Tbilisi. Transparency International - Georgia released Preliminary advice on dealing with illegal surveillance material by Thomas Hammarberg, EU Special Adviser on Legal and Constitutional Reform and Human Rights in Georgia. For full text  Source:transparency.ge

Reporters Without Borders welcomes the United Nations Security Council interest in considering to take further steps to enhance the implementation of resolution 1738 and improve the protection of journalists on the ground. For full text Source:media.ge

Tbilisi. Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association released a statement in Response to Press Conference Held at the Office of the Prosecutor on July 22. "On July 22, 2012, during a press-conference held at the office of the prosecutor it was reported that the investigating authorities found no evidence that Mamuka Ivaniadze was subjected to pressure during questioning. ...Regrettably, officers of the prosecutor’s office acted well beyond their limits of power prescribed by law and utilized seemingly unlawful methods of investigation. We understand that certain individuals whose actions have been rather questionable in the past still continue to work at the office of the prosecutor but this may not serve as justification", says the statement. For full text Source:gyla.ge

Tbilisi. Transparency International - Georgia released a blog post - "Ban on land acquisition for foreigners: breach of constitution and its adverse impact on investment". "Transparency International Georgia (TI Georgia) acknowledges the need to resolve the issues concerning land resources management, but believes that the newly introduced restrictions breach the constitutional rights to own property and can seriously undermine the country’s economic development", says the blog post. In the near future TI Georgia intends to file a constitutional claim requesting the invalidation of these restrictions. For full text Source:transparency.ge

Tbilisi. The Human Rights Center publishes an article about the current situation in Shida Kartli. "For the last one month more facts of physical assault and intimidation of citizens by the employees of Shida Kartli regional police, criminal police and State Security Service local offices have occurred. Representatives of Human Rights Center’s Gori office collected data about several incidents and presented them to the office of Prime Minister of Georgia. "Give those facts to us and you will see the reaction,” Prime-Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili said". For full text Source:humanrights.ge

Tbilisi. On July 5, non-governmental organizations issued a statement addressed to the Ministry of Internal Affairs regarding  video archive. "We would like to start by underlining that the present statement reflects the necessity of destroying secretly recorded videos of personal lives, which clearly does not imply that rest of the recorded materials must also be destroyed. Rather, materials reflecting acts of torture, inhumane treatment, rape and similar violent acts should be maintained at least court proceedings are concluded. All perpetrators must be imposed with the punishment proportionate to the gravity of crimes committed, in compliance to applicable law.    On the other hand, different legal considerations apply to secretly recorded videos of personal lives. These videos must be immediately destroyed". For full text Source:gyla.ge

Tbilisi. NGOs have released a joint statement about developments in the village of Samtatskaro, urging the authorities to take meaningful actions for ensuring safety of local Musllim population and for conflict resolution. "These developments clearly demonstrate that there is a source of religious conflict in the village of Samtatskaro, and that local Muslims are under pressure and intimidation exerted by the local population... In view of the gravity of the situation, the state has an obligation to take timely and meaningful measures for ensuring safety of local Muslims and resolving the conflict. Otherwise, there are risks that the conflict will be further deepened and spread out to other similar settlements", says the statement. For full text Source:gyla.ge

Tbilisi. The International Day in Support of Victims of Torture is celebrated on June 26. Every year GYLA celebrates the day with various different activities. This year Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association facilitated a lecture/discussions at Ivane Javakhishvili State University in Tbilisi addressing the following issues: What is qualified as torture and inhumane treatment (according to the ECHR practice); The reasons why torture and inhumane treatment has become a systemic problem; Current situation in penitentiary establishments; Rehabilitation of victims of torture and corresponding state strategy; Whether acts of torture are investigated effectively; Public approach towards torture and inhumane treatment, and whether raising public awareness is necessary; prevention of torture and inhumane treatment.  The Public Defender of Georgia, representatives of the Ministry of Corrections and Legal Assistance, the office of the prosecutor, NGOs, media, students and other stakeholders contributed to the discussions. Source:gyla.ge

Tbilisi. The Georgian Charter of Journalistic Ethics is going to launch the monitoring on media reporting on children-related issues. In June, July, August 2013 the Charter’s researchers will be monitoring 25 media outlets including 10 televisions, eight online and seven print editions.  Speaking at the June 20 press conference the Charter’s Executive Director Tamar Rukhadze said any piece covering children will be under monitoring. The compliance with the Code of Conduct of Broadcasters, professional and ethical standards will observed. For full text  Source:media.ge

Tbilisi. GYLA reacts on the draft conclusion of the Human Rights and Civil Integration Committee of the Parliament in terms of the May 17 developments.  "We anticipate that Human Rights and Civil Integration Committee will ensure effective participation of civil society representatives in examination of the conclusion of the May 17 events and the document will be brought in line with international human rights standards.  In addition, we thing reasonable to submit the issue at the plenary session and to adopt the document on the challenges faced in protection of LGBTs’ rights". For full text  Source:gyla.ge

Tbilisi. Human Rights House Tbilisi launched Legal Aid Center, which will provide socially vulnerable, impoverished people with free legal aid. The project is implemented by HRHT member organizations – Human Rights Center (HRIDC) and Article 42 of Constitution. For full text Source:humanrights.ge

