Georgia launches distance learning programme for policemen

Georgian Police Academy with the support of the Council of Europe Office in Georgia is developing a distance-learning programme which will be used to train new police recruits.

It will first be piloted with temporary staff in detention facilities.

The programme aims to train staff in legal matters, human rights issues and healthcare standards, as well as practical skills to aid them in the fulfillment of their duties.

The programme follows in the wake of the the EU/CoE Joint Programme on "Human rights and healthcare in prisons and other closed institutions”, that ended last February.

Per CoE’s official webpage, "the project assists the Georgian authorities in consolidating results achieved in previous years in the areas of provision of healthcare services in prisons and in police detention facilities, as well as in addressing remaining challenges in the protection of human rights of people deprived of their liberty in prisons, police and other closed institutions”.

The 18-month project is expected to be complete by 31 August 2017. The overall project budget is EUR 745,000 and is funded by the European Union, co-funded by the Council of Europe under the auspices of the EU/CoE Programmatic Co-operation Framework in the Eastern Partnership countries.