News
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Georgia’s law on transparency of foreign influence is ‘incompatible with European standards’ and should be repealed without delay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...
Call for Tender - Elaborating Behavioural Change Strategies for Discrimination Prevention - DEADLINE EXTENDED
The Council of Europe projects ”Enhancing Equality and Non-Discrimination in Georgia” and ”Combating Hate Speech in Georgia” have launched a call to establish a pool of consultants on elaborating Behavioural Change Strategies for Discrimination Prevention. For detailed information about the...
New Georgian legislation on transparency of Foreign Influence does not conform to European and international standards, says Expert Council on NGO law
The Expert Council on NGO law, a body of the Conference of International non-governmental organisations of the Council of Europe, released today an opinion on Georgia’s law on transparency of foreign Influence which was adopted on 14 May at the conclusion of its third reading. In the 25 pages...
Call for tender to establish a pool of local consultants - DEADLINE EXTENDED
The Council of Europe project ”Reinforcing gender equality and implementing GREVIO recommendations to combat violence against women and domestic violence in Georgia” have launched a call to establish a pool of local consultants. For detailed information about the tender procedures, please refer...
Congress President expresses deep concern about the draft law in Georgia
The President of the Congress of Local and regional Authorities, Marc Cools, made the following statement today: “I share deep concern expressed by the Council of Europe’s Secretary General regarding the draft law on ‘transparency of foreign influence’, adopted by the Georgian Parliament at third...
Situation in Georgia - Statement by the Secretary General
Council of Europe Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić today made the following statement: “The adoption at third reading of the draft law ‘on transparency of foreign influence’ by the Parliament of Georgia, without waiting for the opinion of the Venice Commission, is very disappointing and...
PACE President condemns violence against politicians, civil society activists, media representatives and peaceful protesters
Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) President Theodoros Rousopoulos strongly condemned the attacks on civil society activists, media representatives and members of the opposition, as well as the use of disproportionate force by the police against peaceful demonstrators who oppose the...
Call for tender - local consultants for awareness-raising and communication activities
The Council of Europe project ”Reinforcing gender equality and implementing GREVIO recommendations to combat violence against women and domestic violence in Georgia” has launched a call to establish a pool of local consultants for awareness-raising and communication activities. For detailed...
Council of Europe anti-money laundering body: Georgia strengthened preventive measures applicable to politically exposed persons, further progress needed
Georgia has improved its measures for tackling money laundering and terrorist financing, concludes MONEYVAL in a follow-up report released today. The report found Georgia to have improved its compliance with the Financial Action Task Force’s Recommendation 12 (politically exposed persons)....
Situation in Georgia: Statement by the Secretary General
Council of Europe Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić today made the following statement: “I am deeply concerned by the developments unfolding in Georgia and regret Parliament’s adoption in second reading of the draft law ‘on transparency of foreign influence’, despite calls by Georgia’s...
Call for tender - Provision of research services
The Council of Europe projects " Enhancing Human Rights Compliant Approach in Law Enforcement Institutions in Georgia” have launched a call to select a provider for the provision of Research services to conduct a Public Opinion Survey about the Special Investigation Service. The detailed...
Congress launches a curriculum on human rights and anti-discrimination for local authorities in Georgia
The curriculum on human rights and anti-discrimination was launched in Georgia to equip local authorities with the knowledge, skills, and perspectives that are essential for advancing a human-rights based local democracy. Meeting in Tbilisi on 26 April 2024, the Forum of Exchange on Human Rights...
The European Union and the Council of Europe continue supporting domestic reforms in Georgia through the Partnership for Good Governance
The European Union and the Council of Europe met with representatives from national authorities and beneficiary institutions during the Local Steering Committee of the Partnership for Good Governance. Participants took stock of the programme results achieved in 2023. They exchanged views on...
Cooperation continues on further enhancement of social rights protection in Georgia
In 2005, Georgia ratified 63 out of 98 paragraphs of the European Social Charter, showing commitment towards improving the well-being and living standards of its citizens. However, 35 key provisions, such as safe working conditions and fair renumeration are still awaiting ratification. On 23-24...
France makes a voluntary contribution to Council of Europe Action Plan for Georgia 2024-2027
Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić has met the French Minister Delegate for Europe Jean-Noël Barrot. The meeting focused on current global challenges for democracy, human rights, and the rule of law. Marija Pejčinović Burić and Jean-Noël Barrot exchanged views mainly on the finalisation of...
Workshop on anti-money laundering and countering financing of terrorism risk-based supervision of non-financial sector in Georgia
The Council of Europe continues to support the Ministry of Justice and the Georgian Bar Association in improving risk-based supervision of non-financial sector (designated non-financial businesses and professions) in anti-money laundering (AML) and countering terrorist financing (CFT). A ...
PACE President asks the Venice Commission for an opinion on the draft law on Transparency of Foreign Influence
The President of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (PACE), Theodoros Rousopoulos, yesterday requested the European Commission for Democracy through Law (Venice Commission) for an urgent opinion on the compliance with Council of Europe standards of the Georgian draft law on Transparency...
Concerns about the compatibility of the draft law “On transparency of foreign influence” with the rights to freedom of association and expression
In a letter addressed to the Chairman of the Parliament of Georgia published today, Commissioner O’Flaherty expresses concerns about the compatibility of the draft law “On transparency of foreign influence” with the human rights standards in the field of freedom of association and expression, and...
Vacancy notice: Senior Project Officer
The Council of Europe Office in Georgia is announcing a vacancy for the positions of a Senior Project Officer for the Project "Combating Violence Against Children in Georgia." Deadline for applications is 29 April 2024 (midnight Central European Time). You may apply in English or French using...
Judgment in an inter-State case
In the case of Georgia v. Russia (IV) the European Court of Human Rights held that there had been several violations of the Convention. The case concerned the human-rights toll caused by the hardening of the administrative boundary lines after the armed conflict between Georgia and Russia in...
PACE co-rapporteurs express their deep concern at the reintroduction of the draft law on 'Transparency of Foreign Influence'
The PACE monitoring co-rapporteurs for Georgia, Claude Kern (France, ALDE) and Edite Estrela (Portugal, SOC), today expressed their deep concern at the reintroduction of the draft law on “Transparency of Foreign Influence” by the Georgian ruling party. “The reintroduction of this so-called...
Statement by the Secretary General
Draft legislation on “transparency of foreign influence” in the Parliament of Georgia
Council of Europe Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić today made the following statement: “I am concerned with the revival of the draft legislation on “transparency of foreign influence” in the Parliament of Georgia. “Last year, alongside many friends of Georgia, I welcomed the withdrawal...
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