Teona joined Social Justice Center team since August, 2018. She is working for the Equality Policy Program and her job covers the issues related to the political and social exclusion and rights of non-dominant ethnic and religious minority groups. Teona is mainly responsible on the documentation of human rights situation of the above-mentioned social groups, monitor state policy and advocate on national and international level, prepare research/policy documents and recommendations, communicate with respective communities and coordinate relevant pending programs.

Professional Experience

2018:  Chief Consultant – Donor Coordination and communication unit, Supreme Court of Georgia.

2013-2018: Senior legal advisor – Public International Law Department, Ministry of Justice of Georgia.

2012-2013: Intern - Public International Law Department, Ministry of Justice of Georgia.

Education

2016-2017: Advanced Master Program in Public International Law (LLM), Leiden University Law School, The Netherlands.

2013-2015: Master Program in International Law(MA), Tbilisi  State University.

2009-2013: Law Faculty (BA), Free University of Tbilisi.

Keti joined the Social Justice Center team in May 2016. Keti primarily works on issues related to non-dominant religious and ethnic groups, as well as the offences related to the violation of LGBT rights and hate-crimes. With this aim, she deals with strategic cases upon the investigative and judicial bodies. Her duties and responsibilities include documenting violations of human rights and preparing analytical legal documents as well as conducting trainings and seminars on issues related to the field of activity.

Professional Experience

2014-2016: Specialist at the Rehabilitation and Educational Programs Service of the Liberty Restriction Establishment of the National Probation Agency - Ministry of Corrections and Probation;

Before that, she worked as an intern at the Criminal Cases Chamber of the Supreme Court of Georgia.

Education

2013-2017: Master of Criminal Law - Tbilisi State University;

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

Tamta is one of the founders of Social Justice Center. Since the foundation of Social Justice Center, she has been the member of the Board of Directors and led the organisation with other programme directors. She is responsible for the management and coordination of the Equality Policy Programme. The programme is preoccupied with matters relating to antidiscrimination policy, the oppression of non-dominant groups (religious and ethnic minorities, as well as LGBT people) and their exclusion at the political, social and discursive levels. In so doing, the programme employs the instruments of research, advocacy, strategic litigation and dissemination of knowledge.  As the programme director, Tamta’s immediate commitment is the strategic development of the programme, of its vision and agenda, as well as ensuring the mobilization of financial resources and coordinating and supporting the programme staff.

Professional Experience

2015-present: Associate Professor- Ilia State University

2009-2013: Lawyer of strategic litigation at the European Court of Human Rights and as a human rights researcher - Georgian Young Lawyers' Association (GYLA);

2009: Advisor to the National Security Council;

2005-2009: Advisor at the Department for State Representation at the European Court of Human Rights of the Ministry of Justice of Georgia.

Tamta is the author/supervisor of up to 10 studies/reports concerning the freedom of assembly and religious freedom, secularism, the state of the legal rights of the LGBTI people, and anti-discrimination policies.

Education

2006-2008: Master of Public Law - Tbilisi State University;

2002-2006: Bachelor of Law - Tbilisi State University.

Ineza joined the Social Justice Center team in January 2023. She works in the position of regional lawyer.

She represents the organization in the regions and, for this purpose, studies and drafts relevant evaluations of the legal and social status of various social groups/communities living there. She is also responsible for the preparation of analytical and legal documents.

Ineza constantly communicates with various actors and social groups of ethnic and religious minorities and also provides legal support to social groups through legal clinics. 

Professional Experience

2016-2019: Lawyer - Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association

2019-2022: Associate- Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association

Education

2014-2018: L.L.B - Shota Meskhia State University of Zugdidi.

Ani joined the Social Justice Center team in July 2022. Her field of activity is related to issues of political and social exclusion and the protection of the rights of non-dominant religious and ethnic groups. Within the scope of activities, she documents the legal status of the mentioned social groups, monitors the state policy, and prepares research at the national and international levels. Ani's work also includes drafting legal documents, memoranda, and briefs on the Georgian regulatory framework.

Professional Experience

2023-present: Junior researcher- Social Justice Center 

2022-2023: Intern - Social Justice Center

Education

2018-2022: Free University of Tbilisi, LL.B.