Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1694868883546.pdf (Georgia)
Sopio Japaridze PERSONAL BACKGROUND Born 01.08.1980 in Tbilisi, Georgia Nationality Georgia Marital Status Divorced Home Address 12 Tsintsadze Street, apt.

21 0160, Tbilisi, Georgia Tel: + 995 5 77 13 303 Email : sjaparidze@gov.ge ​0 EDUCATION 2009-2010 LLM in International Human Rights Law, (Chevening/FCO scholar) University of Essex, Essex, UK 1997-2002 degree in jurisprudence, Law Department, Degree with Honors, Bachelor’s Tbilisi State University, Georgia Ms. Japaridze is fluent in English and Russian.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE 11/2/14 - present Assistant on Human Rights and Gender Equality Issues to the Prime Minister Co-chair Inter-Agency Council on Human Rights Chair- Inter Agency Commission on Gender Equality, Violence against Women and Domestic Violence Focal point from Georgia to the Network on Women, Peace and Security 12/2013 - 10/2014 , EU funded project “Support to the Criminal Justice Reform in Georgia” Project Manager on penitentiary, Tbilisi, Georgia Ensured smooth coordination and cooperation with the beneficiary (Ministry of Corrections) Organized relevant conferences, workshops, round tables Represented the project at the meetings Revised draft regulations/ draft policy/concept papers produced by the MoC and provided relevant /relevant events advice 11/2012 – 11/2013 Ministry of Correction and Legal Assistance of Georgia, Deputy Minister Chair of the Parole Board for Juvenile inmates Prison Study Centre- Member of the Board Supervised: Department of International Relations Probation and Penitentiary Training Centre Legal Aid Service 1 ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ 07/2012 – 10/2012 Senior Legal Expert, Tbilisi, Georgia EU funded project “Support to the Public Defender’s Office of Georgia” Researched relevant case-law of international human rights bodies for the annual report of the Public Defender of Georgia on the protection of human rights and freedoms in Georgia; Researched international practice and compiled relevant information for special thematic reports issued by the Public Defender of Georgia; Conducted studies on minority issues, attended relevant meetings, etc.
11/ 2010 -02/2012 Lawyer (Europe programme) INTERIGHTS, London, UK Provided legal advice and assistance to partners in the South Caucasus region on international human rights law, jurisprudence and related international and comparative law developments relating to the region, particularly on the European Convention on Human Rights; Assisted applicants and representatives before regional courts and other fora in strategically significant cases; Submitted briefs of courts as appropriate; to international and regional courts and tribunals, and to national amicus curiae ​ Designed, planned and delivered litigation workshops in the South Caucasus region to support domestic, regional and international human rights litigation by local lawyers; Represented INTERIGHTS and its programs in the region and at public events as required.
2006 -09/2009 GEORGIAN YOUNG LAWYERS’ ASSOCIATION (GYLA) (NGO ), Tbilisi, Georgia Project Coordinator ( August 2008) Project: Strategic Litigation for the Victims of Russian-Georgian Armed Conflict of Project Coordinator, lead lawyer ( Project: Strengthening Human Rights Capacity in Georgia) 10/200 9​ -10/2011 Member of the Board since.
Re-elected in 10, ​2014 Litigated cases before the ECtHR, as well as before the Constitutional Court of Georgia; Monitored human rights situation within the country and drafted shadow reports submitted to the UN treaty bodies; Provided free of charge consultations to citizens on human rights issues; Wrote articles for the annual bulletin; Organized various meetings for NGO representatives and other human rights activists; Delivered trainings on the rights and freedoms guaranteed under the European Convention.
2004 -02/ 2006 ARTICLE 42 OF THE CONSTITUTION (NGO), Tbilisi, Georgia, Legal Assistant Strategic Litigation in the Domestic Setting: Timely Enforcement of (Project: International Instruments of Human Rights) Member of the Board from 10/2004 to 10/2005.
