2020-02-18
Head of the Administration of the Georgian Government Natia Mezvrishvili held a meeting today with Council of Europe Human Rights Commissioner Dunja Mijatović.
The meeting at the Council of Europe emphasized the Georgian Government's recent steps toward strengthening national human rights mechanisms. Among others, special attention was paid to the updated structure and priority directions of the Interagency Human Rights Council. According to Natia Mezvrishvili, the council under the Prime Minister's leadership has defined gender equality, children's rights, antidiscrimination policy, and the rights of persons with limited abilities as the key priorities for 2020.
The Head of the Administration of the Government pointed out that, in 2020, the Government of Georgia commences work on a long-term human rights strategy, and that cooperation and continuous communication with the civil sector and international organizations in this process is the Government's important task.
In addition, the meeting focused on the work of the State Inspector's Office, personal data protection, implemented and planned reforms seeking to ensure objective and effective investigation of offenses committed by law enforcement officers, and the progress achieved by the Human Rights Department of the Interior Ministry. The parties discussed the effectiveness of human rights mechanisms in penitentiary and pretrial detention facilities, along with current challenges and plans for the future.
The Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights reaffirmed commitment to continuing active cooperation with Georgia.
The meeting was attended by Deputy Interior Minister Nino Tsatsiashvili, the Prime Minister's Human Rights and Gender Equality Adviser Lela Akiashvili, and representatives of the Justice Ministry.