On November 11 and 12, 2023, student-paralegals from various universities in the Adjara and Imereti regions underwent training on the rights of persons with disabilities (PWDs). This was part of a Legal Aid Service (LAS) and USAID Rule of Law Program initiative, “Make Justice Accessible for All – Paralegals.”

Led by Nino Elbakidze, a human rights expert, the sessions covered the definition and determination of disability status, national and international legal frameworks regulating these rights, and the mechanisms for their protection. Discussions encompassed accessibility, independent living, education, access to justice, and labor rights through simulated cases.

Ms. Elbakidze introduced students to the legal capacity reform implemented in Georgia in 2015. This reform established a support model for decision-making, deviating from “plenary guardianship,” meaning guardianship in which the court gives the guardian the power to exercise all legal rights and duties for the ward after the court finds the ward to be incapacitated. This model empowers individuals with disabilities to independently make decisions while providing necessary assistance when required, fostering autonomy in decision-making.

Ms. Elbakidze navigated the participants through an analysis of local discrimination cases, offering insights intended to help the group better understand the unique challenges faced by persons with disabilities both in the effort to protect their rights and living a dignified life. The group exercises prompted students to explore real-life scenarios, sparking an animated discussion which led the attendees to create their own presentations explaining how they understood the information shared by the expert.

In early December, student-paralegals will undergo training on Human Rights and Human Trafficking delivered by Giorgi Burjanadze, an expert in human rights protection, and Mari Meskhi, an expert in human trafficking. Additionally, they will participate in Paralegal Initiative events scheduled for Human Rights Week, including mock trials and community gatherings.