Council of Europe Office in Georgia News
Call for tender - national consultancy services on various aspects of drug prevention
The Council of Europe project on ’’Strengthening the Role of Key Actors in Drug Prevention” is looking for Provider(s) for the provision of national consultancy services on various aspects of drug prevention to be requested by the Council on an as needed basis. The detailed description and...
PACE monitors and observer mission head express deep concern as Transparency International Georgia is forced to end its election operation
“We are deeply concerned by the fact that Transparency International Georgia has been forced to close its election observation operations because of the deplorable decision by the Anti-Corruption Bureau to declare this civil society organisation and its Director as ‘subjects with a declared...
‘Free and legitimate elections essential to safeguard Georgia’s place in Europe’, says head of PACE pre-electoral delegation, ending visit
A PACE pre-electoral delegation, headed by Iulian Bulai (Romania, ALDE), has concluded a two-day visit to Georgia (23-24 September 2024) ahead of the parliamentary elections of 26 October 2024. Mr Bulai stressed that these elections are taking place at a very crucial moment in Georgia’s European...
Council of Europe and DataFest Tbilisi - promoting gender equality and non-discrimination through data-driven initiatives
From 19 to 21 September 2024, Tbilisi hosted DataFest, the largest annual data conference in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. This year marked the third consecutive year that the Council of Europe Office in Georgia supported the festival. The collaboration centred on increasing awareness of the...
Exploring AI and Gender Equality - a public lecture on combatting gender bias in technology takes place in Tbilisi
On 18 September 2024, Dr Silvia Semenzin’s[1] public lecture in Tbilisi gathered civil society representatives, students, and professionals to explore the risks and potentials of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in promoting gender equality. The event focused on the influence of AI systems on gender...
Georgian Parliament should not adopt anti-LGBTI law and should refrain from using stigmatising rhetoric
The Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Michael O’Flaherty, published today a letter sent to the Chairman of the Parliament of Georgia in which he asks members of the Parliament to refrain from adopting the draft law “On protecting family values and minors” passed in second reading...
Tender Announcement: Local Consultants on Monitoring & Evaluation and Developing Interpersonal and Soft Skills for Project Beneficiaries
The Council of Europe project, "Further Enhancement of Social and Economic Rights in Georgia," seeks a national consultancy services Monitoring & Evaluation of project related activities and developing interpersonal and soft skills for project beneficiaries. Please find detailed information in...
Tender Announcement: Local Consultants on Social Rights
The Council of Europe project, "Further Enhancement of Social and Economic Rights in Georgia," seeks a national consultancy services on Social Rights. Please find detailed information in the attached files: Act of Engagement Terms of Reference Questions and answers Deadline for submission of...
Tender Announcement: National Consultant for the Development of Communication/Visibility Materials
The Council of Europe project, "Further Enhancement of Social and Economic Rights in Georgia," seeks a national consultant for the development of communication/visibility materials. Please find detailed information in the attached files: Act of Engagement Terms of Reference Questions and answers...
Monitors of the Communication Commission were trained in the pre-election media monitoring
The Council of Europe office in Georgia, in cooperation with the Georgian National Communications Commission, organised series of trainings on pre-election media monitoring, as a follow-up to the similar trainings conducted in 2020. The trainings were divided into two parts and aimed at...
Georgian authorities learn about evidence on and benefits of prison-based Therapeutic Communities
Kobuleti, Georgia was the venue for the Pompidou Group workshop on presenting the evidence on and benefits of prison-based Therapeutic Communities (TC) for treating substance use disorders, held on 30-31 July 2024. The event brought together representatives of the Georgian Special Penitentiary...
Regional media representatives discussed media development and coverage of elections ahead of 2024 Parliamentary Elections
Representatives of Georgian regional media outlets and high-level election officials exchanged views and discussed ways to improve the media environment during elections at the workshop – “Media development and coverage of elections” held on 27 July 2024 in Ajara region. The Council of Europe...
