Tbilisi. On 18 April, Transparency International Georgia will file suit in Tbilisi City Court to defend the rights of 24 journalists from TV companies Mtavari, Formula and TV Pirveli as well as On.ge, who suffered injuries during the 5 July 2021 event, as the state failed to fulfill its constitutional duty to ensure safety of their activity. Read more… Source: transparency.ge

Tbilisi. UNDP and the UK Government help the Agency for State Care and Assistance for the (Statutory) Victims of Human Trafficking to expand its services for the wider community with a focus on women and underprivileged groups.  The results of the six-month initiative were discussed at the meeting on 15 April, bringing together the representatives from civil society, the donor community and experts. The initiative is part of the UNDP-led programme to support the ongoing public administration reform in Georgia with assistance from the UK government.  Read more… Source: The organization’s page on the social network

On April 11-14, 2022, Public Defender Nino Lomjaria held official meetings with representatives of the EU structures and the North Atlantic Alliance in Brussels, the capital of the Kingdom of Belgium. The topics of discussion at the meetings were the human rights situation in the country, fulfillment of obligations under the Association document and Georgia's integration into European structures. Read more… Source: ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. According to the information of the TI, a bill on the amendment to Law on the Elimination of Violence Against Women and/or Domestic Violence, and the Protection and Support of Victims of Such Violence has been introduced in the Parliament of Georgia and assigned to parliamentary committees for consideration. This legislative initiative envisages significant changes in terms of protection of rights of victims of violence. A status of victim will no longer be required for the use of shelter. Read more... Source: transparency.ge

Tbilisi. According to the CSO’s Tbilisi City Court imposed a fine worth GEL 34 300 in total on 16 individuals arrested at a rally in solidarity with Ukraine. It includes a GEL 15 800 fine imposed by judge Manuchar Tsatsua on six activists from the Shame Movement on 6 April 2022. The unlawful administrative arrest and unsubstantiated court decision have resulted in gross violation of the rights of activists and restriction of the right to freedom of peaceful assembly.  Read more… Source: transparency.ge

Tbilisi. According to the information of the TDI, 8 April is the international Roma Day (established in 1990). “Georgian Roma mainly live in Tbilisi, Kutaisi, Poti, Ozurgeti, Kobuleti, Kakheti and Gardabani villages. Roma face many systemic problems in Georgia in terms of public education, healthcare, integration, and employment”. Read more… Source: The organization’s page on the social network

Shida Kartli. On March 31, 2022, an information meeting was held at Shida Kartli Regional Hub with the representatives of the Public Defender of Shida Kartli Office. Ana Janiashvili, the main specialist spoke about the mandate of the Public Defender of Georgia. Tamar Tskhovrebadze, Representative of the Public Defender's Office on Gender Issues, made a presentation on Early Marriage. The training was held in the framework of the project “Civil Society STAR Initiative: CSOs as Sustainable, Transparent, Accountable and Resilient Development Actors in Georgia“ (2021-2025). The project is funded by the European Union (EU) and Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS). The works of Shida Kartli Regional Hub are run by Society Biliki. Read more… Source: The organization’s page on the social network

Tbilisi. The initiative of the PMMG implying the delivery of assistance to the forcibly displaced people from Ukraine to find jobs in Georgia has received feedbacks from the interested parties, first of all from employers. According to the information provided to the organization, the following professionals are among those seeking employment opportunities in Georgia. PMMG addresses the representatives of private as well as civil society sectors in Georgia to express the will to employ qualified personnel from Ukraine in the following positions: graphic designer, illustrator, financial and social media manager, driver, agriculture specialist and economist. In case of interest, please refer to the following contact: e-mail: 4ukraine@pmmg.org.ge / phone: 296 21 25. Read more... Source: The organization's page on the social network

Imereti. According to the information of the Human Rights Center, on April 5, Kutaisi City Court terminated administrative proceedings against civil activist Giorgi Loladze because of the lack of administrative offense. On March 27, 2022, Giorgi Loladze participated in a protest rally in Kutaisi protesting the increase in petrol prices. Loladze was one of the organizers of the rally. Read more... Source: www.humanrights.ge

Tbilisi. As it is known to the public, GYLA represents and protects the victims' rights of the violent events of July 5-6, 2021. At this stage, organization is involved in the case of 19 people. “On April 4, Tbilisi City Court announced sentences in the case of Lekso Lashkarava, Miranda Baghaturia, Vakhtang Kareli, Ilia Tvaliashvili, Rati Tsverava, and Dea Mamiseishvili. To thoroughly examine the matter, GYLA's lawyers apply to the Tbilisi City Court with a request to hand over a reasoned/substantiated sentence following the law”. Read more… Source: gyla.ge

Tbilisi. On March 31, 2021, the Public Defender of Georgia presented the 2021 report on the situation of human rights and freedoms in Georgia to the Parliament of Georgia. According to the main findings, in 2021, the human rights situation did not improve significantly. Moreover, there was even a significant deterioration in a number of areas. Read more… Source: ombudsman.ge

Kakheti. On March 29, representatives of the Human Rights Center met the public servants of the Telavi municipality. Aleko Tskitishvili, executive director of Human Rights Center, presented the findings of the HRC’s report „Legal Analysis of the Process of Property Restitution and Citizenship Restoration to Ethnic Ossetians Affected from the Conflict,” which was published with the financial support of the British Embassy in Tbilisi. Read more… ource: www.humanrights.ge

