Rati Bregadze and Maria Peichinovich-Burich Discuss Deepening Cooperation between Ministry of Justice and Council of Europe
By Liza Mchedlidze
Monday, July 3, 2023
At the meeting, the Minister of Justice of Georgia, Rati Bregadze, and the Secretary-General of the Council of Europe, Maria Peichinovich-Burich, discussed the deepening of cooperation between the Ministry of Justice and the Council of Europe.
According to the Ministry of Justice, the meeting acknowledged Georgia's progress in the protection of human rights and the strengthening of the rule of law, as reflected in the conclusions and reports of the Council of Europe bodies.
"The discussion touched upon successful reforms carried out in the penitentiary system. These reforms have eliminated the practice of torture and inhumane treatment in prisons, which had been repeatedly criticized by the Strasbourg Court and the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) of the Council of Europe until 2012.
Prisoners now have access to higher education and opportunities to acquire demanding professions. They receive comprehensive medical services, participate in sports competitions, can utilize the services of the House of Justice within penitentiary institutions, and secure employment and income.
The legislative changes implemented in 2022 received positive evaluations. These changes enable Georgian courts to actively apply precedents set by the Strasbourg Court, thus bringing the Georgian justice system closer to the established standards of human rights protection by the European Court.
Attention was also focused on the importance of enforcing interstate disputes won by Georgia against Russia, and the Secretary-General of the Council of Europe pledged full support to Georgia throughout this process," the statement reads.
The information emphasized that the Ministry of Justice will maintain its close collaboration with European institutions in order to further enhance human rights and reinforce the rule of law.
