Rati Bregadze and Bjorn Berge discussed today the results of reforms of the justice and penitentiary systems.

The Minister of Justice noted the progress achieved by Georgia, which is demonstrated by the statistics of cases submitted to the European Court of Human Rights from Georgia. In particular, according to the data of January 2023, the European Court received 147 applications from Georgia, which represents a historical minimum. For comparison, by 2011, Strasbourg received 3045 cases against Georgia.

Special attention was paid to the legal status of prisoners. The Minister of Justice emphasized the fact that the systemic problem of inhuman treatment and torture has been completely eliminated in Georgian prisons, which is confirmed by a number of international authoritative organizations, including the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT). It was noted that since 2012, the European Court of Human Rights has not received any lawsuits from Georgian prisons.

The parties discussed the new penitentiary code, the Digital University, projects for rehabilitation and re-socialization of prisoners, the strategy of replacing large open penitentiary institutions with small-scale prisons, etc.

The importance of the implementation of decisions made by the Strasbourg Court in interstate cases was noted, according to which the responsibility for massive human rights violations during the August 2008 war rests with the Russian Federation.

The importance of effective cooperation with the Council of Europe in the process of Georgia's integration into the European Union was emphasized.

Deputy Minister of Justice, Beka Dzamashvili also attended the meeting.

Rati Bregadze and Jesper Moller discussed the reforms carried out in the direction of protection of children's rights in Georgia. The parties noted that as a result of the successful cooperation of the Ministry of Justice and UNICEF, today only 54 minors are serving their sentences in the penitentiary system of Georgia, While before 2012, their number exceeded 200.

The conversation also touched upon juvenile justice reform, diversion and mediation programs, activities of the juvenile referral center, protection of the rights of children living and working in the street, and other issues.

The Minister of Justice provided the UNICEF representative with information on the legal issues of young convicts, including access to education, which, among others, is provided by the innovative project Digital University; In addition, rehabilitation and re-socialization programs in penitentiary institutions were also discussed.

Rati Bregadze offered Jesper Moller to organize joint trainings on children's rights issues.

Deputy Minister of Justice Beka Dzamashvili also attended the meeting.

The possibility of holding the UN Public Services Forum in Georgia was discussed at the meeting held in the United States between Minister of Justice of Georgia, Rati Bregadze and the Deputy Secretary General of the United Nations. The United Nations Organization informed the Ministry of Justice of Georgia with an official letter confirming these prospects.

UN Deputy Secretary General, Li Junhua thanks the Ministry of Justice of Georgia for the support of public administration.

"We thank you for your support in strengthening public administration as an effective mechanism for sustainable development, and we look forward to working with the Government of Georgia to organize the 2026 Forum," states the letter.

Rati Bregadze met UN Deputy Secretary General, Li Junhua within the framework of his official visit to the United States of America in December 2023. The Minister of Justice of Georgia emphasized that fast, efficient and user-friendly public services are the calling card of the Ministry of Justice and the Government of Georgia; The agency is constantly improving its accessibility, including through the introduction of digital and innovative technologies.

From 800 to 1,000 representatives from different countries participate in the UN Public Service Forum every year, including government leaders, leading politicians and representatives of various sectors. Within the framework of the forum, participants discuss modern challenges, innovative practices and opportunities for strategic development in the direction of public services.

Rati Bregadze traditionally celebrated the arrival of 2024 together with those employees who celebrate the holiday in the working environment, away from family members.

On the first day of 2024, the Minister together with the Heads of the Special Penitentiary Service opened today the latest sports complex at the base of the Main Department of Escorts and Special Measures. The complex consists of a football field, a basketball field and a training area.

The Minister also congratulated the employees of the N8 penitentiary institution on the coming of the new year and thanked them for their work. Rati Bregadze noted that 2023 was a year of dealing with interesting challenges and positive results.

And the year 2024 will be a year of infrastructural upgrades and even more success for the country and every person in its service. The Minister expressed his belief that it will be possible to do even more with new energy and increased motivation from the new year.

The Ministry of Justice congratulates you on 2024.

