Date: 22 June 2007
Place: Tbilisi, Georgia
Partners: Penal Reform International's Tbilisi Regional Office Georgian Branch of Global Initiative on Psychiatry Centre for the Protection of Constitutional RightsOrganisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights Purpose: To assess Georgia’s preparedness to implement the Optional Protocol to the UN Convention against Torture (OPCAT).
Activities: A round-table event entitled 'Is Georgia ready for the OPCAT?' was held in the Georgian capital, Tbilisi, on 22 June 2007 to ascertain whether Georgia is fully prepared to implement the OPCAT at the national level. Although the Georgian authorities have been repeatedly asked to spell out the steps they have taken to establish a national visiting mechanism, it was immediately apparent during the event that much has still to be done to put in place a national preventive mechanism. In contrast, Georgian civil society has clearly elaborated its vision of such a body.
Outcome: The round-table highlighted the pressing need for the Georgian authorities to prioritize the issue of effectively implementing the OPCAT. Although the government acceded to the instrument as far back as August 2005, little has been done in practice to make the OPCAT a reality in the country. Follow-up: The round-table is part of a three-year European Commission-funded project to promote independent detention monitoring in Georgia. The partners will continue to monitor the implementation of the OPCAT. Sponsors: European CommissionMinistry of Foreign
Affairs of the Netherlands
Documents: Draft Agenda
Contact Person: Matthew Pringle, Europe & Central Asia Programme Officer