The opening of the University Week of Human Rights, which is commemorated by the law schools of 15 universities across Georgia, was held at Gori State University on December 2, 2022. The agenda for the week echoes the main message of the global human rights campaign – ‘dignity, freedom and justice for all!’ - within which up to 30 public discussions and meetings have been planned. The week’s events will be supported by the USAID Rule of Law Program and organized by Tbilisi Free University.

After the opening event, a panel discussion was held on the topic - Russia-Ukraine war and human rights.

"The University Human Rights Week has been held since 2014 and USAID has been an unwavering supporter of the event, because we believe that strengthening the academic research and discussion in the university environment contributes to raising the public’s awareness of human rights and imbuing the appropriate civic values in our community" – said Giorgi Chkheidze, USAID Rule of Law Program Chief of Party.

At the end of the week, which falls on the International Human Rights Day [December 10], the participating universities traditionally identify and award two outstanding candidates for their special contribution to the protection of human rights and the development of the science of human rights law. 

The University Week of Human Rights is an annual event, whose purpose is to spread the knowledge about the contemporary challenges of human rights law among students and young people, by promoting an active exchange of ideas and opinions and fostering greater cooperation between Georgian universities in this area.

The participating universities believe that, with joint efforts, it is possible to stimulate broad public discussion about the contemporary issues of human rights while also supporting the freedom, human dignity and equality before the law within the Georgian society.

The program for the 2022 Human Rights University Week can be found here in Georgian.