The USAID Rule of Law Program reached a milestone by successfully launching its third Rule of Law Hub, this one in Akhaltsikhe serving the Samtskhe - Javakheti region.

The Hub’s launching event was a roundtable discussion put on in collaboration with the state-funded Legal Aid Service (LAS). The discussions engaged around 30 participants whose number included representatives from local NGOs, lawyers from LAS and Georgian Bar Association, university representatives, and Akhaltsikhe District Court staff. The event showcased the program's achievements, emphasizing successful collaborations with LAS in Kutaisi and Batumi.

LAS Deputy Director Levan Gvenetadze and LAS Training Center Director Mariam Burkadze spoke about the ‘Make the Justice Accessible to All’ initiative and the training of paralegal students. USAID Rule of Law Program Chief of Party Giorgi Chkheidze and the Regional Rule of Law Advisor Irina Lortkipanidze gave examples of different activities Rule of Law Hubs have performed over the years. These activities included the supporting panel discussions, thematic talks with the students, trainings for lawyers and discussions between legal professionals. Dr. Tim Bunjevac, the Program’s Community Engagement Advisor, delivered a presentation, which gave examples of strategies for ‘Improving Access to Justice through People-Centered Justice.’ Notably, the session introduced Giorgi Khamaladze, the program's lawyer for the Akhaltsikhe Hub, who is now working to foster connections with local counterparts and strategizing for upcoming activities.

During the discussion period, participants shared their insights into what initiatives might be created to deliver justice services best aligned with the community's needs. They also shared their insights into the most serious human rights challenges in the region and their hopes for future cooperation to address these challenges.