“Preventing discrimination is one of the fundamental principles of our work and these Visibility Days are dedicated to transmitting our values better” stated Rafael Benitez, Director of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, at the workshop “Anti-discriminatory Communication – Protecting Diversity and Promoting Inclusion at the Local Level”. The event took place in Telavi on April 27, which is the anniversary of Georgia joining the Council of Europe in 1999, as Natalia Voutova, the Head of Office of Council of Europe in Georgia, reminded in her welcome speech.
The event was held in the context of Council of Europe Visibility Days co-organised by the Council of Europe Office in Georgia, the National Association of Local Authorities, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia. The First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Lasha Darsalia opened the event underlying the importance of co-operation with the Council of Europe for strengthening human rights protection in Georgia, also through the development of the new Action Plan for Georgia 2024-2027.
The workshop, with more than 60 participants, was dedicated to developing relevant inclusive communication skills among the local authorities to reach out to underrepresented groups and to develop effective awareness-raising activities. Key capacities such as active listening, sensitivity towards diversity, and effective communication were strengthened to empower the local authorities to develop strategies for building trust with its most vulnerable communities. Likewise, local authorities were supported in reviewing their communication plans to reflect more authentically the image and needs of underrepresented groups, thus fighting discrimination and fostering inclusion in their communities.
The event was a further step within a learning path on anti-discrimination for local authorities that includes a series of workshops, a roundtable, and online learning tools for peer-exchange and learning. The learning path focuses on strengthening capacities for developing sustainable and innovative anti-discrimination policies and measures, such as inclusive public campaigns, and codes of ethics within public administration.
The Visibility Days highlight and promote Council of Europe core values, ideals, and principles as a European common heritage among the new generations and the public.
This event was organised in the framework of the project “Strengthening Participatory Democracy and Human Rights at Local Level in Georgia”, implemented by the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities and the Directorate General of Democracy and Human Dignity, Division of Elections and Participatory Democracy, within the Council of Europe Action Plan for Georgia 2020-2023 with the financial contribution of the Austrian Development Cooperation. The project aims to strengthen institutional frameworks for citizen participation, support local authorities and their national association in their efforts to protect and promote human rights and ensure that civil society organisations have real impact on local decision making.
