The Digital University has been recognized as one of the top three innovative projects by the European Organization of Prison and Penitentiary Systems (Europris). Out of 37 projects submitted by European countries, the Digital University stood out in the annual Europris award.

This prestigious recognition was announced at the 13th annual meeting of Europris, held on June 26 in Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria. The event was attended by Georgian officials, including Deputy Minister of Justice Beka Dzamashvili, Head of Special Penitentiary Service Nika Tshvarashvili, and Deputy Director of the Training Center of Justice Vakhtang Asanidze, along with representatives from penitentiary institutions of Europris member countries.

The success of the Digital University highlights the significant progress in Georgia's penitentiary system. Previously plagued by systemic human rights violations until 2012, the system is now regarded as exemplary across Europe by international institutions.

Launched in 2022, the Digital University project in Georgian penitentiary institutions provides convicts with access to education. It enables them to participate remotely in university courses, attend online lectures, and engage in direct, interactive communication with lecturers.

At the Europris meeting, plans for the annual conference of the European Association of Training Centers of the Penitentiary System (EPTA) were also discussed. This event is scheduled for September 11-13, 2024, and will be hosted in Tbilisi, under the chairmanship of the Georgian Training Center of Justice.

At the end of the event, a panel discussion featured the participation of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, the Minister of Internal Affairs and Security of the Republic of Korea, and ministers and deputies from various countries.

During the panel discussion, the First Deputy Minister of Justice, Tamar Tkeshelashvili, spoke about the reforms carried out in public administration and gender equality in Georgia. She emphasized the importance of increasing the role of women in the public sector, their involvement in decision-making processes, and Georgia's achievements in this area.

"Empowerment of women is one of the main priorities of the Government of Georgia. As a result of the implemented reforms, 47% of those employed in managerial positions in the public service are women. Additionally, among the employees in the Ministry of Justice, 59% of those in managerial positions are women. The state continues to strengthen the role of women in public service, monitor relevant governmental processes, and promote gender mainstreaming through parliamentary councils," noted Tamar Tkeshelashvili.

The International Public Service Forum was held over three days. The purpose of the forum was to share best practices regarding achievements, challenges, and future prospects in public administration and public service delivery.

The UN Public Services Forum will be held in Georgia in 2026, hosted by the Ministry of Justice.

The delegation of the Ministry of Justice of Georgia continues its participation in the World Public Service Forum.

At the forum, Head of the International Relations Division of the Department of International Relations and Legal Cooperation at the Ministry of Justice of Georgia, Mariam Bregadze highlighted the roles and opportunities for young civil servants in the public service sector.

Thematic sessions delved into the ongoing public administration reform in Georgia and the 2022-2025 Public Services Development Strategy. This strategy, the first of its kind, was created and approved by the government as a unified plan for the development of public services.

The goal of the Public Services Development Strategy is to introduce new standards for customer-oriented service creation, delivery, quality assurance, and evaluation.

Approximately 1,200 representatives from 50 countries are attending the World Public Service Forum, which concludes tomorrow.

Today, the US State Department published its annual report on human trafficking, recognizing Georgia as a top performer in anti-trafficking measures among 186 countries for the ninth consecutive year. Georgia is once again included in the "Tier 1" category, a distinction held by only 33 countries this year.

Georgia stands out as the only country in its region and among EU membership candidates to achieve this highest rating from the US State Department. Notably, 12 EU member states did not make it to Tier 1.

Georgia’s robust efforts in combating human trafficking play a crucial role in its European Union integration process, fostering a safe and reliable environment for fighting transnational organized crime.

The US State Department’s report highlights Georgia's comprehensive adherence to anti-trafficking standards. The country maintains strong, sustainable, consistent, and coordinated measures, which have earned it the top rating.

The report commends the Georgian government’s intensified efforts across all aspects of combating human trafficking, including crime prevention, criminal detection, prosecution, and victim protection. Key positive assessments include:

- A working group led by the Ministry of Justice of Georgia, focusing on an annual large-scale information campaign about the risks of human trafficking and protective measures.

• Proactive measures to detect crimes and increase criminal prosecutions.
• Expansion of available shelters for trafficking victims.
• Enhancement of labor migration legislation to prevent human trafficking crimes.

Georgia's leading position and progress in the US State Department's report reflect the effective efforts of the Interagency Coordination Council, which implements anti-trafficking measures.

The council is headed by the Minister of Justice of Georgia and includes representatives from all relevant state agencies, the Office of the Public Defender, and various non-governmental and international organizations.