On February 29, 2024, representatives from national human rights institutions, government bodies, the judiciary, civil society organizations, and academia gathered in Tbilisi for a USAID Rule of Law Program-hosted conference on Making Justice Equally Accessible for All.

The conference served as a platform to foster partnerships and promote cooperation in vital areas concerning the rule of law and access to justice. Over 70 attendees analyzed rule of law trends in Georgia, sparking discussions on achievements, lessons learned and best practices in fortifying institutions, guaranteeing access to justice for all, and bolstering the resilience of vulnerable communities.

U.S. Ambassador to Georgia Robin L. Dunnigan opened the conference with welcoming remarks. “The wide range of participation today shows Georgia's commitment to more progress on its Euro-Atlantic path, and that path requires a strong, independent, trusted judiciary that protects human rights. The United States through USAID, is committed to continued progress on judicial reform here in Georgia.“ – she stated.

Nino Bakakuri, Justice of the Supreme Court of Georgia in her comments mentioned successful strategic litigation that served as examples of how reasoned opinions can shape societal norms and create a more just society.

During the Conference, the Deputy Head of the Department of Strategic Development and Supervision of Prosecutorial Activities of the General Prosecutor's Office of Georgia Londa Bichikashvili, Public Defender of Georgia (PDO) Levan Ioseliani, and Chairperson of the Georgian Bar Association (GBA) David Asatiani explained the role of justice system actors play in addressing issues through litigation vital to Georgia's progress as a state and society.

Legal Aid Service (LAS) Director David Simonia, Chairperson of the Faction the Georgian Dream in the Parliament of Georgia Rati Ionatamishvili, and Chairperson of the Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association Nona Kurdovanidze delivered keynote speeches emphasizing the imperative of providing free legal aid to vulnerable groups, ensuring their voices are heard in the justice system.

Judge at Tbilisi Court of Appeals Eka Zarnadze, Chairperson of Partnership for Human Rights Tamar Gabodze and Deputy Director of LAS Nino Meladze talked about the protection of the rights of child, while Vladimer Mkervalishvili, Executive Director of the Rights Georgia, Londa Bichikashvili, and Elene Sichinava, Chairperson of Human Rights and International Law Committee at GBA, highlighted the main accomplishments in the protection of women’s rights.

Speakers in the final session focused their comments on the rights of vulnerable groups with the following speakers overviewing the main achievements as well as the challenges faced by certain communities: Prosecutor at the Department of Human Rights Protection Tamar Zaqutashvili General Prosecutor's Office, Strategic Litigation and Advocacy Program Director of Tolerance and Diversity Institute Mariam Ghavtadze, Director of Equality Policy Programme of Social Justice Centre Tamta Mikeladze, and Acting head of Equality Department of the PDO Ana Kvachadze.

Participants spoke about lessons learned while highlighting the challenges encountered in protecting various types of human rights, including children's rights, women's rights, and the rights of ethnic and religious minorities.