Assessing prevention measures for violence against women in Georgia
The Public Defender’s Office of Georgia, with the support of the Council of Europe, is conducting a monitoring initiative to evaluate measures aimed at preventing violence against women (VAW) and domestic violence (DV) in Georgia, as well as the implementation of the Action Plan of Measures to be...
Working on enhancing communication and interpersonal skills of the Labour Inspection Office Staff
To strengthen the effectiveness and public image of the Labour Inspection Office (LIO) of Georgia, five intensive training sessions on persuasive communication and interpersonal skills were conducted in June and July 2024. Nearly 100 labour inspectors and LIO management staff, who passed the...
Empowering the next generation of human rights defenders - Council of Europe hosts summer school to promote human rights in Georgia
The Council of Europe Office in Georgia brought together 42 law students from various Georgian universities for a Summer School to deepen their understanding of human rights and strengthening their advocacy skills. The Summer School provided participants with a comprehensive training on the role...
The Council of Europe empowers Georgian civil society and community-based organisations to promote equality and fight discrimination
On 24-25 July 2024 the Council of Europe, together with the Coalition for Equality and in cooperation with the ‘’Rule of Law Center’’ organised a training session for Georgian civil society and community-based organisations aimed at strengthening equality and combat discrimination. The event got...
Georgian judges explore new approaches to adjudicating electoral complaints in a digital era
At the two-day workshop, up to 100 judges from common courts of Georgia exchanged with election commissioners on latest changes to the electoral legal framework and practices. They committed to develop common practices and ensure that effective legal remedies are in place prior to 26 October...
Resource officers, psychologists and social workers are prepared to spread knowledge on human rights education at schools
The Council of Europe continues its cooperation with the Office of Resource Officers of Educational Institutions, supporting the implementation of a six-day training course on Human Rights Education. This year social workers and psychologists joined the resource officers, to advance their...
Promoting diversity and equality at the workplace – Council of Europe collaborates with SPAR Georgia
To foster equal and inclusive work environment in private companies and ensure effective responses in tackling discrimination, the Council of Europe organised a training on the implementation of the Equality Policy with SPAR Georgia on 19 July 2024. The event focused on various forms of...
Dual diagnosis and complex PTSD - Council of Europe continues training of specialists working in the justice system
The Council of Europe continues its cycle of trainings on the pressing issues of mental health for specialists (psychologists and representatives of the medical department) working in the criminal justice. On July 18-19, psychologists and psychotherapists of the Special Penitentiary Service and...
Synergy for change: Civil society raising awareness on violence against women in a context of global challenges
On 11 and 12 July 2024, the Gender Equality Division hosted the conference “Synergy for Change” for representatives of civil society organisations active in combating violence against women and promoting gender equality. The conference, held in Budapest within the framework of Ending violence...
Positive Parenting programme completes the pilot phase supported by the Pompidou Group
The Council of Europe has successfully completed the piloting of the "Positive Parenting" programme in various institutions including the Special Penitentiary Service, the National Crime Prevention and Probation Agency, the Juvenile Referral Centre, the State Care Agency, and Office of the...
Call for Tender - Local Consultancy Services in the field of Combating Violence Against Children
The Council of Europe Project Combating Violence Against Children in Georgia has launched a call for the provision of local consultancy services. The aim of the tender is to create a pool of national consultants to provide consultancy requested by the Council on an as-needed basis, in order to...
Workshop on Enhancing Civil Society Participation in the Council of Europe Project
Engagement of CSOs in the Council of Europe co-operation project is essential, due to their capacity to reach out to, empower, represent, and defend vulnerable persons. The Group of Experts on Action against Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (GREVIO) baseline assessment report also...
Call for tender - provision of local consultancy services
The Council of Europe Project “Democracy Starts in Schools – Engaging School Children in Decision Making Processes in Schools and Communities in Georgia” (Phase II) has launched a call for the provision of local consultancy services. The aim of the tender is to create a pool of national...