Re-elected in 08/2014 Assisted the lawyers with drafting complaints for the domestic courts as well as the ECtHR; Attended various professional meetings on behalf of the organization; Supervised the group of lawyers working on the proposal regarding the legislative changes; Translated various legal documents.
2 ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ 2003-2004 Project ARTICLE 42 OF THE CONSTITUTION (NGO), Tbilisi, Georgia, Lawyer- Legal Clinic Provided vulnerable citizens with consultations on human rights; Prepared cases for and represented clients before the domestic courts; 2001-2002 PARLIAMENT OF GEORGIA, Tbilisi, Georgia, Intern (Judicial Department) Prepared conclusions regarding various draft laws; Participated in the committee hearings and consultation meetings; Contributed to the creation of the monthly bulletin of the Parliament of Georgia.
PROFFESIONAL DEVELOPMENT 13-17/06/ 2016 Participant, International Leaders Programme (ILP) Organized by the FCO/ British Embassy to Georgia 08/2015 Participant, IVLP Good Governance and Refugee Services in the United States Organized by the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs' (ECA ) 12-14/09, 2014, Participant, “Training delivery methodology” Organized by the PPTC and INL,Tbilisi, Georgia 8-12/09, 2014 Participant , “Effective Communication and Social Media Outreach” Organized by the EU funded project “Support to the Criminal Justice Reform in Georgia” and Georgian Bar Association, Tbilisi, Georgia 27-28/01, 2014 Participant, “Leadership Training” Organized by the Government of the United States, Tbilisi , Georgia 17-20/12, 2013 Organized by Human Dynamics and PPTC, Kobuleti, Georgia Participant, “Training of Trainers” Participant, “The Role of Research and Analyses in the use and practice of 08-11/05/2013 imprisonment” Organized by the MCLA, COE and TSU 09.10.2012 Participant , Reasoning Court judgments on criminal cases Organized by the GBA and NORLAG, Tbilisi, Georgia 01.10.
2012 Observer, Parliamentary elections ,GYLA representative, Tbilisi, Georgia 29-30/09/2011 Expert , Strategic Litigation Seminar “Freedom of Expression/ Freedom of Assembly and Association” Organized by INTERIGHTS , Tbilisi, Georgia 7-9 /07/2011 Expert, Introducing “Amicus Curiae” to the Georgian legal system, Right to respect for private life EU funded project “support to the Public Defender’s Office”,Batumi, Georgia 10-12/05/2011 Expert, Strasbourg litigation-a regional perspective 3 ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Organized by EHRAC, IR, GYA, COE and Fredrich Ebert Stiftung,Tbilisi, Georgia 15-16/04,2011 Expert, Introducing “Amicus Curiae” to the Georgian legal system Organized by “Article 42 of the Constitution” and NED, Bazaleti, Georgia 20-27/03/2010 Participant , International Humanitarian law competition Jean-Pictet Organized by the ICRC and Canadian Red Cross, Oxford (Quebec, Canada) 11-12/12/2008 Participant, Lesbian and Gay Rights Litigation Before the European Court of Human Rights workshop Organized by INTERIGHTS (IR), London (UK) 10-28/11/2008 Participant, Training programme LGBT and Human Rights Organized by SIDA, RFSL and RFSU, Stockholm, Sweden 26-29/10/2008 Training on gathering information for the ICC Investigator/Prosecutor including the techniques of taking witness statements ), Organized by the Open Society Institute (OSI , 21/05/2008 Observer, Parliamentary elections GYLA representative, Tbilisi, Georgia Tbilisi, Georgia 21 -24/01/2008 Strasbourg, France Participant, Council of Europe study visit by LGBT human rights defenders 05/01/2008 Observer, Presidential elections ,GYLA representative.