At the session chaired by Deputy Minister of Justice, Beka Dzamashvili, the changes to be made in the regulations of the Coordination Council were discussed and approved.

In addition, information was presented on the efforts made in 2023 and the progress achieved within the framework of the 2023-2024 action plan for combatting human trafficking.

"Reforms implemented in the direction of the fight against trafficking made a significant contribution to the country's obtaining the status of a candidate country for EU membership. A month ago, the report issued by the European Commission positively mentions the progress achieved by Georgia in the fight against organized crime. In addition, according to the report of the US State Department, in the direction of combating the crime of trafficking in human beings, Georgia is at the highest level in the world - in the first basket. Out of 198 assessed states, only 38, including Georgia and 18 EU member states, have the highest rating," said Beka Dzamashvili.

At the meeting, special attention was also paid to the need to conduct a large-scale information campaign about the dangers of trafficking. According to the Council's decision, during 2024, awareness-raising activities with different target audiences will be held intensively, the coordination and performance of which will be monitored by the Council.

The session of the Inter-agency Council for Combatting Trafficking was held at the Ministry of Justice and was attended by representatives of member agencies, the Parliament of Georgia, non-governmental and international organizations, the Office of the Public Defender and the US Embassy in Georgia.

The Session participants adopted today the 2024 Action Plan of the 2021-2030 Migration Strategy; The Head of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Georgia made a report on the activity areas of the UN and IOM both globally and in relation to Georgia by 2024; as well as on integration issues.

The session was attended by the representatives of partner international and non-governmental organizations, as well as the office of the Public Defender, and with the member state agencies of the Commission.

The State Commission on Migration Issues is a deliberative body of the government that deliberates and makes decisions on various topical issues related to migration management.

The commission, which unites 9 state agencies, is chaired by the Ministry of Justice, and co-chaired by the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

The Ministry of Justice will finance the 17 best projects identified within the grant program.

Agreements with winning organizations and individuals were signed today.

The purpose of the competition is to strengthen the priority directions of the Ministry of Justice and to increase the participation and involvement of civil society throughout the system.

On October 20, the Ministry of Justice announced the grant program aimed at protection and strengthening of human rights, introducing innovative services and strengthening legal security. In total, 62 project applications have been submitted within the framework of the competition.

Minister of Justice, Rati Bregadze and Deputies, Tornike Cheishvili and Erekle Gvinianidze attended the event.

The new Penitentiary Code improves the working conditions of the employees of the special penitentiary service and the legal status of persons in penitentiary institutions - it sets even higher standards for the protection of the rights of convicts and accused persons. In particular:

The accused person is granted the right to a long appointment; He will also have the opportunity to participate in various support programs;

The convict placed in a prison of special risk is granted the right of video dating;

The convict is given the opportunity to replace the date with another form of communication with the outside world (short date - video date, long date - short date, video date or phone conversation, family date - short date, video date or phone conversation);

All types of dating are completely free;

The currently set maximum number and duration of phone calls will be converted to a minimum number/duration. The Minister will be authorized to increase the number and duration of telephone conversations;

In the presence of special circumstances (birthday of a family member, birth of a child, etc.), the accused and convicted person may be granted the right to additional telephone conversation;

Accused and convicted family members placed in a penitentiary institution are granted the right to talk to each other by telephone. Correspondence between them will also be allowed;

All convicts are given the right to receive higher education;

The living conditions of accused and convicted persons are equalized;

It will also be possible to place a female convict in the prison for preparation for release. In this way, the rights of the convicted person placed in this institution will be extended to them;

All units of the penitentiary service are given a special status, which equalizes and improves the conditions of employees;

In addition to the official and rank salary, the employees will receive a supplement for years of service, and in the presence of the prerequisites - also state compensation.

The new Penitentiary Code takes into account the recommendations of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT), as well as the Public Defender of Georgia.

Deputy Minister of Justice, Tornike Cheishvili presented the amendments to the Parliament and the legislative body adopted them with 82 votes.

Along with the Tornike Cheishvili, Code, the Parliament of Georgia adopted a legislative package consisting of 21 draft laws.