On February 9-11 in Tbilisi (Georgia) representatives of governmental and non-governmental organizations took part in a training “Advocacy and Strategic Campaigns for the Protection of Human Rights”, which was held by an international expert Kaspars Zalitis from the organization “Mozaika” (Latvia).

During the training was made the groundwork for advocacy campaigns, some of which will be realized this year.

The three-day training on advocacy united representatives of more than 10 organizations from all over Georgia. Kaspars Zalitis told about the advocacy and strategic campaigning cycle and its components, problems or issues analyse, aims and objectives setting, stakeholders defining, advocacy methods, monitoring and evaluation of the advocacy and campaign plans and much more. During the training, participants not only learned the theory of advocacy in details, but also tried to use it on practice by preparing programs of advocacy and implementation plans for pressing problems solving in Georgia.

Among developed plans were suggested plans for free treatment of hepatitis C for everyone who needs it, for expanding the access to substitution therapy in the region and for decriminalization of drug use.

What is particularly important is the fact that this training didn’t end on its last day. It became “the preface” to the advocacy campaigns, which have a very important and urgent goal – improving the quality of life of people who use psychoactive substances in Georgia. Already, plans are being finalized, and in March there will be a training to prepare a communication strategy.

Training was held within the framework of the project “Bridging the Gaps: Health and Rights for Key Populations” with the financial support of Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs.