03.06.2007
The Rule of Law Initiative's Georgia program, with support from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, held a strategic planning session for the newly established Georgian Association of Inspectors General (GAIG) on January 13-15. The impetus for the creation of the organization can be traced to an inspectors general conference held in Georgia in June 2006, when Paul Balukas, president of the U.S. Association of Inspectors General, suggested that his Georgian counterparts might benefit from the creation of their own association. The idea was quickly embraced and work towards the establishment of GAIG began immediately. With technical assistance from the CEELI Criminal Law Program and particularly staff attorney Ani Morgoshia, the Georgian inspectors general drafted and agreed on their charter by October and the organization was formally established by November.
The strategic planning session in January, facilitated by Ludmila Ungureanu of the RADA Institute, helped GAIG articulate their mission, vision and goals. According to GAIG Chairman Levan Gegeshidze: "The strategic planning session was a significant event in the development of the Georgian Association of Inspectors General, enabling the organization to create goals and objectives that will effectively mobilize its resources." As the first association of its kind among Georgia's neighbors, GAIG hopes that its pioneering work can serve as a model for other countries in the region.
For more information, please contact Criminal Law Legal Specialist Matt Reger, at < [email protected]> or Staff Attorney Ani Morgoshia <[email protected]>