Council of Europe anti-corruption body calls for stronger oversight and accountability in top executive functions and the police
The Council of Europe’s Group of States against Corruption (GRECO), in a report published today, calls for determined measures to prevent corruption in Georgia in respect of persons with top executive functions and law enforcement officials. GRECO recognises that a few positive steps were taken...
Young Equality Ambassadors, representatives from civil society and state institutions becoming multipliers of human rights education
Throughout the week of 1 July 2024, representatives from various CSOs and community-based organisations, Equality Ambassadors, officers from the Public Defender’s Office (PDO), from the Labour Inspection Office, and from other state institutions gathered for a Training of Trainers on Human Rights...
Council of Europe body GRECO closes its monitoring round on preventing corruption among MPs, judges and prosecutors
The Council of Europe Group of States Against Corruption (GRECO) in its fourth report assessing the implementation by Georgia of its 2016 recommendations welcomes the statutory amendments that have introduced the obligation on all prosecutors to submit declarations of assets, a novelty since its...
Council of Europe Congress: Statement by the Monitoring Committee on the situation in Georgia
The Monitoring Committee of the Council of Europe’s Congress of Local and Regional Authorities, meeting in Tbilisi, Georgia, on 2 July 2024, adopted the following statement: “The Monitoring Committee reaffirms its full support to the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia...
Judges and the staff of the Anti-corruption Bureau explore ways to improve monitoring of legality and transparency of political finance
Judges of the Georgian common courts and the staff of the Anti-corruption Bureau participated in the Bench-Bar workshop “Strengthening political finance oversight: challenges and steps forward”. The workshop provided an opportunity to exchange on practical steps on how to improve the oversight of...
Judiciary and law enforcement strengthen co-operation to combat discrimination and hate crimes in Georgia more effectively
To ensure effective responses in combating discrimination, hate crimes and related incidents, on 27-28 June 2024, the Council of Europe gathered the representatives of the General Prosecutor’s Office, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, its Special Investigation Service, the Supreme Court, and...
Secretary General meets Public Defender of Georgia
Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić has met the Public Defender of Georgia Levan Ioseliani. The Secretary General recalled her statement on the law “on transparency of foreign influence” and reiterated the importance of the Venice Commission Urgent Opinion in this context. The Secretary...
Georgia’s law on transparency of foreign influence is ‘incompatible with European standards’ and should be repealed without delay
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) today expressed its deep concern at recent developments in Georgia that “raise serious doubts" about the country’s commitment to international democratic norms and Euro-Atlantic integration, and about its willingness to honour its...
Advisory Committee on the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities publishes Fourth Opinion on Georgia
The Fourth Opinion on Georgia of the Council of Europe Advisory Committee on the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities has been published today together with the government comments. A summary of the Opinion is also available in Georgian.
Venice Commission publishes two new opinions on Election Code abolishing gender quotas and on the composition of the Central Election Commission
The Venice Commission has published two new opinions on Georgia adopted at the latest plenary session: the Opinion on amendments to the Election Code abolishing gender quotas and the Follow-up opinion to the December 2023 joint opinion by the Venice Commission and the OSCE/ODIHR on the draft...
Alain Berset elected Secretary General of the Council of Europe
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) today elected Alain Berset (Switzerland) as Secretary General of the Council of Europe for a five-year term beginning on 18 September 2024. In the second round of the election, Mr Berset obtained 114 votes, a majority of the votes cast....
Call for tender - provision of consultancy services
The Council of Europe Project "Enhancing Human Rights Compliant Approach in Law Enforcement Institutions in Georgia" has launched a call for the selection of a provider to offer consultancy services on developing continuous training (permanent learning) system of the police officers for the MIA...
Celebrating 75th anniversary of the Council of Europe at Tbilisi Open Air festival
On 21-23 June the Council of Europe and Tbilisi Open Air will team up for the fourth time, in their effort to create a space where hundreds of visitors regardless of their age, gender, religious beliefs, and ethnic background can celebrate diversity and equality, discuss human rights, and of...
