With a grant from EWMI's Promoting Rule of Law in Georgia (PROLoG) Activity, the National Institute for Human Rights at Free University Tbilisi, in partnership with the Constitutional Court of Georgia, conduced its second annual summer school on human rights at the Constitutional Court of Georgia. The topic of the summer school was religious freedom, and the school covered comparative overview of jurisprudence from the Constitutional Court of Georgia, U.S. Supreme Court and the European Court of Human Rights. Professor Bill Rich, from EWMI/PROLoG partner Washburn University, was one of the speakers at the school, together with Professors David Zedelashvili and Ekaterine Lomtatidze from Free University. Professor Rich provided an overview of relevant principles from the U.S., including the First Amendment’s provision on religion, its application and current challenges. Professors Zedelashvili and Lomtatidze discussed the most controversial issues of religious freedom in Georgia and in Europe, including the legal status of religious associations and the rights of individuals.    

The summer school attracted more than 200 applicants, and after a rigorous selection process 28 students were selected to participate. The school included interactive lectures and discussions, as well as a mock trial and a volleyball competition to ensure full engagement of the students.

EWMI's Promoting Rule of Law in Georgia (PROLOG) program is made possible by the generous support of the American people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).