On May 10-11, 2023, Gvantsa Davitashvili and Giorgi Kvirikashvili, representatives of the Department of Human Rights Education of the Public Defender’s Office, together with Andranik Baghdasarian, an employee of the East Georgia Division of the Office, held meetings in Akhaltsikhe with the administration, academic staff and students of law and other programs of Samtskhe-Javakheti State University, as well as students of local public schools.

During discussion with the university's administration and academic staff, representatives of the Office outlined the ways of implementation of the recommendations issued by the Public Defender relating to the education of human rights law within the framework of undergraduate law programmes. The conversation touched upon the methodological issues of human rights education, the importance of updating the syllabi with literature compatible with human rights, and the need to cooperate with the Public Defender’s Office in this process.

Students of the public governance, law and pedagogical faculties received information about the recommendations issued by the Public Defender regarding the education materials used in higher educational institutions.

A discussion was also held with students of Akhaltsikhe public school No. 1 on challenges relating to human rights education.

During the meeting with citizenship education teachers, the quality of human rights education in schools and practical challenges were analyzed. The teachers spoke in detail about the problems identified and the ways to solve them, emphasizing the importance of the Public Defender's involvement in the process.

On May 23-25, the Head of the Department of Human Rights Education, Gvantsa Davitashvili, held working meetings with the dean, professors and visiting lecturers of the faculty of law and social sciences of Batumi Shota Rustaveli State University. The topics of discussion included the perspectives of the Public Defender's cooperation with representatives of the academic circle and effective mechanisms for the implementation of the Public Defender's recommendations.

Gvantsa Davitashvili also met with citizenship education teachers of various public schools of the region and discussed the involvement of the Public Defender at the level of general education, including in the process of approving school textbooks. They also discussed the recommendations issued by the Public Defender and the creation of new platforms for cooperation with teachers in the future.

Meetings were also held with students of various faculties of the university and schools, where the Head of the Department of Human Rights Education spoke about the main directions of the Department’a activity and the importance of human rights education.

The meetings were held within the framework of the partnership programme between the Public Defender’s Office and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).