On December 4, 2014, Head of the Department of Equality of the Public Defender of Georgia Maka Gioshvili took part in the annual general meeting of European Network of Equality Bodies (EQUINET) in the status of an observer. The meeting took place in Brussels.

Among issues discussed at the meeting were strategic plans of the network, latest European anti-discrimination legislation and ways of its implementation, offering opinions to the European Court of Human Rights as Amicus Curiae. During the meeting they also discussed prospects of the Public Defender’s Office of Georgia as a full member of the network.

According to the Law of Georgia “On elimination of all forms of discrimination”, the Public Defender of Georgia was determined as the agency responsible for conduction of monitoring of elimination of discrimination and provision of equality. For realization of this function the Department of Equality was formed at the Public Defender’s Office which practically from the first day of its formation became a member with an Observer status of the European Network of Equality Bodies.

Formation of the network will assist 41 national bodies in 31 countries to realize elimination of discrimination. Its goal is to strengthen strategic competencies and professional human resources, highlighting, examination and sharing of successful practices of various equality bodies, promotion of implementation of equal treatment legislation on the European level.

The experience of the network will support the Public Defender in effective realization of provision of equality.