Nino Elbakidze

“Human Rights Advocacy and Democracy Fund” - Senior Researcher and Founder

Georgia

 

Nino Elbakidze is a human rights lawyer who obtained her legal education at Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University.

In 2018-2019, she participated in the Hubert Humphrey Leadership Training Program, supported by the American government, during which she completed a 4-month leadership program at the University of Montana in 2018.

During 2018-2019, she pursued studies at the American University Washington College of Law, focusing on Human Rights and Law.

In 2021-2022, she received a Disability Rights Training Program Fellowship from the Open Society Foundations. In 2022, she earned an MA in American Law and Human Rights from Syracuse University School of Law.

Nino commenced her professional career in 2002 at the non-governmental organization “Rights Georgia” (formerly “Article 42 of the Constitution”), amassing 20 years of experience in human rights work. Concurrently, from 2007 to 2016, she held various managerial positions.

From 2014 to 2016, Nino served as the Executive Director of “Rights Georgia”, and from 2014 to 2017, she worked at “Tbilisi Human Rights House”, assuming the position of Chairperson of the Board.

Nino directed the project "Promoting Gender Equality at Workplaces," supported by the American Agency for International Development (USAID) from 2014 to 2016. She also served as an expert for the Open Society Foundation on the project "Monitoring the Implementation of the Association Agenda by Non-Governmental Organizations," focusing on labor law.

In her capacity as an expert in labor rights, Nino has collaborated with organizations such as the International Labor Organization (ILO), Solidarity Center, USAID Rule of Law Program, and American Bar Association Human Rights Center.

Nino has authored up to fifteen works in the field of human rights, primarily addressing labor rights. Additionally, she is deeply interested in issues concerning equality, rights of persons with disabilities, and human rights in conflict, particularly the situation in Georgia's border areas.