Kakhaber joined Social Justice Center team in March 2023. He works on protecting the rights of vulnerable groups, the homeless, people with disabilities, and protection of labor rights. He identifies strategically important cases, prepares relevant documentation for legal disputes, and communicates with beneficiaries. In order to enhance the legal status of these groups his work also includes documenting facts of human rights violations and preparing analytical legal documents.

Professional Experience

2015-present: Lawyer - LEPL Georgian Bar Association;

2022–present: Member of Administrative Law Committee - LEPL Georgian Bar Association;

2017-2023: Lawyer - LEPL Animals Monitoring Agency of Tbilisi City Hall;

2022: Lawyer-Adviser - German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ);

2021: Researcher in legal matters - German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ);

2015-2017: State Procurement Manager – LTD Grain Logistics Company;

2012-2015: Lawyer-Analyst – Internal Audit and Monitoring Department of Tbilisi City Hall;

2008-2012: Lawyer – LTD Georgian Railway;

2007-2008: Intern - LTD Georgian Railway.

Education

2000-2007: Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University, Faculty of Law, specialty: Law Academic degree: Equal to Master;

2008-2009: Specialization in Public Law - Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association.

Nino joined the team of Social Policy Program at Social Justice Center since March 2023. The main direction of her work is conducting research into the issues of social rights in Georgia, including the labour rights. Her responsibilities include preparation of analytical documents and legal assessments, studying standards developed by the international human rights mechanisms, exploring and analysing national and foreign legislation and best practices.

Professional Experience

2023-Present: Invited Lecturer in International Law – University of Georgia.

2012-2022: Co-director and Human Rights Lawyer – NGO Human Rights Center.

Nino is an author/co-author of 15 reports related to various human rights issues, including rights of victims of 2008 Russia-Georgia armed conflict, human rights situation in the conflict zones, rights of prisoners, rights of women, freedom of expression, freedom of assembly and electoral environment.

Education

2015-2016: Double Master Degree in Interdisciplinary Program – Human Rights and Democracy in South East Europe – University of Bologna and University of Sarajevo.

2006-2010: Bachelor Degree in Law – Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University.

Giorgi has been working for the Social Justice Center since January 2022. He is part of the Judiciary and Democracy Program and works on issues related to Georgia's criminal justice system and law enforcement bodies. He is also involved in the process aimed at changing Georgia's strict drug policies and implementing human rights-based drug laws and practices. To this end, he works on research projects, analyzes international best practices, and works with the program team to support the reform of Georgia's criminal justice system. Giorgi is also responsible for coordinating ongoing projects in this area.

Professional experience:

2019-Present: Researcher of criminal justice and criminology;

2014-2015: Public defender’s (Ombudsman’s) office of Georgia – Chief Specialist of Criminal Justice department.

Education:

2016-2019: International(Critical) Criminology (M.A.) University of Hamburg;

2013-2015: Faculty of Law, Criminal Justice Specialization (Master’s Degree), Tbilisi State University;

2009-2013: Faculty of Law (Bachelor’s Degree), Tbilisi State University.

Tamta has been working for the Social Justice Center since January 2023. She is part of the Judiciary and Democracy Program, and her main duties include analyzing Georgia's security sector, monitoring the work of its institutions, and supporting the democratization of the security policy of the country. To reach these goals, Tamta is involved in drafting reports and research and elaborating human rights-oriented policy documents and legislative initiatives. Tamta is also responsible for coordinating ongoing projects under the security topic.

Professional Experience

2019-2022:  Election Projects and Monitoring Missions Coordinator - Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association (GYLA);

Education

2021-2023: Public Law and Policy (LL.M Candidate), Ilia State University.

2016-2020: Law (LL.B), Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University.

Ana joined Social Justice Center (former EMC) in December of 2020. The main direction of her responsibilities is human rights research and analysis and study of the judiciary system of Georgia. Furthermore, she is responsible for researching and analyzing relevant international standards and best practices on institutional arrangements of the judiciary, access to justice and other human rights issues. Ana is involved in preparation of relevant reports, articles and policy papers. Her activities also include preparing strategic cases before the Constitutional Court of Georgia. 

Professional Experience:

2016-2020: Senior Legal Advisor – Department of Legal Provision and Research-The Constitutional Court of Georgia;

2015: Intern - Department of Legal Provision and Research-The Constitutional Court of Georgia.

Education:

2017-2018: Comparative Constitutional Law Program (LLM) – Central European University;

2013-2016: Master of Public Law - Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University;

2009-2013: Bachelor of Law - Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University.

Khatuna joined Social Justice Center’s strategic litigation team in June of 2022. Her primary duties are preparing lawsuits for litigation purposes before the Constitutional Court of Georgia and international human rights protection mechanisms, including the European Court of Human Rights. Depending on the organization's needs, Khatuna prepares analytical documents and researches relevant international standards.

Professional Experience

2021-2022: International Relations and Legal Issues Junior Specialist – State Inspector’s Service;

2019-2020: Intern –International Relations Department - State Inspector’s Service;

2019: Intern -  Center for Legal Assistance and Social Engagement;

2019: Intern - Transparency International Georgia (Parliamentary Office) - Transparency International Georgia.

Education

2020-2022: Master in Public Law and Policy - Ilia State University

2016-2020: Bachelor of Law - Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University

Mariam joined Social Justice Center (Former EMC) team in March of 2021. She primarily works on human rights and drug-related law enforcement breaches. With this aim, she deals with strategic cases before the investigative and judicial bodies. Her duties and responsibilities include documenting violations of human rights and preparing analytical legal documents in regard to the field of her activity.

Professional Experience

2016-2021: lawyer, researcher – Media Development Fund (MDF)

2020-2021: Criminal Justice lawyer (Intern) - Legal Consulting and Services (LCS)

Within the framework of university internships, she has also conducted internships at the Georgia Chief Prosecutor's Office and the Vake-Saburtalo District Prosecutor's Office. Furthermore, Mariam is also the co-author of a number of studies, including Evidence in Criminal Proceedings, funded by the Open Society Georgia Foundation.

Education

2009-2013: Bachelor of Law - Tbilisi State University.

Tamar joined Social Justice Center (former EMC) team in September 2022. Her Responsibilities mainly relate to the preparation of research projects and reports on the work topics of the programme including the judiciary system and drug policy issues. Tamar is also involved in the preparation of various legal and analytical documents within the Strategic litigation.

Professional Experience

06/2022-09/2022: Criminal Justice Intern - Social Justice Center (former EMC);

11/2021-05/2022: Intern, Department of Legal Drafting, Ministry of Justice of Georgia;

09/2021-11/2021: Intern, Civil Cases Panel, Rustavi City Court;

02/2021-08/2021: Intern, Legal Department - State Inspector Service (former).

Education

2022-present: Master's Program - Public Law and Policy - Ilia State University.

2018-2022: Bachelor of Law - Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University.