On June 26, 2015, as part of the Training Center’s project Students’ Debate Club the first selection competition was held among the students.

Debates on the topic “Should gender quota be mandatory in party lists” were held among the students of Guram Tavartqiladze Teaching University, Caucasus University and Sokhumi State University who took (this year) a semestral course in electoral law developed by the Training Center.

Winning team was identified by the jury that was comprised of: Tamar Zhvania, CEC Chair, Emzar Kakulia, Lili Abutidze and Giorgi Chiqaberidze, CEC members, Ana Mikeladze, advisor to the CEC Chair, and Natia Zaalishvili, Training Center Director.

Tamar Zhvania, CEC Chair and Natia Zaalishvili, the Training Center director, distributed certificates to the members of the winning team. Certificates acknowledge their successful transfer to the finals. Finalists are: Giorgi Mamatelashvili, Mariam Tsivtsivadze, Lorena Medzmariashvili (Sokhumi State University) and Nodar Inaneishvili (Caucasus University).

Second Selection competition for the students’ debate club will be held on July 7, at 14:00, on the topic: “should a citizen be granted active suffrage from the age of 16”.

The goal of the Students’ Debate club is to support the enhancement of students’ civic awareness and electoral culture, deepen the interest of youth in electoral processes and motivate them to participate in elections, as well as the development of professional knowledge and skills of students.