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Tuesday, 10 October, 2023
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Ministry of Justice of Georgia Hosts Representatives of the UN Subcommittee on the Prevention of Torture

Deputy Minister of Justice, Beka Dzamashvili held a meeting today with the delegation of the United Nations Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (SPT).

The conversation touched on the measures implemented and planned by the Ministry of Justice and the Special Penitentiary Service in the direction of protecting the rights of prisoners and improving their conditions. Attention was focused on issues such as: the new Penal Code, re-socialization and rehabilitation programs available for prisoners, employment opportunities, construction of new small-scale institutions, etc.

The clearest indicator of the effectiveness of the already implemented reforms is the statistics of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), according to which, after 2012, the European Court has not received any cases sent from the Georgian penitentiary system, which confirms the high standard of protection of prisoners' rights in the country. In addition, according to official statistics, the total number of cases against Georgia in the European Court has decreased dramatically. In particular, by 2011, there were 3045 cases filed against Georgia in the proceedings of the European Court of Human Rights. For comparison, as of January 2023, this number has decreased to 147, which is 20 times less than the data of 2011.

According to the Deputy Minister, the reform of the penitentiary system will be actively continued in accordance with the 10-year strategy of the Ministry of Justice, within which the recommendations of the SPT will be taken into account.

The meeting was also attended by the representatives of the relevant departments of the Ministry of Justice and the Special Penitentiary Service.

It should be noted that the SPT delegation is visiting Georgia for the first time. The main function of the sub-committee, consisting of independent and impartial experts, is to introduce proactive and sustainable approaches to the prevention of torture and ill-treatment in UN member states. The sub-committee will also meet with other government agencies, the Public Defender's Office and representatives of the National Prevention Mechanism. Within the scope of the visit, SPT also visits penal institutions.

After the visit, the SPT will develop a report and issue recommendations regarding the treatment and protection of persons deprived of their liberty in relation to Georgia.

The visit of the delegation started today and will end on October 13.

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The Minister of Justice Participates in the Opening of an Event Dedicated to Lawyers’ Day

Minister of Justice of Georgia Paata Salia attended an international conference marking the anniversary of the Georgian Bar Association. The main theme of the event was the development of the legal profession in the age of artificial intelligence.

The Minister of Justice addressed the conference participants. Paata Salia noted that a significant part of his life had been connected with the legal profession, which continues to shape his attitude towards those working in this field.

“At the heart of a lawyer’s work is always a person, with their rights, problems and expectations of justice. Every case handled with a high degree of professionalism and integrity strengthens the belief that individuals can defend their rights and that their voices will be duly heard in the administration of justice,” the Minister of Justice stated.

Paata Salia also spoke about the importance of cooperation between the Ministry of Justice and the legal community. He noted that quality and predictable legislation, legal certainty and access to legal assistance were areas in which taking into account the practical experience of legal professionals was of paramount importance.

“The Ministry of Justice will continue its close cooperation with the Association. This relationship should be based on mutual respect for each other’s roles and independence, open exchange of views and consistent work on issues of common interest. ... The results of our joint efforts should be felt by individuals through better protection of their rights,” Paata Salia noted.

The event was attended by members of Georgia’s legislative and executive branches, as well as representatives of international organizations and heads of bar associations from partner countries.

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Deputy Minister of Justice of Georgia Lana Morgoshia Holds Meetings with Foreign Counterparts on the Sidelines of UN Summit

Deputy Minister of Justice of Georgia Lana Morgoshia held meetings with her foreign counterparts on the sidelines of the UN Public Administration Innovation Summit, which brought together high-level delegations from more than 100 countries around the world.

During her meeting with Rolf Alter, a member of the UN Committee of Experts on Public Administration, Deputy Minister Morgoshia reaffirmed Georgia’s commitment to the UN Sustainable Development Principles. She noted that strengthening cooperation with the UN Committee of Experts and partner countries is an important mechanism for building modern and inclusive public institutions.

In her meeting with Paraskevi Charalampogiani, Deputy Minister of the Interior of Greece, Lana Morgoshia discussed digital transformation and reforms aimed at the responsible use of artificial intelligence. Particular attention was paid to the successful innovations introduced by the Ministry of Justice of Georgia, which have made public services more accessible to citizens.

The meeting with Jan Gajdos, Secretary General of the Ministry of Investments, Regional Development and Informatization of the Slovak Republic, focused on deepening bilateral cooperation in institutional modernization and digital governance. The discussions covered Georgia’s innovative initiatives, including Public Service Halls, the Mobile Public Service Hall, the Unified Service Portal, and the innovative “Smart Contract” service.

The meetings were attended by Vakhtang Zhvania, Chairman of the Public Service Hall, senior representatives of the Public Service Hall and the Public Service Development Agency, as well as Giorgi Zakharashvili, Ambassador of Georgia to the Republic of Azerbaijan.