On May 8, 2015, the European Commission published the 3^rd progress report on Georgia’s implementation of the action plan on visa liberalization.

The report notes that in a short period of time Georgia has made significant progress in the sphere of fundamental rights. The effective implementation of anti-discrimination legislation and policies is progressively being built up through case-law and precedents; the legal framework for ensuring equality and non-discrimination, and of measures to implement it, in which the Public Defender’s Office plays a crucial role is being formed.

As indicated by the Commission, concerning certain provisions in the anti-discrimination law, any derogation should be applied in line with the principles of necessity and proportionality and in line with international and European standards. As recommended by the European Commission, it is necessary to increase and sustain efforts to raise awareness among State representatives and society at large about equality issues, to continue training of legal professionals in close cooperation with civil society and international organizations and donors and due consideration of legislative proposals submitted by the Public Defender of Georgia.

On February 23-27, 2015, the European Commission evaluation mission was on an official visit to Georgia. In the framework of the visit, experts met with representatives of the Public Defender’s Office. At the meeting issues discussed included powers of the Public Defender of Georgia as the country’s equality body, also, activities of the Department of Equality of the Public Defender’s Office and its future plans, effectiveness of the Georgian anti-discrimination legislation and relevance of normative acts, as well as conduction of public awareness-raising campaigns.