Round table about prisoners and former prisoners

 Nino Akhobadze 

On November 12, Human Rights House Tbilisi and Georgian Center for Psycho-Social and Medical Rehabilitation of Torture Victims [GCRT] organized a round table about the situation of current and former prisoners in Georgia.

Main reporters were: representative of the Crime Prevention Center at the Ministry of Justice Nikoloz Kharebava, Deputy Head of the Prevention and Monitoring Department at the Public Defender's Office Daniel Mgeliashvili and director of GCRT Lela Tsiskarishvili. The discussion was moderated by psychologist Maia Tsiramua. 

“If we compare current situation of prisoners with the situation of past years, progress is evident, but there are issues which require thorough consideration, solutions and more public engagament,” Daniel Mgeliashvili said.

The representative of the Ministry of Justice Nikoloz Kharebava noted that first state rehabilitation program for former prisoners started in December 2012. According to him, the rehabilitation program is implemented in three directions: psycho-social rehabilitation, vocational training and employment. 

After speakers made statements, the round table continued in the format of questions and answers.