On December 20, 2024, the USAID Rule of Law Program, in partnership with the Legal Aid Service (LAS), conducted a training session on fundamental human rights law and practice for 15 student-paralegals from the Samtskhe-Javakheti region. The event, held through the Akhaltsikhe Rule of Law Hub, marked the launch of the Make Justice Accessible for All – Paralegals Initiative in the region. This initiative has already been successfully implemented in the Adjara and Imereti regions (through the Program’s Batumi and Kutaisi Rule of Law Hubs since 2022).

Human rights expert Giorgi Burjanadze led the training, emphasizing the importance of aligning human rights practices with European standards to advance Georgia’s integration into the European Union. His presentation covered a range of topics, including: the history of human rights in Georgia and their reflection in the Constitution; the classification of human rights; legal mechanisms for protecting these rights; core rights such as the right to life, prohibition of torture and discrimination; freedoms of expression and information; and the roles of the Constitutional Court of Georgia and the European Court of Human Rights.

The overarching goal of the Paralegals Initiative is to enhance legal awareness among local communities and ensure equitable access to justice for all individuals. By equipping law school students with essential legal knowledge and skills, the program enables them to disseminate legal information during community meetings. This includes sharing insights about human rights, available state and non-state legal aid services, and other tools for accessing justice.

Since its inception, the Paralegal Initiative has made significant strides. Student-paralegals have played an active role in raising community awareness, having conducted 31 community meetings and reaching more than 1,350 individuals.