Nineteen law students from across Georgia gathered in Tbilisi on 9–10 October 2025 to take part in the final stage of an intensive capacity-building initiative on the European Social Charter (ESC), culminating in a two-day moot court competition simulating proceedings before the European Committee of Social Rights. The event followed a four-day Summer School, which equipped students with practical knowledge of the ESC, its monitoring mechanisms, and the protection of social and economic rights in Europe.

Throughout the competition, students acted as legal practitioners, drafting written submissions, presenting oral arguments, and testing their skills in applying ESC standards to complex legal scenarios. The moot court strengthened their legal reasoning and advocacy abilities and encouraged critical reflection on how European and Georgian legal frameworks interact to advance social rights.

The competition was evaluated by a diverse jury composed of a representative of the Department of Social Rights of the Council of Europe, the Vice President of the European Committee of Social Rights, international and local experts with thematic and communication expertise. This multidisciplinary composition ensured that students received balanced, high-quality feedback from both international and national perspectives.

Reflecting on the event, Tatiana Puiu, Vice President of the European Committee of Social Rights, stated:

“It was a great pleasure to take part in this wonderful moot court competition, which offered me the opportunity to meet so many talented young people from Georgia. I was truly impressed by their exceptional skills, professionalism, and their solid understanding of the European Social Charter. The participants demonstrated not only strong legal reasoning, but also a genuine commitment to the values and principles underlying social rights in Europe.

I remain deeply optimistic about the future of legal education in Georgia and encouraged by the continued efforts of academic institutions, students, and organisers to promote the knowledge and protection of social rights. Competitions like this one are a powerful reminder that the next generation of lawyers is ready to contribute meaningfully to the advancement of social justice across Europe.”

The moot court enhanced students’ ability to apply ESC standards in concrete legal contexts and increased their confidence in using these mechanisms in future legal practice.

The winning team, composed of Nana Mchedlishvili, Gvantsa Takashvili and Nino Javakhishvili, from Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University will take part in a study visit to the Council of Europe in Strasbourg. This will enable students to deepen their understanding of the work of the European Committee of Social Rights and enhance their practical knowledge of European human rights mechanisms.

Speaking about their experience, the winning team remarked:

“The Moot Court Competition organised by the Council of Europe was truly a unique experience for us. The process provided us with invaluable practical knowledge and the opportunity to test our skills in a realistic setting. We extend our special thanks to the Expert Judges' Panel for their efforts and constructive feedback.”

The competition not only celebrated the students’ hard work and talent but also reaffirmed the importance of empowering future legal professionals to defend social rights in practice. By translating knowledge into advocacy, participants took an important step toward strengthening the culture of human rights and social justice in Georgia.

The event was organised within the framework of the Council of Europe Project “Further Enhancement of Social and Economic Rights in Georgia.” The Project is implemented as part of the Council of Europe Action Plan for Georgia 2024-2027.