Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association (Georgia)
Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association has been conducting human rights protection activities since 1994. Their activities are focused on the following strategic fields:
Legal aid – Legal aid center of GYLA in Tbilisi and seven regions of Georgia provides legal assistance to tens of thousands of citizens (consultation, preparation of legal documents, and court representation in case of need). Special attention is paid to the facts where human rights are violated by the government or an administrative body.
Vulnerable groups – GYLA pays special attention to the protection of the rights of religious, ethnic, sexual minorities, people with limited abilities, and those who live beyond the poverty line.
Prisoners’ rights – GYLA is actively involved in monitoring of penitentiary systems. Special attention is paid to facts of torture and mistreatment.
Participation in legal drafting – GYLA conducts constant monitoring of the legislative process and prepares its own legal opinions on every draft, which is important for human rights.
Raising awareness – There are many people in Georgia who have no information about their rights – GYLA’s offices in the regions have been implementing campaigns for raising awareness throughout Georgia (trainings, seminars, and field meetings to ensure awareness of local groups and support their democratic involvement in the country’s political and social life).
Strategic litigation – first, denunciation of discriminative legal acts, or acts, which violate human rights through trial at the constitutional court of Georgia, and the second, representation of Georgian citizens at the European Court of Human Rights.
Protection of Media Interests – on the basis of GYLA, the Media Legal Defense Center, which ensures the protection of the rights and interests of different media sources and journalists.