It is now ten years ago since George Tugushi graduated from the Institute’s Masters Programme in International Human Rights Law. When he returned as a lecturer, with the topic “Prevention of torture, role of the international and local judicial and non-judicial mechanisms”, he did so with vast experience from working within the UN, various international organisations and governmental work in Georgia. He is a member of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT), the UN Committee against Torture (UN CAT) and the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI). He is furthermore the Director of “Georgian Democracy Initiative (GDI), a Non-Governmental Organisation which he also founded.
The Institute has had a long relationship with the Public Defender’s Office (PDO) in Georgia. Several programmes with and within the institution was implemented between 1999-2009. As a former Public Defender, George emphasised the significance of the collaboration for the Public Defender’s Office. For example the strengthening of the organisational structure of the PDO has greatly improved its efficiency.
Besides holding the lecture at the Master Programme George also met with staff at the Institute for an informal presentation of his work.