Shida Kartli. On February 14, the Gori Office of the Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association has hosted the examination of the draft Organic Law – the Labor Code of Georgia developed by the Ministry of Justice.The draft is elaborated by the Ministry of Justice and is already sent to the Parliament, but the committee sittings have not started yet.The meeting aimed at getting familiar with the public opinion on this draft, as GYLA intends to develop certain recommendations and submit them to the Parliament.Representatives of local and international CSOs have attended the meeting.Examination was carried out by using the comparative method of already existing Code and the newly elaborated draft. Discussion was held over the amendments and the list of amendments that have to be made in the opinion of attending audience was drawn up.

Tbilisi. With support of the "Open Society – Georgia” Foundation, the organization "Union of Patients with B and C Hepatitis” implements the project since 2011 "Let’s Live without Pain”. The campaign aims to create the environment where all citizens will have access to the effective and modern means of alleviating the pain.Street rallies were held on February 1 as part of the project, which aimed at popularizing the project among the population and letting the society know about their right – to live without the pain. Rallies were held simultaneously in several locations in Tbilisi and the students of higher education institutions have participated.Source: osgf.ge

Tbilisi. Transparency International – Georgia released the overview of planned amendments to the Labor Code. The organization welcomes the initiative of the Ministry of Justice and believes that the adoption of amendments and supplements will substantially improve the rights of the employees. However, Transparency International – Georgia considers that there are several significant issues requiring improvement.In order for the society to be fully informed on the changes to the labor legislation, the organization publishes the detailed overview. Overview – planned amendments to the Labor Code. Source: transparency.ge

Adjara. On January 13, the "Democracy Institute” has presented in the Batumi Civic Engagement Center the primary monitoring results of the protection system of rights of the service users. The campaigning project for protection of the rights of service users was launched last November and along with the protection of users’ rights, it aims to improve the provision of services.To collect information on the provision of services available in the Adjara Region, official letters were sent to the service-provider companies to become aware of the practice of protection of the users’ rights. Yet, several companies have failed to provide information on this issue.Practice within the companies was discussed at the meeting-discussion, as well as the results of interviews conducted on the provision of services by the organizations. Working groups were set up at the meeting, which will work on the recommendations and legislative amendments in respect of these issues.

Samegrelo. At the press-conference held on February 11 in the Zugdidi Office of Transparency International - Georgia, the facts of infringement upon property rights in Anaklia were discussed.According to the organization's lawyer Ana Kochua, residents of Anaklia have signed the documents on transfer of their property to the state as a result of pressure from the Prosecutor's Office. Part of citizens were summoned to the Prosecutor's Office.Transparency International - Georgia calls on the Chief Prosecutor's Office of Georgia to launch investigation into the facts of pressure on citizens by the Prosecutor's Office. For the full text.

Tbilisi. The Institute for the Development of Freedom of Information has echoed the developments by the public library on February 8 with a statement. "We believe that restricting the freedom of assembly and expression is totally unacceptable. We call on the law-enforcement agencies to ensure the protection of rights of Georgian citizens regardless of their political opinions to freely, unrestrictedly and publicly express their position and opinions", says the statement. The organization urges the law-enforcement agencies to investigate what happened and hold responsible as those accused of committing unlawful actions, as well as the employees of the Ministry of Interior who had failed to duly observe lawful order. For the full text. Source: idfi.ge

Tbilisi. On February 9, Article 42 of the Constitution has released the statement on confrontation that occurred in the territory adjacent to the National Library. The organization calls on the law-enforcement agencies to observe public safety and order, as well as to carry out rapid and effective investigation so that the offenders are identified in time. For the full text. Source: article42.ge

Tbilisi. 11 NGOs demanded response to the facts of inhumane treatment practiced in the penitentiary system in recent years and released the statement on February 4. "Ineffective investigation into the facts of torture and inhumane treatment was a factor fostering impunity for years. Yet, as the effective investigation is a key point in the fight against torture and inhumane treatment, it must be the priority task of the authorities”, says the statement. NGOs put forth their demands with respect to effective investigation of facts occurring in penitentiary institutions and call on the authorities to undertake efficient steps for rehabilitation of victims. For the full text:  Source: gyla.ge

