On 28-29 November 2014, the Council of Europe (CoE) organised a workshop on effective investigation of ill-treatment cases.

International and Georgian legislation prohibit ill-treatment towards persons deprived of their liberty. Investigation of such cases and punishment of offenders are both state responsibilities and integral parts of its fight against ill-treatment. This workshop aims to promote the discussion about these issues and contribute to a more effective implementation by Georgia of its obligations.

CoE experts and team, prosecutors and investigators from different investigative bodies of Georgia attended the workshop and analysed the current situation in the country in investigating ill-treatment cases. Experts presented international standards and shared with participants their experience, best practices and techniques of prompt, impartial and effective investigation. Relevant cases of the European Court of Human Rights with a specific focus on Georgian cases were also discussed.  This helped participants analyse past and current gaps and to come up with the ways of improving their investigative practices on ill-treatment cases in the future.

The workshop was organised in the framework of the European Union/Council of Europe Joint Programme “Human Rights in Prisons and Other Closed Intuitions”. The programme, launched in July 2013, aims to strengthen human rights and improve access to healthcare for persons deprived of their liberty.