Tbilisi. The meeting was held on October 8 in the Ministry of Corrections and Legal Assistance of Georgia concerning the establishment of a public group for prison monitoring.

At the initiative of the Minister Giorgi Tughushi, up to 50 NGOs, religious groups and media outlets were asked to nominate one representative to the membership of the monitoring group. Members of the monitoring group will enjoy the right to visit any institution in the penitentiary system of Georgia with an unlimited schedule and frequency until 31 January 2013.

The monitoring group will be set up in approximately one week. NGO "Identoba" (identity) working on the rights of LGBT and gender issues will be also involved in the public group for prison monitoring. The organization's representative will monitor the rights of LGBT persons in the prisons and will react adequately to the reported violations.

Source: identoba.ge