In a new episode of our introduction series, we are pleased to present you another PhD student who will join Rights-To-Unite project in January 2025 – Ketevan Kukava from Tbilisi in Georgia.
My name is Ketevan (Ketevani) Kukava, and I am presently a fellow at the College of Europe in Natolin. My professional experience combines civil society leadership and academic work, driven by my passion for human rights and justice. I am a co-founder of the Law and Public Policy Centre (Tbilisi). I have 11 years of work experience in different sectors, and have (co-)authored over 20 publications on justice sector reform, the rule of law, human rights, and data protection. A significant milestone in my professional development was passing the judicial qualification exam in Georgia.
I hold a bachelor’s degree in law from Tbilisi State University, where my academic journey began. Building on this foundation, I earned a master’s degree in International Law from the Georgian Institute of Public Affairs. I expanded my expertise through MA in Human Rights Policy and Practice, an interdisciplinary programme offered by a consortium of three partner universities: the University of Gothenburg, the University of Roehampton, and UiT the Arctic University of Norway. This experience strengthened my passion for using legal frameworks to address societal challenges.
Throughout my professional and academic journey, I initiated and implemented various projects. I have been deeply inspired and guided by European values. In 2019, I completed an intensive programme in European Law and Economics at Riga Graduate School of Law, which reinforced my commitment to exploring how European values and principles can positively impact individuals. Currently, I am pursuing my Ph.D. in law at Tbilisi State University. At the College of Europe in Natolin, I have been deepening my understanding of European integration, its multifaceted dimensions, and the EU’s policies and relations with neighbouring countries.
I am particularly interested in the critical challenges arising at the intersection of law and technology. In today’s digital age, the economy, society, and individuals are largely dependent on the internet and internet-based services. With the rise of transformative advancements such as Artificial Intelligence, we are witnessing profound changes across various sectors. While technological development has brought remarkable benefits, it also poses threats to democratic values, the rule of law, and human rights.
The rapid pace of technological advancement affects us all in diverse and often unpredictable ways. Increasing challenges necessitated further development of EU law as the legislation had to adequately respond to the threats existing in the digital age and had to create stronger safeguards for human rights protection.
My PhD research in the RIGHTS-TO-UNITE project will focus on how EU-derived digital rights are understood, codified, and implemented in Georgia. Considering the risks that accompany technological advancement and digital progress, the need for digital rights protection has significantly increased. I aim to provide a comprehensive analysis of Georgia’s digital rights landscape, assess its alignment with European standards, and explore how these rights are exercised by individuals in their everyday lives. By adopting a bottom-up approach, I will focus on the human dimension of digital rights and their role in fostering societal integration.
I am deeply passionate about the RIGHTS TO UNITE project as it resonates with my belief that true integration is found in societal integration. This project highlights the human dimension of integration and I am inspired by its interdisciplinary approach. I am excited to contribute to the implementation of the RIGHTS TO UNITE project and look forward to embarking on a new academic journey by contributing to the comparative research with a focus on Georgia in this timely project at University College Dublin.