Deputy Public Defender Ekaterine Skhiladze attended a consultative meeting with Vitit Muntarbhorn, Independent Expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, in Geneva, on January 25, 2017.

The independent expert’s mandate and basic activities were discussed at the meeting. The attendees had the opportunity to provide recommendations about the future activities of the Independent Expert and opportunities of cooperation with him.

Before the meeting, the Deputy Public Defender introduced a written opinion to the Independent Expert, which reviews the results of the Public Defender’s activities in the field of discrimination, the situation of violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity and the steps to be taken in the future.

It should be noted that the Independent Expert’s position was created by the UN Human Rights Council in 2016. The Expert annually submits a report to the Human Rights Council about the main activities, trends and efforts. At the same time, he pays visits to countries, studies individual cases, raises public awareness and coordinates responses to the alleged cases of violence.