2020-02-19
A Georgian Delegation, led by Head of the Government Administration Natia Mezvrishvili, held a two-day visit to Strasbourg where, on February 17-18, meetings were held with senior Council of Europe officials.
The visit sought to exchange information on Georgia's progress, challenges, and further cooperation on bolstering human rights, the rule of law, and democratic governance.
Under the two-day visit, the Georgian delegation held meetings with the Commissioner for Human Rights, Director General of Human Rights and Rule of Law, Head of the Department for the Execution of Judgments of the European Court of Human rights, Secretary of the Venice Commission, and Heads of the Criminal Law and Counter-Terrorism Divisions. The delegation also held a meeting with the Head of the Democracy and Governance Department, Head of the Information Society and Action against Crime Directorate, Chairperson of the Gender Equality Commission, and representatives of the Committee for the Prevention of Torture and the Directorate of Anti-Discrimination.
The delegation introduced the Council of Europe's representatives to the country's implemented and ongoing reforms, including steps taken toward improving human rights coordination mechanisms. Bilateral meetings also discussed activities aiming to enhance the quality of respect for human rights in law enforcement agencies and penitentiaries, also the Interior Ministry's progress toward human rights and investigation quality monitoring, the work of the State Inspector's Service, and the state of affairs on implementing the Venice Commission's recommendations on improving the Criminal Procedure Code.
On November 27, 2019, Georgia assumed Presidency of the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers. In the six months of its presidency, Georgia will work in four priority directions: human rights and environmental protection, civic engagement in decision-making, child-friendly justice: European restorative justice experience, and democratic empowerment with engagement from education, culture, and youth.