On June 19, 2018, at the initiative of the State Agency for Religious Issues a training seminar entitled “Raising the awareness of spiritual figures in terms of freedom of religion and human rights and fundamental freedoms” was held at the Georgian Government Residence.
Training seminar is held in 2018-2020 within the framework of the Human Rights Action Plan, in three stages. All the religious organizations operating in Georgia participate in training.
Among the leaders of other religious organizations, the seminar was attended by the Primate of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia, His Grace Bishop Vazgen Mirzakhanyan, accompanied by Rev. Father Husik Harutyunyan, Pastor of Armenians in Bolnisi and Tetritskaro; Deacon Hovsep Chirakhov and Michael Avagyan, Head of Legal Affairs and Cooperation Department of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia.
The Chairman of the State Agency for Religious Issues Zaza Vashakhmadze was present at the training. It was conducted by Valeria Liluashvili and Davit Davitashvili, the specialists of the Legal Maintenance of the Agency.
The main topics of the training were the national legislation on freedom of religions and international law practice in this field. In particular, it was spoken about articles on Religion in the Constitution of Georgia, Civil and Criminal Codes. Amendments to the Constitution, issues on secularism and religious neutrality, as well as the documents adopted by UN General Assembly, Resolutions of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and religious legislations of the European Union member states were discussed.
The seminar took place in questions and answers format. Representatives of the religious organizations talked about challenges they faced. The necessity of the inter-confessional format and involvement of the State Agency for Religious Issues in the settlement of existing issues was unanimously mentioned.
In the future, the training seminar will gradually include all the regions of Georgia.