Tbilisi. on June 14, civil society representatives will hold a manifestation to protest against acts of interference with religious practice by the local Muslim population in the village of Samtatskaro, Dedoplistskaro District over the last three weeks, and to show their support for tolerance and rights of religious minority. "We believe that by taking effective actions the state should visibly demonstrate its respect to the rights of religious minority and undertake appropriate measures for due protection of freedom of religion of the Muslim community in the village of Samtatskaro. Efforts of political and civil actors in response to these issues are essential in the process of building a society that is based on freedom, equality and tolerance", says the statement. For full text  Source:gyla.ge

Tbilisi. On June 5, 2013, the Prevention and Monitoring Department of the Public Defender’s office in cooperation with Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association carried out monitoring of the penitentiary establishment N9 where former law enforcement officers and ex-officials are held. "We welcome the fact that virtually all prisoners have testified to normal treatment in prison; they have also stated that administration and employees of the penitentiary facility are trying their best to fulfill their legitimate demands. The monitoring has revealed that defendants/convicts do not have access to TV", says GYLA's web page. For full text  Source:gyla.ge

Tbilisi. EC acquired responsibility to return the money back to losing candidates after the Constitutional Court of Georgia upheld the constitutional lawsuit of Human Rights Center and annulled the provision of the Election Code which obliged the candidate nominated by the initiative group to transfer 5 000 lari to the CEC account as a deposit. Four majoritarian candidates, who lost interim elections, received 5 000 lari back, which they had transferred to the CEC account before elections. For full text  Source:humanrights.ge

Tbilisi. Human Rights Center is concerned for recent developments about the draft labor code. "unfortunately, as a result of recent developments related with the discussion of the draft Labor Code at the Parliament of Georgia, country’s adherence and respect to European labor standards and principles of the International Labor Organization became suspicious”, says the statement. For full text Source: humanrights.ge

Tbilisi. Human Rights Training and Monitoring Center, Georgia’s Democracy Initiative, Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association and Article 42 of the Constitution have released joint statement in terms of ongoing religious conflict in the village Samtatskaro of Dedoplistkaro region. Undersigned NGOs monitored the developments in the village Samtatskaro on May 31, therefore facts and findings submitted in this statement are underpinned by monitoring results. For full text Source:gyla.ge

Tbilisi. On May 28, 2013, by the initiative of  non-government organizations "Identity”, "Women’s Initiatives Supporting Group”, "Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association” and with the support of the Public Defender the  working meeting was held with  the head of Tbilisi Main Division of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia, Mr. Alexander Chikaidze and  the deputy head of the above division, Mr. Nika Samarghanishvili.  The facts of intensified abuse and violence towards the members of the LGBT community taking place after May 17 were discussed at the  meeting. The participants of the meeting  discussed strengthening of efficiency of  law enforcement  officials and development of effective intervention strategies. Attention was focused on the need of identification of  hate crimes and increase of the referral to police by  LGBT community representatives. Source:ombudsman.ge 

Tbilisi. GYLA releases application on amendments introduced to the Government of Abkhazia Autonomous Republic. "IDPs’ initiative group has applied to GYLA with a view to study and assess recent developments in the government of Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia. Considering the wide public interest (especially from IDPs’ side), we deem it necessary to release a public statement on the issue, after studying the facts of the case”, says the organization's web page. For Full Text  Souce: gyla.ge 

Tbilisi. The Georgian Charter of Journalistic Ethics  calls the Adjara Supreme Council , its Head and Council’s press office for not to prevent media,  not to place journalists in different working conditions according to their personal attitude and allow them to attend press conferences and other public meetings without limitations. For Full Text  Source:media.ge

Tbilisi. The Georgian Young Lawyers' Association has expressed concerns over the death of inmate L.K. and released the statement. For the full text.(geo) Source: gyla.ge

Tbilisi. The key challenges of secret video spying and protection of personal data were discussed today at the conference organized by "Transparency International - Georgia". NGO and the state representatives have attended the conference. Representatives of Transparency International have noted that secret video spying carried out by the authorities in the last few years is a serious problem, as uncontrolled systematic spying endangers the freedom of media and civil rights, the principles that the free and democratic state is built on. Problems in terms of video spying and protection of personal data were also discussed at the conference. Problems and recommendations (geo) In full about the conference.(geo) Source: transparency.ge, media.ge

Tbilisi. The EU Delegation to Georgia has released the statement on developments during the International Day against Homophobia. "The EU Delegation was dismayed by the scenes of brutal intolerance and violence  committed by some demonstrators on 17 May with a declared desire to prevent other  demonstrators from expressing themselves peacefully. The EU considers the freedom of expression of every human being to be of paramount  importance as stated on numerous occasions.. The EU believes in the need to fight discrimination on any grounds, including sexual orientation, and to encourage tolerance as a basis for a democratic and peaceful society”. The EU calls on the government of Georgia to uphold the international and European standards of freedom and equality in dignity and rights to which it has committed itself. For the full text. Source: eeas.europa.eu