On 30 June 2023, the Human Rights Education for Legal Professionals (HELP) course on Hate Crime and Hate Speech was launched for Georgian lawyers as part of the Project on Enhanced Access to Legal Aid Services for Marginalised Population.

The attendees of the meeting included the Director and the Deputy Director of the Legal Aid Service, Head of the Georgian Bar Association’s Training Centre, lawyers participating in the course from a number of regional free legal aid offices as well as lawyers from non-governmental organisations working the country.

Eva Pastrana - Head of the Council of Europe Justice and Human Rights Training Division - opened the meeting and presented the HELP platform and the activities of the Programme, by providing statistical data on the implementation of the training programs and the engagement of the high number of different legal professionals in the member states of the Council of Europe.

The tutor of the course presented a brief overview of the programme and the details regarding its implementation. The participants had the possibility to share their questions and expectations from the course, the participants also increased their knowledge on opportunities in continued legal education for lawyers available at the Legal Aid Service and the Georgian Bar Association.

This activity was organised within the framework of the Council of Europe Project entitled “Enhanced Access to Legal Aid Services for Marginalised Population” and implemented in Georgia.