The Council of National Minorities at the Public Defender’s Office and the Ministry of Justice of Georgia have concluded a memorandum of cooperation.
The parties hope that the memorandum will make the relationship between the bodies systematic; contribute to civil integration and the protection of the rights of national minorities; enable national minorities to become involved more actively in the discussions on issues related to them and, in general, to the developments taking place in the country.
The cooperation between the parties will be carried out through consultations, discussions, sharing of views and information, seminars and conferences.
The Public Defender considers that the Ministry of Justice has a very important role to play in the implementation of the goals of the concept, such as ensuring the equality of every citizen of Georgia before the law, the prohibition of discrimination and, in general, the protection of rights and freedoms granted by the Georgian legislation. The role of the Ministry of Justice in connection with the implementation of the Council of Europe’s Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities is also very important.
A representative of the Ministry of Justice of Georgia will meet the Council of National Minorities once in every three months, informing its members in detail of the implementation of the activities provided for in the National Concept for Tolerance and Civil Integration and the Action Plan, as well as of the activities carried out and planned by the Ministry in relation to national minorities. He/she will also assist the Council of National Minorities at the Public Defender’s Office in the monitoring of the implementation of the National Concept for Tolerance and Civil Integration and the Action Plan.
The preparation and future implementation of the memorandum was provided by the National Concept for Tolerance and Civil Integration as well as the five-year Action Plan adopted by the government of Georgia on May 8, 2008. Implementation of the activities of ministries and agencies which are envisaged by the Action Plan will be coordinated by the Ministry for Reintegration. The Council of National Minorities at the Public Defender’s Office and, accordingly, the national minorities of Georgia will be involved in the monitoring of the implementation of the Concept and the Action Plan.
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On December 14, 2009, the Council of National Minorities at the Public Defender’s Office signed similar memorandum of cooperation with the Office of the State Minister for Reintegration.
In the nearest future, the Public Defender will sign memorandum of cooperation with the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Ministry of Education and Science, the Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure, the Ministry of Economic Development, the Ministry of Refugees and Accommodation, and the Ministry of Culture, Monument Protection and Sports.
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The activities of the Council of National Minorities are carried out with the support of the UN Development Program and the European Center for Minority Issues.
Advisory committee on the framework convention
for the protection of national minorities
Opinion on Georgia,
Adopted on 19 March 2009
