On 14 May 2021, IOM officially launched English Language Courses for the Patrol and Tourist Police of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) of Georgia. The course will focus on the language structures that will be applicable to MIA staff’s daily work, when interacting with foreign nationals residing or visiting Georgia.

With increasing migration to Georgia – both in terms of tourists, foreign students as well as foreign workers or others who choose to reside in Georgia, English language knowledge for the Patrol and Tourist Police staff is essential to ensure enforcement of the rule of law, while upholding human rights of migrants. IOM welcomes MIA’s commitment to professional development and enhancing of the English language communication skills of the staff and has been pleased to respond to MIA’s request for support.

The courses will be held on MIA premises from 14 May until 3 August for 24 staff members of Patrol and Tourist Police and will be conducted by the British Council Georgia and in line with the current COVID-19 regulations.

Zviad Khurtsilava, Head of Tourist Security Infantry Patrol Police Division of the Patrol Police Department at the Ministry of Internal Affairs; Maja Wiebler, IOM Georgie EMERGE Project Coordinator and Stephen Shelly, Teaching Center Manager at the British Council Georgia welcomed the course participants.

“IOM believes that successful migration management requires certain set of skills and we are happy to respond to the Ministry’s request for capacity building in this direction. The ability to communicate with foreign nationals promotes human rights-based approach to migration management. IOM is always ready to support further development of skills that will enhance migration governance practices”, said Maja Wiebler, IOM Georgia EMERGE Project Coordinator.

The Course is  supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Norway, which funds the project “Enhancing Migrants Rights and Good Governance in Armenia and Georgia”(EMERGE). 

EMERGE is a three-year project which started in December of 2019 and includes a series of activities aimed at promoting migrants’ rights and further  capacity building in Georgia to manage migration according to the EU and modern standards. 

One of the most important activities within the project has been the cooperation with the Ministry of Internal Affairs. IOM has already organized several workshops on intercultural communication and the International Migration Law for the Ministry staff and has planned a delivery of few more workshops in 2021.  This language course is another example of the successful cooperation.