Kakheti. NGO "Anti-Violence Network of Georgia” holds public discussions on protection from violence.2-day meeting was held in the Gurjaani office of "Media Center”. Schoolchildren from public schools, teachers and interested persons have attended the event. The project "Assisting Children Victims of Violence” is being implemented in all eight municipalities of Kakheti.According to the Chair of the Kakheti regional committee of "Anti-Violence Network of Georgia” Jilda Kharitonashvili, the organization aims at saving and protecting women from violence: "the organization’s chief activity is to deliver psycho-medical and legal consultations in the Kakheti Region. We organize trainings and discussions for interested persons on the ways of avoiding violence. It’s very important to deliver such discussions as the children’s rights are often violated as at home, as well as at school.”Nutsiko Zardiashvili, schoolchildren: "I received information on violence and how should we behave if we witness such facts. Violence against women and children is prohibited and anyone doing it should be severely punished.”

The human rights organization "Human Rights Watch” has released the 665-page report depicting the existing situation in over 90 countries worldwide, including the current and 2012 situation in Georgia. The report covers the elections held in 2012 and the election environment, as well as human rights. The report provides certain recommendations as well. The Report – World Report 2013 – Georgia. Source: hrw.org

Tbilisi. The youth associations have released the statement on January 31, after the incident in the Wrestling Federation. In their statement the organizations condemn "physical abuse of opponents" by the officials, "motivated by deciding certain issues in their favor". The organizations demand investigation in relation to this fact. For the full text. Source: page of House of Tolerance in the social network 

Imereti. Presentation of results of the project "Protecting the Interests of Private Owners during the Construction of Zestaponi-Samtredia Motor Highway" of the Young Economists' Association was held in the Kutaisi Civic Engagement Center. According to the representative of the Young Economists' Association PaataKldiashvili, information meetings were held with the population as part of the project, and professional economists and lawyers have delivered consultations to the beneficiaries for bringing in order the documentation confirming their title to the property."Majority of beneficiaries has already received compensation in exchange of property on the Kutaisi-Samtredia section, while a small part still has certain problems. Active work is underway to help them", - Kldiashvili said.The project was funded by the US Agency for International Development, as part of the "Policy, Advocacy and Civil Society Development in Georgia" Program of the East-West Management Institute.

Tbilisi. The Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association monitors the developments in the local self-government authorities. One group of problems that emerged recently in this respect concerns the dismissal of persons employed in the municipalities, - says the organization’s web site. In given case as well, GYLA echoes the dismissal of two persons – public servants from the Kareli Municipality. For the full text. Source: gyla.ge

Kartli. On January 29, the Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association has organized a meeting in the Gori Civic Engagement Center. The meeting concerned the analysis of criminal and administrative violations cases against citizens arrested by previous authorities, which GYLA has examined.Broad spectrum of representatives of the society has attended the meeting: representatives of political parties, CSOs, media and active citizens. Meeting participants were provided with the second part of the book published by GYLA – "An Analysis of Allegedly Politically Motivated Criminal and Administrative Violations Cases”, which analyzes several additional cases. In addition, the small brochures bearing the same title were handed out in English and Georgian languages. The Book – "An Analysis of Allegedly Politically Motivated Criminal and Administrative Violations Cases”.

