Rule of law

The Mission's rule of law activities focused on strengthening state structures and procedures guaranteeing justice, including the legal system in general, legislative developments and judiciary independence. It also helped to ensure that the law-making process is transparent, recognized as legitimate and implemented fairly and consistently.

The Mission promoted the ongoing reforms of the legal system in Georgia. This included:

Assisting the Ministry of Justice in implementing civil registry reform

A project was set up to support the Georgian authorities in setting up a unified, centralized and multifunctional civil registration system to maintain the population information necessary for providing public services. It was implemented in co-operation with USAID, the Department for International Development of the United Kingdom and the Governments of Finland, Ireland, France, the United States, Turkey, Norway and Austria.

Facilitating the development of a professional judiciary and capacity-building of judge assistants

Through the Mission's support, the Judicial Training Centre, which later became the High School of Justice, organized professional training in civil, criminal and administrative law for the assistants of judges from the newly established Tbilisi City Court and Appellate Court. Training was offered to defence lawyers on legislative reform, including on the new Criminal Procedural Code and jury trials.

Assisting the Georgian Government to promote effective functioning of the probation and penitentiary system

The Mission supported the Ministry of Justice, the Central Penitentiary Administration, the Probation Department and the Penitentiary and Probation Training Centre to further develop and implement the relevant legislative framework. It also helped these bodies to provide professional training for the penitentiary staff and probation officers throughout Georgia.

Promoting transparency of the legislative process through setting up public control mechanisms and involving civil society at earlier stages of law-making

The Mission supported the local non-governmental organization (NGO) Civil Society Institute (CSI) in obtaining and providing expert opinion on draft laws, and disseminating relevant public material through electronic newsletters. In certain cases the CSI experts also assisted the Georgian authorities in developing relevant concept papers and draft laws.

Strengthening the capacity of public notaries

The Mission assisted the Ministry of Justice of Georgia in organizing public notaries' qualification examinations. The candidates who passed the examination successfully were given an opportunity to participate in a further competitive selection process for vacant public notary positions.

Promoting the development of the bar's capacity and broadening access to legal aid in Eastern Georgia

The Mission supported a centre for the local NGO Protection of Constitutional Rights (CPCR) to help provide free legal aid for the residents of Kakheti and Shida Kartli. The OSCE also helped CPCR organize legal clinic education programmes for law students at Telavi and Gori state universities.

Facilitating administrative and legal reforms

The Mission facilitated the implementation of administrative and legal reforms of the Government of the Autonomous Republic of Adjara.