TSU Hosts the 4th Annual International Conference Dedicated to the 100th Anniversary of Academician Levan Alexidze, titled 60 Years of the UN Covenants: Bridging Rights Gaps for Vulnerable Groups", on September 24-25^th

The international scientific forum was organized by the International Law Institute at the TSU Faculty of Law, in cooperation with COST Action (BLUE-RIGHTS), the Batumi State Maritime Academy, and under the auspices of the Jean Monnet Center of Excellence.  

The two-day conference brought together nearly 30 prominent scholars, researchers, and high-level practitioners from seven countries (Georgia, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Turkey, Austria, and Hungary).  

The opening ceremony featured welcome remarks by Erekle Astakhishvili, TSU Vice-Rector; Moris Shalikashvili, Dean of the TSU Faculty of Law; Khatuna Totladze, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia; Prof. Irina Kurdadze, Director of the International Law Institute at the TSU Faculty of Law; Isabella Castrogiovanni, UNICEF Representative in Georgia; and Prof. Dr. Anna Petrig, Chair of COST Action (BlueRights) and Head of the Chair of International and Public Law at the University of Basel.  

The four plenary sessions covered critical contemporary legal issues, including:

•            
• The Evolution of the Right to Health at Sea: Legal Frameworks, Governance, and Blue Rights 

Moderator: Dr. Eka Siradze (TSU)  

Key Themes: Human rights at sea, ensuring health for fishers and seafarers, universal health coverage, and the interpretation of human rights covenants in the era of digital transformation.  

•            
• Universal Human Rights Protection in Practice: Implementing International Covenants in a Changing World 

Moderator: Prof. Dr. Irina Kurdadze (TSU) 

Key Themes: Reforming the UN treaty body system, the interaction between UN covenants and the European Convention on Human Rights, national human rights protection mechanisms, and case law on environmental/property disputes.             

• Mental Health Vulnerabilities in the Maritime Environment 

Moderator: Prof. Dr. Irini Papanicolopulu 

Key Themes: Seafarers' psychological well-being and safety on board, labor rights and human factor challenges in the maritime sector.             

• Advancing Universal Human Rights Protection: Responding to New Vulnerabilities and Emerging Risks 

Moderator: Prof. Dr. David Pataraia (TSU) 

Key Themes: Protection of national minorities, artificial intelligence and the right to equal education, rights of persons with disabilities, challenges faced by irregular migrants, risks of automated personal data processing, and voting rights from abroad.  

The conference featured active participation from leading local and international experts, professors, and researchers:             

• Prof. Dr. Irini Papanicolopulu;              
• Dr. Konstantine Korkelia (TSU Professor, Member of the UN Human Rights Committee for 2025–2028);              
• Dr. Beka Dzamashvili (First Deputy Minister of Justice of Georgia);            
• Dr. Tamar Gvaramadze (First Deputy Public Defender of Georgia, TSU Associate Professor);              
• Dr. Niko Tatulashvili (Head of the Human Rights Department, Administration of the Government of Georgia);              
• Dr. Irina Kurdadze (Director of the International Law Institute, TSU, Professor);         
• Dr. Eka Siradze (TSU Associate Professor, COST ACTION Blue Rights Committee Member);              
• Dr. Tamar Zarandia (Associate Professor, TSU Faculty of Law);             
• Dr. Nana Mchedlidze (TSU Lecturer, Alte University Professor);             
• Dr. Nino Rukhadze (TSU Assistant Professor);             
• Dr. Khatuna Burkadze (Professor, Caucasus University);          
• Dr. Natia Kalandarishvili-Müller (Alte University Professor, TSU Visiting Lecturer);              
• Dr. Nihan Sensbursu (Ordu University, Turkey);              
• Dr. Elda Kazari (IMLI, Malta);              
• Dr. Patricia Kennedy (University College Cork, Ireland);              
• Dr. Benedikt Harzell (University of Graz, Austria);            
• Dr. Katarzyna Zombor (Central European Academy, Hungary).   

This event represents another significant milestone in promoting and developing international law.