Tbilisi, Georgia 25-26 September 2012
International Workshop:
This is a second annual international workshop dedicated to innovations in public service delivery. The conference is organized in partnership between the Government of Georgia, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the European Union. The first meeting took place in September 2011 in a beautiful sea-coast city of Batumi. Ministry of Justice hosted 120 delegates from 25 states. The meeting proved to be an excellent opportunity to exchange information about the most advanced solutions to delivery of public services. This forum was also very useful in establishing professional contacts and in thinking through new ideas for the enhancement of public service delivery.
The purpose of the second international workshop is to discuss public service innovations by bringing together government officers and development professionals from around the world. Modern technologies, developments and trends in governance sector call for change in the conventional methods of public service delivery. The second international conference will yet again focus on demonstrating achievements, sharing best practices and ideas, discussing challenges and possibly initiating bilateral and/or multilateral partnerships, aiming at reforming public sector, especially as it relates to internal communication and public service delivery.
Why Georgia?
Since 2003, Georgian public sector institutions underwent through a major reforms process. Once corrupt public sector turned into efficient and corruption free set of institutions. This transformation is highlighted in the following international ratings:
- 1st Place in Official Documents Issuance (Life in Transition Survey, EBRD, 2010);
- 2nd Place in Customer Service Efficiency (Life in Transition Survey, EBRD, 2010);
- Corruption Perception among Citizens is the Lowest - about 4% (Life in Transition Survey, EBRD, 2010);
- About 2% of Citizens Experienced Bribery (Life in Transition Survey, EBRD, 2010);
- Only 3% of Users Paid Bribe (Life in Transition Survey, EBRD, 2010, Global Corruption Barometer 2010 - TI);
- 77% of Citizens Perceive Government's Actions Towards Fighting Corruption as effective (Global Corruption Barometer 2010 - TI);
- 78% of Citizens Think that Corruption Level decreased Significantly for the last 3 Years (Global Corruption Barometer 2010 - TI);
- 1st Place in Property Registration (World Bank, 2012);
- 4th Place in Dealing With Construction Permits (World Bank, 2012);
- 7th Place in Ease of Starting Business (World Bank, 2012);
- 16th Place in Ease of Doing Business (World Bank, 2012).
As noted above, the transformation in public service resulted in increased public satisfaction with various services offered by governmental agencies. In 2010, the Ministry of Justice introduced a new concept of Public Service Hall, which is an upgrade to the one stop shop concept. This is a new type of entity, which brings together all services that the MoJ and its agencies deliver to public. During the development of the Hall concept, architects of the model heavily utilized various business approaches that are essential to ensure fast, efficient and confortable service delivery. 215 individual service attributes and procedures were analyzed, described in detail, upgraded and interconnected where possible. So that from now on, everything is happening in one space.
Why Tbilisi Public Service Hall?
In September of 2012, the Ministry of Justice of Georgia (MoJ) will celebrate the opening of its biggest Public Service Hall. The new building has a unique architectural design, which allows for provision of services to more than 15,000 people during a business day. Tbilisi PSH is located in a city center, thus making it accessible to public. Services are delivered in person, online and through call-centers.
The workshop will take place in the heart of public service delivery. Delegates will be discussing trends and best practices in public service delivery, while they are observing some of those concepts in practice at the Tbilisi PSH.
Presentations: Georgian government officials will present about government's efforts and successes in fighting corruption and enhancing public service delivery in a variety of sectors. Participants will hear from the authors of reforms, who will describe the paths that government agencies have taken, challenges that existed and effective solutions that have been reached. A special focus will be made on utilization of most modern information technologies as a solution to public service delivery needs. Delegates will have an opportunity to join various panels to discuss reforms in their respected countries. Several international key-note speakers will address participants.
Public service needs of the 21st century require government employees to think creatively and focus on opportunities created by technological developments - whether that would be provision of online services to public and/or utilization of new possibilities that were created though the development of social media. Presentations will focus on the most current trends in public service delivery.
Participants will include international development workers and civil servants who work on development of public service related policies.
Technical aspects: Participants will be expected to cover their transportation and lodging expenses. Tbilisi Marriot, Courtyard Marriot, Sheraton Tbilisi, Radisson SAS, and Holiday Inn will provide a special rate for workshop participants. Transportation to and from Tbilisi International Airport to the hotels and workshop destination will be provided by organizers. Conference materials and most meals will be covered. Simultaneous translation will be provided into English, Russian and Georgian languages. There is no registration fee for the workshop.
Prospective participants need to register before September 5th, 2012
Registration details: Please visit the online registration web link: www.justice.gov.ge/conferencetbilisi2012
or contact Mr. Andro Gigauri E-mail: conferencetbilisi@justice.gov.ge
Public Service Delivery of the Future Beating Corruption, Streamlining Performance Regional Workshop
On September 22-24, 2011, the Ministry of Justice of Georgia, with assistance of the US Agency for International Development and the European
Commission will hold a regional workshop in Batumi, Georgia. The goal of the workshop is to bring together professionals from the region and to share with them Georgia's experience in beating corruption and in streamlining performance of public agencies, with a special focus on effective methods of public service delivery.
During the workshop, Georgian government officials will present about government's efforts and successes in fighting corruption and enhancing public service delivery in a variety of sectors. Participants will hear from the authors of reforms, who will describe the paths that government agencies have taken, challenges that existed and effective solutions that have been reached. A special focus will be made on utilization of most modern information technologies, as a key to improving public service delivery.
Public service needs of the 21st century requires government employees to think creatively and focus on technological developments - whether that would be provision of online services to public and/or utilization of new opportunities that were created though the development of social media. Delegates from the region will have an opportunity to discuss their thoughts and practices, ask questions and gain information about practices of other states.
It is anticipated that as the result of the workshop, delegates will be able to share information, establish professional contacts and bring back knowledge that will benefit their respective institutions in further strengthening their operations.
The Minister of Justice Held Meetings in the Council of Europe
Through 22-23 November 2012, the Minister of Justice of Georgia held meetings in the Council of Europe.
The first set of the meetings were held with the President of the European Court of Human Rights, the Registrar of the Court, several judges and the representatives of the Registry dealing with the Georgian cases.
The strategy for the future cooperation between the new Government of Georgia and the Court was the subject matter of the meeting. The Minister introduced the plans that are to be implemented by the Georgian Government for strengthening the protection of human rights on the national level and thus reducing the workload of the Court.
The representatives of the Court informed the Minister that there are approximately 700 pending applications against Georgia, which seem to be well-founded as a result of preliminary examination. It was agreed that the Court, where possible, will communicate to the Government the factual circumstances of the concrete cases under the simplified procedure and will play more active role in helping parties to reach a friendly settlement. Use of unilateral declarations will also be encouraged by the Government. The Minister expressed her hopes that this new approach based on mutual understanding of existing problems would unburden the Court and would, at the same time, avoid that Georgian applicants wait for several years until their cases are examined.
The Minister shared with the Court the new Government's commitment to take all the necessary legislative, administrative and other measures for the protection of human rights on the national level in order to prevent rise of potential applications in the future.
On 23 November 2012 the Minister held a meeting with the representatives of the Department for the Execution of the Judgments of the European Court of Human Rights. The problems related to the execution of judgments against Georgia were discussed. The discussion revolved around the cases of Enukidze and Girgvliani, Kiladze brothers and other victims of political repressions, cases of the prisoners with the poor health as well as the victims of ill-treatment.
The Minister stated that the effective management of the procedure regulating execution of the judgments will be the priority for the Government, which presumes implementation of the active individual and general measures on the national level. It was noted that the strategy of the new Government would not be the mere imbursement of the allocated sums under Article 41 of the Convention. The new Government will also take every possible measure in order to internally solve systematic/structural problems revealed by the Court and in this manner to mould State practice for prevention of human rights violations.
