An intergovernmental agreement was signed between the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Office of the Public Defender.

“I’m here today for the launch of the new USAID Public Defender’s Office partnership program. The constitution of Georgia recognized the importance of protecting human rights by creating the Public Defender’s Office with a mandate to do just that.

This is something that professionals in the Public Defender’s Office take very seriously and work very hard to help the people of Georgia, and to hold their government agencies and officials accountable, and to ensure that the human rights of all of Georgia’s citizens are protected.

This is very difficult and demanding work, and they are far too often attacked unfairly for doing what Georgia’s constitution requires and mandates them to do. For the United States, strengthening democracy and protecting human rights is at the very center of our foreign policy: here in Georgia and around the world. And that is one reason why we have appreciated the close partnership that we’ve had with the Public Defender’s Office here in Georgia.

This is why we’re very grateful for the excellent cooperation that we’ve had, and we’re excited about this new program that is a direct grant to the Public Defender’s Office. We are confident that this program is going to further strengthen the effectiveness of the Public Defender’s Office in its core role of protecting the human rights of every Georgian citizen, just as Georgia’s constitution mandates it”, - said Kelly Degnan, the US Ambassador to Georgia.