Empowering Georgian media to combat discrimination and promote equality
On 15-16 June 2024 Council of Europe and the United Nations Development Programme together with the Kingdom of Norway and in collaboration with the “Rule of Law Center” organised the training session aimed at enhancing media capacity to fight discrimination and promote equality. TV media...
Human Rights, Camera, Action! - Council of Europe launches photo and video competition for young Europeans
To celebrate its 75th anniversary and to raise awareness of the role and impact of the Council of Europe, the Deputy Secretary General, Bjørn Berge, has launched a photo and video competition entitled “Human Rights, Camera, Action!” aimed at young people, inviting them to use their smartphones...
Professional support of psychologists and social workers of Georgia’s criminal justice system through external supervision
A series of workshops was conducted between 12 April and 7 June 2024, aiming to provide professional support through external supervision to psychologists, social workers and their supervisors from the Special Penitentiary Service, the National Agency of Crime Prevention and Probation and the...
Modernization of electoral processes and standards of free and fair elections discussed during Georgian Central Election Commission’s study visit to the Council of Europe
On 3-4 June 2024, representatives of the Georgian Central Election Commission (CEC) visited the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, France to discuss the modernisation of electoral processes, associated challenges, and steps forward. Considering that the Reykjavik Declaration renewed the commitment...
Marking the International Children’s Day: addressing equality with Schoolchildren in Batumi and Ozurgeti
In view of celebrating the International Day for the Protection of Children, the Council of Europe Office in Georgia, in cooperation with the Office of Resource Officers of Educational Institutions, organised a series of intellectual activities for school students in the Guria and Adjara regions....
Georgian professionals learn about Italian experiences on rehabilitation services for juveniles and adolescents in the criminal justice context
The Pompidou Group, with the support of its Italian Presidency, organised a study visit for a Georgian delegation of criminal justice professionals involved in drug prevention on 29-31 May in Milan, ltaly. The visit focused on sharing Italian experiences with rehabilitation and resocialisation...
Workshop on preparing Alternative/Shadow reports under the reporting procedure of the European Social Charter
On May 29 and May 30, the Council of Europe Project "Further Enhancement of Social and Economic Rights in Georgia" held online workshops for the staff of the Public Defender’s office in Georgia, Georgian Trade Unions Confederation, Georgian Employers association and respective civil society...
Peer exchanges for inclusive and human rights-based local governance in Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine
29 May 2024, during the Open Gov Week, the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities organised an online discussion to share experiences, strategies, and challenges in promoting inclusivity and a human rights perspective within Open Government initiatives in the local authorities of Georgia, the...
Situation in Georgia: Statement by the Secretary General
Council of Europe Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić today made the following statement: “I strongly deplore today’s decision by the Parliament of Georgia to overrule the President’s veto and proceed with the final endorsement of the law “on transparency of foreign influence” in its...
PACE Georgia monitors urge authorities to repeal law on transparency of foreign influence
Following the publication of the Venice Commission’s urgent opinion on the law on transparency of foreign influence, the PACE co-rapporteurs for Georgia, Claude Kern (France, ALDE) and Edite Estrela (Portugal, SOC), have urged the Georgian authorities to repeal this law. “Our Georgian...
Georgia should repeal the Law on Transparency of Foreign Influence in its current form, says Venice Commission
In an urgent opinion published today, the Council of Europe’s Venice Commission strongly recommends repealing the Law of Georgia on Transparency of Foreign Influence in its current form, as its fundamental flaws will involve significant negative consequences for freedoms of association and...
Promoting European values with the Young European Ambassadors and Equality Ambassadors in Georgia
Representatives from the Council of Europe Office in Georgia and the Delegation of the European Union to Georgia co-hosted a meeting with Georgian Young European Ambassadors (YEAs). These YEAs had recently completed a series of online and in-person regional training sessions on promoting equality...