On the 16 and 17 December 2024, in a significant effort to improve the quality of Georgia’s national reports submitted to the Council of Europe European Committee of Social Rights (ECSR), a workshop was held in collaboration with the Ministry of Internally Displaced Persons from the Occupied Territories, Labour, Health, and Social Affairs of Georgia, in Borjomi. This initiative, under the guidance of the Council of Europe’s project on social and economic rights in Georgia, focused on enhancing the capacity of key national institutions to prepare their national report on the implementation of the European Social Charter (ESC), due by 31 December 2024.

The workshop’s primary outcome was the enhancement of Georgia’s reporting process, which will directly impact the accuracy and effectiveness of the upcoming submission to the ECSR. With participation from representatives of eight national authorities, the workshop fostered a deeper understanding of the recent reforms of the Charter’s monitoring system, which is crucial for compliance with the European Social Charter.

Key to the workshop's success was the expert guidance provided by Karin Lukas, a former president and long-time member of the ECSR. Her feedback helped refine the draft report, enabling participants to better align the content with the ECSR’s expectations. By focusing on data collection, analysis, and targeted questions raised by the ECSR, participants were able to critically assess and improve the draft national report, ensuring that it would meet the required standards for submission.

Finally, the workshop significantly strengthened the participants’ skills in evidence-based reporting, enabling them to present more accurate and comprehensive data. This capacity-building effort not only enhanced the quality of the national report but also reinforced Georgia’s commitment to improving the protection of social rights in alignment with the European Social Charter. Ultimately, this work contributes to more effective social rights monitoring and greater accountability in the implementation of social policies in Georgia.

The workshop was organised within the framework of the Council of Europe Project “Further Enhancement of Social and Economic Rights in Georgia.” The Project is implemented as part of the Council of Europe Action Plan for Georgia 2024-2027.