


Publications

“Why Do I Choose Equality?”
"Together with our different characteristics we create ideas, cultures, beautiful colours, enjoyable sounds, interesting forms. In this diversity, in this equality, we hope for a better tomorrow."
This is the collection of winning essays from a competition organised by the Council of Europe Office in Georgia and the Georgian Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport.
Georgian students, aged 15-18 years-old, were invited to write an essay on their thoughts and experience of diversity and equality in Georgia today, and/or equality reflected through Georgian history, literature and culture. The students replied to the question: I choose equality because…?
The awards ceremony was held online, on 1 June 2020 and representatives of the Council of Europe Office in Georgia and the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport congratulated winners in their opening remarks. During the ceremony, Georgian poet, Rati Amaghlobeli talked about the importance of equality and diversity in Georgian and worldwide literature.
In total, more than 400 essays from all over Georgia were submitted, and the best 10 essays were selected for publication.

Survey on hate crime, hate speech and discrimination in Georgia: attitudes and awareness
Discrimination, hate crime, and hate speech continue to be issues in Georgia. This is well
exemplified by the widely covered incidents that appear to be motivated by animus towards
minorities in Georgia. Smaller scale, everyday incidents involving discrimination are also important and are known to take place. The study aims to provide an understanding of appreciation and awareness of the following issues:
- Diversity in Georgian society;
- the rights of minorities and vulnerable groups;
- occurrence of discrimination, hate crime and hate speech in Georgian society and who it affects;
- Georgian legislation against discrimination, hate crime, and hate speech;
- existing redress mechanisms and their effectiveness;
- different actors’ work on the issues.
Download the public survey on hate crime, hate speech and discrimination in Georgia: attitudes and awareness
Watch the video about key results of the survey


The European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI)
is a specialised monitoring body of the Council of Europe, composed of independent experts, which monitors problems of racism, discrimination on grounds of ethnic origin, citizenship, colour, religion and language, as well as xenophobia, antisemitism and intolerance, prepares reports and issues recommendations to member States.
The Advisory Committee on the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities (FCNM)
is a convention-based monitoring mechanism, composed of independent experts, entrusted with the task to evaluate the implementation of the Framework Convention by State Parties. Upon examination of all relevant information (State reports, NGOs contributions, other relevant sources, information gather during missions on the spot), the Advisory Committee issues detailed country-specific opinions the conclusions of which are adopted by the Committee of Ministers as Resolutions.
The European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages (ECRML)
is the European onvention for the protection and promotion of languages used by traditional minorities. ECRML has contributed to the development of minority language legislation, enabling and encouraging the use of regional or minority languages in all domains of public life, from education, media and culture to public administration.