Imereti. On January 25, as part of the project of the Kutaisi-based Andria Razmadze Public School #41 – "Violence is Our Past" – the representatives of the legal clinic from the Tsereteli University have delivered the training in human rights. At the meeting, the facts of violence were examined in the context of human rights. The training was interactive and the audience had an opportunity to actively participate in its course.This project is funded as part of the Small Grants Competition of the Civic Education and Teacher Training Program. Source: kedec.ge

Adjara. On January 24, Public Defender of Georgia held the introductory meeting with the Adjara-based CSO representatives in the Batumi Civic Engagement Center, at which the local problems and joint ways of solution were discussed in the question-and-answer mode. Public Defender, UchaNanuashvili stated that the powers of the Adjara Branch of the Ombudsman's Office will be definitely increased. Further, the Head of the Department for Justice SopoBenuashvili has called on the CSOs to assist the population in defending their rights and to provide documentary complaints to the Public Defender in time, in order for them to react accordingly and timely.

Samegrelo. NGOs and IDPs from Abkhazia have gathered on January 23 in the Zugdidi Civic Engagement Center at the initiative of NGO "IDP Women for Their Rights". The meeting was organized to set up the IDP Initiative Group. The participants of the protest rally held by the President's Zugdidi residence have also went to the meeting, which has resulted in a mess, since the dissenting opinions were expressed with respect to creation of the Group.Lawyer of the NGO "Legal Protection Center" RusudanPachkoria became interested in the purpose of setting up the IDP Initiative Group and its functions. According to her, "in order to avoid such a mess and confusion, we should know what is a legal basis for such a group".On its hand, the Head of the NGO "IDP Women for Their Rights" Nona Ubilava stated that the meeting aimed to start talks on creating the initiative group, and that the charter of the group is not drafted yet.

Adjara. On January18, the youth organization "Art Way" held another theatricalized event as part of the Re-Animation Project. The event participants have informed large part of the public about the problems of the blind by imitating the sound traffic lights. They urged the ministries, which are directly responsible for protecting the rights of persons with disabilities, to fully enforce the Law focused on the improvement of their social state. Apart from the "Art Way" club members, local CSO representatives have also participated in the campaign.

Tbilisi. Transparency International – Georgia continues monitoring the staff policy issues in the public service and will release a study on this topic in the near future. On January 17 the organization has released a statement concerning the dismissal of employees from public institutions after the parliamentary elections. The statement says that "in many public institutions quite a large number of persons have already lost their jobs and this process still continues. Dismissals take place as in the capital, as well as in the regions." The statement examines the dismissal trends and concrete examples. It also provides recommendations. For the full text. Source:transparency.ge

Tbilisi. The Georgian Young Lawyers' Association echoed the dissemination of video materials and released the statement. It states that "recording, collecting and storing of video materials that depict the private lives of individuals by the state, which do not relate to such individuals' criminal activities, is a clearly unjustified action containing crime elements... according to the disseminated information, similar actions were of mass character and were probably organized by a high official." GYLA believes that dissemination of video materials by the state in this form violates the necessary safeguards for protecting a private life, which contradicts the standards set by Article 8 of the European Convention. GYLA calls on media outlets to stop airing these video materials and not to allow in the future the dissemination of video materials depicting private lives of individuals in the general public in a similar form. Further, GYLA urges the investigation to show special prudence in the future towards dissemination of information, which may infringe upon the inviolability of private life or other rights. For the full text. Source:gyla.ge

Tbilisi. "Transparency International – Georgia" has released the statement after the dissemination of secret video-recordings by the media. "Transparency International – Georgia" calls on the "Prosecutor's Office to protect the rights and dignity of persons in the recordings when carrying out the proceedings, as well as not to allow the recognition of these persons by the general public. The Government must secure the constitutional right of private inviolability of every citizen regardless of their sexual orientation. We ask the journalists and media outlets to cover this topic by high professional standards and not to allow disclosing their identity. In addition, we urge the Chief Prosecutor's Office of Georgia to refrain from publicizing any kind of secret recordings, unless they address an extremely important public interest." For the full text. Source: transparency.ge

Tbilisi. The Media Development Fund expresses concern about the provision of video recordings to the media by the Tbilisi Prosecutor's Office, which is in connection with the criminal case initiated against the former leadership of the Military Police Department of the Ministry of Defense of Georgia. For the full text. Source: mdfgeorgia.ge