Justice Minister, PACE Co-rapporteurs discuss ongoing reforms
The legislative changes, introduced in the Georgian law last year to meet the European Union’s conditions for granting Georgia its membership candidate status, were also emphasised, which aimed to strengthen the enforcement of the Court’s judgements at the national level. Photo via Justice Ministry
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The ongoing reforms within the Georgian Justice Ministry were discussed on Tuesday by Justice Minister Rati Bregadze and Co-rapporteurs of the Monitoring Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.
At the meeting, Bregadze emphasised the importance of cooperation with the PACE Monitoring Committee for the promotion of the rule of law and human rights and noted the state body continued to work to strengthen human rights protection in the country, highlighting the development of the new penitentiary law and strategy, the Justice Ministry said.
The sides reviewed the victories achieved by Georgia in the European Court of Human Rights and highlighted the “sharp decrease” in complaints against the country as a result of the reforms implemented by the Georgian Government and the strengthening of citizens' trust in domestic courts. It was emphasised that ten years ago the ECHR had been examining 3,000 cases against the country, while this year - only 147.
The legislative changes, introduced in the Georgian law last year to meet the European Union’s conditions for granting Georgia its membership candidate status, were also emphasised, which aimed to strengthen the enforcement of the Court’s judgements at the national level.
Bregadze briefed the Co-rapporteurs on the new resocialization and rehabilitation programmes for prisoners, which have been “actively” underway, and highlighted the creation of a digital university for convicts, as well as expanding the employment opportunities for them and developing a sports management strategy.
The Minister also said the new penitentiary facility of the “highest European standards” would be opened at the end of Spring in the small town of Laituri in Georgia's west, with an aim to solve the problem of prison overcrowding.
A penitentiary facility of the highest European standards will be opened in 2023 in the small town of Laituri in Georgia’s west, designed for about 700 prisoners and tailored to the needs of convicts and facility staff, the Justice Ministry said on Thursday.
Georgian Justice Minister Rati Bregadze on Friday highlighted the European Court of Human Rights had not received a “single complaint” about conditions in the Georgian penitentiary system since 2012, when the ruling Georgian Dream party came into power.
A digital learning platform Digital University for convicts in penitentiary institutions has been launched for the first time in Georgia, allowing convicted students to remotely receive a comprehensive higher education, attend lectures online and have direct, interactive communication with lecturers, the justice ministry announced on Saturday.
Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden will visit Georgia from Wednesday to Thursday, meeting Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili and the European Union Monitoring Mission in the country, the Swedish Embassy has said.
The cooperation between Georgia and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and the agenda of democratic reforms carried out in the country were discussed on Tuesday in a meeting between the Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili and Co-rapporteurs of the PACE Monitoring Committee.
The process of fulfilling the European Union conditions for granting Georgia its membership candidate status was discussed on Wednesday by members of the Parliamentary faction of the ruling Georgian Dream party and the delegation of the Monitoring Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.
Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili on Wednesday received the Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden at the Presidential Palace in Tbilisi.
The co-rapporteurs of the Monitoring Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe praised “many reforms” implemented by Georgia since joining the Council and “good progress” made by the country to bring democratic and rule of law institutions in line with European standards, Imedi channel said on Tuesday.