Tbilisi. GYLA applied to the Constitutional Court on behalf of Giorgi Gogoshidze and Indiko Abashidze. The impugned norms set the retirement age for academic staff who reached the age of 65 in state-based higher education institutions. According to the GYLA’s position, the disputed norms are the prevailing norms over the Judgment of the Constitutional Court N2/2/863, which is why they should be declared unconstitutional regarding the right to equality before the law without substantive consideration. Read more… Source: gyla.ge

Tbilisi. This report of the Coalition for Equality is a critique of social protection programs and social protection policies administered by central and local governments concerning various vulnerable groups. The Social Justice Center, together with partner organizations, identified the main challenges that exist in the field of social protection of persons with disabilities and prepared relevant recommendations for government agencies. Read more… Source: socialjustice.org.ge

Tbilisi. Transparency International Georgia assessed parliamentary oversight of the Government's performance related to the management of the pandemic during the period between 21 March 2020 and 31 December 2021, and the results of the decision to delegate power restricting fundamental human rights from the legislature to the Government. During the Covid-19 pandemic, the Parliament of Georgia failed to carry out effective control of the Government’s performance. The report identified all the shortcomings of the parliamentary oversight over the executive in Georgia.  Read more… Source: transparency.ge

Tbilisi. The Social Justice Center responds to the violence perpetrated by the supporters of Alt-Info and pro-Putin extremist political party Conservative Movement against civilians gathered in Kutaisi to express support for Ukraine. The Social Justice Center protects the interests of the victims and calls on the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia to ensure a timely investigation into the incident, identification of the attackers and imposition of criminal liability. Read more… Source: socialjustice.org.ge

Tbilisi. The series of trainings on the topic: "Women's Rights and Gender Equality ”, which was attended by more than 200 women involved in the Women’s Economic Empowerment project have ended. The trainings covered issues such as: gender, gender identity, gender norms and socialization, gender stereotypes and sexual harassment. The project is implemented by Taso Foundation with the support of the UN Women and the Government of Norway. Read more… Source: The organization’s page on the social network

Tbilisi. The public defender of Georgia publishes the survey report: Assessment to the needs of women and girls with disabilities and the state of protection of their rights in Georgia. “According to the research, the protection of the rights of women and girls with disabilities, at the policy level, is not a priority. Some positive changes, which are reflected in the creation of appropriate regulations or programs to improve the standards of protection of the rights of persons with disabilities, can not be considered as an effective way to protect the rights of women and girls with disabilities. These approaches and programs fail to see the needs of women and girls with disabilities, which for the most part may differ from the needs of men with disabilities. The state does not have a systemic vision of how to improve the protection of the rights of women and girls with disabilities in all areas of life”. This publication was prepared by the Public Defender's Office of Georgia with the support of UN Women in the framework of the project “Good Governance for Gender Equality in Georgia generously funded by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Read more… Source: ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. In connection with the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, on March 21, the Center for Tolerance and Diversity (TDI) publishes a study. 'Racial Profiling in Georgia. Existing policies and practices of the police system toward ethnic minorities and migrants', - is the title of the study. Read more… Source: The organization’s page on the social network

Tbilisi. Human Rights Center is alarmed at the recent frequent facts of assault in social network against the family members of human rights defender Vitaly Safarov, who was killed based on ethnic motives. “Recently, owners of various fake or real profiles in the social network Facebook have been intensively publishing posts containing fascist and xenophobic, hate speech and intimidating texts against the family members of Vitaly Safarov as well as against the Jewish people… In this light, it is essential that law enforcement bodies immediately, impartially and comprehensively investigated the facts of assault on the family members of Safarov and all other similar cases in order to prevent similar incidents in future. It is important that the State acknowledged the need to implement not only negative but positive responsibilities too as well as its role in the eradication of the crimes, which creates threat to the pluralism and equality in the society, development of democratic and safe environment in the country. It is important that the Government made the criminal law policy more severe towards similar unlawful and violent actions and establish categorical approach to them because the existing weak policy has already contributed to the empowerment of xenophobic, fascist groups and hate speech that cannot prevent similar incidents in future”, is noted in the address. Read more… Source: www.hrc.ge

Tbilisi. The civic activist Samira Bayramova has become the victim of violent threats by pro-Russian violent criminal group Alt-info.  Tolerance and Diversity Institute expresses its full support and solidarity towards Samira Bayramova and all citizens, activists and journalists who have become victims of pro-Russian violent group Alt-info. TDI calls on the government of Georgia to: Immediately investigate and prevent each threat against Samira Bayramova and other activists. To prevent the activities of the criminal group Alt-info and to bring their leaders to criminal justice. Read more… Source: The organization’s page on the social network

Tbilisi. Civic activist Samira Bairamova has become a threat target by a violent, pro-Russian group over her protests. GYLA represents and protects her rights. GYLA calls on the investigative body: Take appropriate measures to protect the safety of Samira Bairamova; Make a clear statement that the actions of the violent groups will not go unpunished; Investigate all threat-containing episodes promptly and identify responsible persons. Read more… Source: gyla.ge