Tbilisi, Georgia 6-8/11/2007 Participant, Complaints workshop World Organization Against Torture Organized by he t (OMCT),Geneva, Switzerland 24-25/04/2007 Expert, Training seminar: Fundamental Human Rights under the European Convention and the procedure for applying to the ECtHR Convention Organized by the European Human Rights Advocacy Centre (EHRAC) and GYLA Tbilisi, Georgia 20-25/05/2007 Participant, Training on Planning Advocacy and Documenting Human Rights Violations Organized by ILGA Europe, Issyk-Kuli, Kyrgyzstan 27-28/02/2007 Participant, Seminar on Effective Implementation Human Rights Organized by the Council of Europe, Tbilisi, Georgia of the European Convention of 10-24/10/ 2006 Participant, Legal Skills Development Program Organized by the European Human Rights Advocacy Centre (EHRAC), London (UK), Strasbourg (France) 7-8/10,2006 Participant, Access to justice workshop Organized by INTERIGHTS, London (UK) 3-5/05/2006 Reporter on the NGO alternative repot submitted to the UNCAT, Geneva, Switzerland 4 ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ 10/2002-07/2003 Participant, Legal Clinic Program Tbilisi, Georgia , “Article 42 of the Constitution” and American Bar Association (ABA/CEELI) 2003 Participant, Training in human rights law 10, Organized by British Council and Georgian Institute of Public affairs ( GIPA), Tbilisi, Georgia SUCCESSFULLY LITIGATED CASES BEFORE THE EUROPEN COURT Jugheli and others v Georgia (No 38342/05) Judgments of 13 July 2017 Aghdgomelashvili and Japaridze v Georgia (No 7224/11) Dzidzava v Russia (No 16363/07) Judgment of 20 December 2016 Berdzenishvili and others v Russia (Nos​ 14594/07, 14597/07, 14976/07, 14978/07, 15221/07, 16369/07 and 16706/07) Judgment of 20 December 2016 Mirtskhulava v Georgia (No 18272/04) Judgment of 02 July 2015 Kakabadze and others v Georgia ( No 1484/07 ) Judgment of 02 October 2012 Tsintsabadze v Georgia (No 35403/06) Judgment of 15 February 2011 Klaus and Yuri Kiladze v Georgia (No 7975/06) Judgment of 02 February 2010 PUBLICATIONS (EHRAC bulletin issue 2) LGBT discrimination survey in Georgia Association “Unity of Judges of Georgia” Bulletin 2014 Does Georgian model of plea bargaining correspond to the requirements of the European Convention?
Winter 2014 Does Georgian model of plea bargaining correspond to the requirements of the European Convention?
Prohibition of discrimination against LGBT persons Heinrich Boell Foundation SC Regional Office, , 2012 Policy paper on how to defeat hate speech 2012,Human Rights protection: achievements and challenges “ The possible need of a human rights body to take account of the law of armed conflict where applicable: the case of Russian- Georgian armed conflict and the European Court of Human Rights Summer 2012, Are LGBT persons protected against discrimination and hate crime in Georgia?
Winter 2007 Collective Expulsion of Georgians from Russian Federation-Strict migration policy or other hidden motives ?
September 2006, August 2006, Women: Violence Against Women in Georgia July 2005, March 2004, Alternative Report to the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Alternative Report to the UNCAT: Human Rights Violations in Georgia Right to life in Georgia , Bulletin, “Article 42 of the Constitution” How to apply to the European Court of Human Rights (Brochure) , (EHRAC bulletin issue 8) (EHRAC bulletin issue 17) 5 ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS Member - Essex Human Rights Alumni Association Since October 2015 - ​Member- Steering Committee of the EU Project “CIB Support to the Public Defender’s Office II” Since November 2011- Since March 2010 to May 2016 - Since May 2006 - Since January 2006 - Since 10/2003 – 10/2012 - Second term - October 2014- March 2015 Since 05/2014 -11/2014- Foundation Georgia (OSGF) Member - NGO “Georgian Young Lawyers Association Member - NGO “Article 42 of the Constitution” Member – Experts’ Commission, Human Rights Programme, Open Society Member - European Commission on Sexual Orientation Law (ECSOL) Member - Georgian Bar Association (GBA) “ SKILLS : Computer Microsoft World, Excel, Internet 6 ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​