The Minister informed the representatives of the Department for the Execution of the Judgments of the European Court of Human Rights with the action plan adopted by the Government for the execution of the judgment rendered by the Court on the case of Enukidze and Girgvliani and took on the responsibility to submit periodically, before 31 January 2013, additional information to the Committee of the Ministers on the events developed throughout the investigation process of the case. The above plan enunciates that the new Government condemns the approach taken by the previous Government, according to which the judgments of the Court were solely translated into the transfer of monetary compensations to the applicants and did not envisage re-investigation of cases and elimination of violations by all possible means. According to the plan, the new Government is ready to fulfil its obligation under Article 46 of the European Convention and conduct an objective and thorough investigation of the Girgvliani case, implement various measures for the enhancement of the existing legislation and adopt other necessary general measures in order to guarantee effective execution of the judgment.
The meeting also reflected on to the different issues of the cooperation, including the problem of uninvestigated cases and necessity to adopt a new approach with regard to the victims of political repressions.
The Minister held a meeting with the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, the President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, the Commissioner for Human Rights, the President of the Venice Commission and representatives of the Monitoring Committee. Each of these meetings was imbued with mutual yearning for future cooperation and great interest towards the events taking place in Georgia in the aftermath of the parliamentary election.
Package of Legislative Amendments necessary for Judicial Reform will be presented to the Parliament as the Government's Legislative Initiative
The Georgian government presented the package of legislative amendments drafted by the Ministry of Justice of Georgia to the Georgian Parliament. The amendments are designed to carry out institutional reform of the Georgian judiciary.
As is known, the Ministry of Justice of Georgia presented the draft legislative amendments on November 8, 2012, and invited the legislative, executive, and judicial authorities, leaders of international missions accredited in the country, as well as Georgian and foreign nongovernmental organizations working on legal issues to take part in public discussions on this subject. In case the Parliament approves the draft legislative amendments:
- Rules of formation of the Council of Justice will be changed, as a result of which this body will become more free and independent from political influences;
- The civil society will gain a right to exercise effective control over activities of the High Council of Justice;
- Conference of Judges of Georgia will be provided with opportunity to administer real self-government;
- Disciplinary panel of Judges will be completely separated from the High Council of Justice, and will be formed as a separate body;
- The right to use audio and video recording equipment in the courtrooms will be restored, in consequence of which the society will have the opportunity to keep watch on the process of administering justice.
The High Council of Justice, and nongovernmental organization "Georgian Young Lawyers' Association" responded to the initiative of the Ministry of Justice of Georgia. Additional consultations were held with representatives of the Supreme Court of Georgia and High Council of Justice, the Coalition for Independent and Transparent Judiciary, leaders of other civil society organizations and other stakeholders, after which all reasonable comments and considerations were incorporated in the drafts legislative amendments.
The Ministry of Justice presented the final version of the drafts to the Venice Commission for their review.
Information About Interstate Applications
Minister of Justice Tea Tsulukiani, after her return from Strasbourg, informed the society about the interstate applications pending before the ECHR.
According to Tea Tsulukiani, proceedings on the first case Georgia vs Russian Federation, concerning the massive expulsion of Georgian citizens from Russia, are completed and closed.
"This means that the European Court will deliver its decision soon. The decision should already be made since deliberations took place as it always happens after an oral hearing before the Court. It is unknown yet what decision was made by the Court as a result of those deliberations. I think we will be informed about this decision very soon because much time has passed since the procedure was closed. I hope that this case will be completed in favor of interests of our State", - stated Mrs. Tsulukiani.
According to her, with regard to the second interstate case against Russia initiated in August 2008, proceedings are far from being completed.
"The Ministry of Justice represents the State on this case, and we will follow the application competently until the end", - stated Tea Tsulukiani.
