State Minister Tea Akhvlediani leads expanded session of government commission on civil equality and integration

An expanded session of the Government Commission on Civil Equality and Integration was convened under the chairmanship of State Minister Tea Akhvlediani, organised by the Office of the State Minister.

In her opening address, Tea Akhvlediani welcomed the participants and outlined the key priorities guiding activities in 2025, as part of the Action Plan of the State Strategy for Civil Equality and Integration for Ethnic Minorities (2021–2030). She also presented a comprehensive consolidated report.

The State Minister elaborated on the tangible progress achieved through the implemented policies and the remaining needs. According to Akhvlediani, the current policy aligns well with these needs and fosters the creation of the necessary opportunities for the full integration of ethnic minorities into society. Official reports, independent interim evaluations, and various research findings support this assertion.

She emphasised that to enhance the effectiveness of the ten-year strategy’s implementation, it is vital to assess progress and its impact on the target communities. By doing so, and in collaboration with sectoral agencies, local authorities, and other stakeholders, a clear understanding of developments and trends can be achieved, enabling more targeted and systemic planning.

“At today’s session, we presented the consolidated report on the implementation of the Strategy for Civic Integration of Ethnic Minorities and the initial interim assessment. These confirm significant progress across nearly all strategic areas, be it language acquisition, quality education, socio-economic integration, or intercultural dialogue. It is through a comprehensive analysis of these achievements, alongside the remaining gaps, that we have agreed on further targeted actions. We are now beginning the development of the Action Plan for 2027–2028, which will underpin the ongoing refinement of our multifaceted policy to steadily and fully realise the priority objectives set for 2030,” stated State Minister Tea Akhvlediani.

During the meeting, First Deputy State Minister Lia Gigauri presented the main findings of the first interim assessment of the ‘Social and Economic Integration’ strategy, along with research on the needs of women from ethnic minorities.

A fruitful discussion ensued, focusing on achievements, emerging trends, and ongoing challenges in the strategy implementation.

The session was attended by permanent and invited members of the Government Commission for Civil Equality and Integration, all of whom are directly involved in the implementation and evaluation.