from the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, Ombudsman for Children, Ombudsman and relevant NGOs were very useful. Public Defender’s Office will use their insights and advice in its future work and activities. It has already been determined some ways of implementing all of this in practice.

The Study visit was organised within the framework of the Council of Europe Project “Strengthening Protection of Social and Economic Rights in Georgia.” The Project is part of the Council of Europe Action Plan for Georgia 2020-2023.