Georgia’s Minister of Justice, Paata Salia, met with Croatia’s Minister of Justice, Public Administration and Digital Transformation, Damir Habijan, on the sidelines of the OECD Global Forum in Istanbul.

The discussions focused on the importance of digital transformation and harnessing the potential of artificial intelligence to improve the efficiency and accessibility of justice systems and strengthen the rule of law.

The meeting highlighted the effective cooperation between the justice ministries of the two countries in areas including the rehabilitation and social reintegration of convicted persons and probationers, the effective management of the penitentiary system, and the harmonization of national legislation with the European Union’s legal framework.

Paata Salia briefed his Croatian counterpart on the priorities of Georgia’s Ministry of Justice, including upholding the rule of law and further improving human rights protection standards. The ministers also discussed successful reforms implemented in Georgia’s penitentiary system.

The Georgian Justice Minister also outlined the reforms undertaken in Georgia to advance digital transformation and introduce innovative technologies. He emphasized that the ultimate goal of digital transformation is to make citizens’ interactions with public institutions simpler and more convenient by providing fast and accessible services.

The meeting was also attended by Bekа Dzamashvili, First Deputy Minister of Justice of Georgia, and Aleksandre Jishkariani, Consul General of Georgia in Istanbul.

Paata Salia, Georgia’s Minister of Justice, took part in the Global Forum currently underway in Istanbul, jointly organized by the Government of Turkey and the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Addressing the forum, the Minister shared Georgia’s successful experience in adopting new technologies, emphasizing their particular importance in the justice sector, where efficiency and accessibility must go hand in hand with transparency and the rule of law.

Paata Salia noted that the ultimate goal of digital transformation is to simplify interactions between citizens and public institutions by providing faster, more accessible, and user-oriented services.

“In recent years, Georgia has made significant progress in modernizing public services. Notable examples include Public Service Hall, which brings together nearly 600 public and private services under one roof; MY.GOV.GE, the unified portal for electronic services; the Smart Contract system, which enables real estate transactions and property registration to be completed remotely; and Digital University, which provides access to educational services for convicted persons,” Paata Salia stated.

The Minister also addressed the challenges that arise alongside technological progress.

“In 2024, we signed the Council of Europe Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence and Human Rights, Democracy and the Rule of Law. Georgia will continue to advance digital governance and promote the responsible use of new technologies in the justice sector, guided by citizens’ needs and the principles of human rights protection,” Paata Salia noted.

The Global Forum brings together senior representatives of the executive and judicial branches of government from OECD member countries. The Georgian delegation also includes First Deputy Minister of Justice Beka Dzamashvili and Alexander Jishkariani, Consul General of Georgia in Istanbul.