On 30-31 October 2017 in Tbilisi, the trainers of the High School of Justice of Georgia participated in a training of trainers on International Humanitarian Law. The objective of the workshop was to discuss training materials drafted by experts and prepare for the pilot training on the topic scheduled in December.

The workshop was led by local and international experts and was attended by the trainers of the High School of Justice who will serve as future trainers in the course. The session focused on several topics including introduction to the International Humanitarian Law and the International Criminal Court, war crimes and crimes against humanity, status of combatants and persons directly participating in hostilities as well as the responsibility of commanders.

In the words of one of one of the trainers and judge of the Zugdidi District Court, Shota Bichia, ‘it was essential to thoroughly elaborate on details related to different types of conflicts, grounds for the detention of combatants in such conflicts, as well as the issue of command responsibility, which to some extent differs from the definition of responsibility in regular criminal cases’. As a result of the two-day training, the structure and agenda of the pilot training were agreed.

The activity was organised within the framework of the Council of Europe Project “Strengthening the capacity of the High School of Justice of Georgia”. This Project is funded by the voluntary contributions of Bulgaria, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Norway, the Slovak Republic and Sweden to support the implementation of the Council of Europe Action plan for Georgia 2016-2019.