The Virtual Academy of Democracy (VDA), with support from the USAID Rule of Law Program, organized a series of video screenings across Georgia to raise the public awareness of the positive role appellate court decisions can play in establishing the rule of law defending the rights of citizens.

The video screenings were followed by discussions led by international law specialist, Tamar Aleksidze and VDA head Tinatin Khidasheli.  Discussions covered the judiciary's role in upholding the rule of law, ensuring fair trials, and contributing to democratization in Georgia. Participants shared their views on the challenges faced by the judicial system and stressed the importance of maintaining judicial independence.

The first meeting took place on June 11 in Batumi where the VDA showed a video discussing labor rights. The second event took place on July 17 in Kutaisi, and dealt with the latent power of the dissenting opinion to effect longterm change. On September 18 and 20, video screenings and discussions were held in Telavi and Tbilisi.

During these events, participants viewed two short films. One explored the landmark U.S. Supreme Court case of Brown v. Board of Education which declared racial segregation in schools unconstitutional. This case was not only discussed for its historical significance but also to illustrate the broader impact a court decision can have on civil rights reform.

The second film examined the importance of dissenting opinions in appellate and Constitutional Court cases and provided examples from Georgia that illustrate how dissenting opinions can be influential in Georgia’s effort to establish the rule of law and protect individual rights.    

Sixty-nine people  attended the meetings, including representatives from local communities, non-governmental organizations, lawyers, and researchers.