On January 16, 2020, Tamta Chechelashvili, a representatve of the Western Georgia Division of the Public Defender's Office, held an informational meeting with internally displaced persons living in the city of Kutaisi (21 and 26 Nikea). The Public Defender’s representative introduced the mandate of the Public Defender to the IDPs, as well as the Public Defender's reports on the challenges faced by IDPs. She spoke about the long-term resettlement of IDPs, difficult living conditions in the former compact resettlement facilities, access to livelihoods and integration, as well as the ways of solving the mentioned problems and the recommendations of the Public Defender.

The IDPs spoke about their difficult living conditions and expressed dissatisfaction over the issue of resettlement. In particular, they believe that the allocation of living spaces is not done fairly and is delayed. The IDPs living on 21 Nikea pointed to a poorly rehabilitated area, where the living space, yard and environment are inadequate.

On January 17, at the meeting held with persons with disabilities and their representatives at the rehabilitation center of the Coalition for Independent Life, the Public Defender’s representative spoke about the Public Defender’s Office as a body promoting, protecting and monitoring the implementation of the United Nations Convention (2006), the role and activities of the Consultative Council and the Department of Persons with Disabilities of the Public Defender’s Office. She highlighted the main cause of the problems encountered by persons with disabilities - the lack of a mechanism responsible for coordinating the implementation of the Convention, as well as gaps in the process of inclusive education, extremely low rate of employment of persons with disabilities, problem of access to health care services, etc.

Participants of the meeting discussed the existing challenges and focused on the measures to be taken by the State to address the challenges.