Tbilisi. A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the UN Women and the National Agency of Public Registry. “UN Women and the National Agency of Public Registry of the Ministry of Justice of Georgia will cooperate in strengthening gender equality and women's empowerment”.  Read more… Source: The organization’s page on the social network

Tbilisi. On March 7-8, 2022, representatives of the Public Defender of Georgia visited Rome at the invitation of the Italian National Guarantor for the Rights of Persons Detained or Deprived of Liberty, where a bilateral working meeting was held with the Italian National Preventive Mechanism and a cooperation agreement was signed. Read more… Source: ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. The signatory organizations call on the Georgian authorities to instigate a comprehensive policy to ensure organized reception of refugees from Ukraine and bona fide support of refugees already in Georgia. “The trend of Ukrainian refugees entering Georgia may also be discerned. According to our observations, after the start of the war, asylum seekers in Georgia are mainly those Ukrainians who have relatives, family, or other strong ties with Georgia. Despite this reality, it is clear that the Georgian authorities have not taken proactive steps to organize the evacuation of refugees from Ukraine and to provide them with proper and real support in Georgia. Moreover, thousands of Ukrainian tourists, who were unable to return to Ukraine due to the war that started on February 24, 2022, remain in Georgia, and they also face the need for urgent social support”, is noted in the joint statement. Read more… Source: socialjustice.org.ge

Tbilisi. Public Defender of Georgia and Council of National Minorities published the statement. “In the wake of the large-scale military aggression being carried out by the Russian Federation on the territory of Ukraine, certain fears and questions emerged in Georgian society regarding the purpose of the arrival of citizens of the Russian Federation in Georgia. Calls for the restriction of provision of services to the Russian citizens have also been spread on social networks, which are explained by the protection of state security and implementation of international sanctions. In the light of the ongoing events, similar discussions represent a form of freedom of expression, although it is important that the discussion be based on public awareness and not just on emotions or fears, as it can easily escalate into the widespread use of hate speech and ethnic harassment, which is categorically unacceptable and dangerous. Accordingly, we appeal to the representatives of the Georgian Government, opposition, political parties, media outlets, our fellow citizens and users of social networks to promote informed discourse and not to allow ethnic discrimination”. Read more… Source: ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. Public Defender Calls on Special Penitentiary Service to Immediately Transfer Mikheil Saakashvili for Necessary Medical Examinations. “On March 9, 2022, Public Defender's representatives visited Penitentiary Establishment No. 12, where they met with prisoner Mikheil Saakashvili and talked to the medical staff. The visit made it clear that it is necessary to immediately provide relevant examinations and further medical services to Mikheil Saakashvili in a relevant profile clinic”. Read more…  Source: ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. On March 8, a training on “Proper Support for Persons with Disabilities in Developing Independent Living Skills” was held with the parents of the participants of day care center. The training was very interactive. Read more… Source: The organization’s webpage on the social network

Tbilisi. Against the background of solidarity demonstrations for Ukraine, in recent days the authorities have resumed arresting civil activists, continuing the practice of using administrative arrest against them in a selective, disproportionate and unsubstantiated manner. “We call on the authorities not to go beyond the constitutional limits, stop the unsubstantiated, disproportionate and arbitrary restriction of the freedom of expression of civil activists, and give them an opportunity to make full use of the rights and freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution of Georgia”. Read more… Source: transparency.ge

Tbilisi. Councils of National Minorities and Religions of Public Defender of Georgia Condemn Russia's Aggression and Support Georgia's European Integration. “We, the Tolerance Center, Councils of National Minorities and Religions of the Public Defender of Georgia, express our admiration for the heroic Ukrainian nation and condemn the criminal military aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine. In this difficult situation, our thoughts are with the victims of the war waged by Russia. We hope for peace and end of occupation. At the same time, we would like to state that the full establishment of Georgia in the European democratic family is one of the main goals of our state, our society - this is our historical responsibility to both our ancestors and future generations; This is a reliable basis for the protection, security and development of Georgia's independence. We, the multi-ethnic and multi-confessional community of Georgia, with joint efforts, support Georgia's aspiration to join the European Union.” Read more… Source: ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. Public Defender of Georgia calls on Government to offer Ukraine to place orphaned Children temporarily in Georgia, until improvement in situation in Ukraine. “For their part, the Public Defender and her team express their readiness to be involved in this process, both in terms of finding/evaluating and monitoring temporary host families, as well as in terms of participating in various volunteering activities, as needed. The Public Defender and her staff are actively receiving information, including personally from the Parliamentary Commissioner for Human Rights of Ukraine and the European Network of Ombudspersons for Children (ENOC), on the situation in Ukraine, including the situation of children's rights”. Read more… Source: ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. Social Justice Center publishes the study: Practice of Providing Housing for Homeless Groups - What are the Special Needs of Women. “Ensuring adequate housing and combating homelessness is an issue that requires complex and multifaceted measures by the state. International standards clearly indicate that homelessness is a much broader concept than living on the streets and, among many other forms, includes living in housing services, institutions with different purposes, as well as in inadequate and overcrowded housing. On the other hand, the obligation of the state to guarantee adequate housing is not limited to providing physical space to people but also includes providing access to essential services and infrastructure, physical and financial accessibility, protection against eviction, and more”. Read more… Source: socialjustice.org.ge

Tbilisi. On February 25, 2022, the Public Defender presented the 7th Annual Report on the Situation of Equality and Combating and Preventing Discrimination. “The report highlights obstacles faced by women, persons with disabilities, members of religious and ethnic minorities, LGBT+ community and other vulnerable groups in 2021 in terms of realization of their right to equality. The report also assesses the compliance of Covid regulations with the right to equity; shortcomings in the social protection system in terms of the protection of the right to equality and cases of violation of labour rights in civil service due to political opinions during the pre-election period. The report also offers recommendations to the relevant agencies”. Read more… Source: ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. Georgian Coalition for International Criminal Court (GCICC) Expresses Solidarity with the Ukrainian People and condemns the aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine. “The current events in Ukraine are a continuation of the illegal occupation of Donbas and the annexation of Crimea. Ukraine has already declared its consent to the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court. Thus, even in the current conflict, the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC) becomes relevant, and any act that qualifies as a war crime, a crime against humanity or genocide must be investigated and adjudicated by the ICC. An effective response to international crimes is of paramount importance for maintaining world peace. The International Criminal Court must contribute to the strengthening of international peace and security. The Georgian Coalition for International Criminal Court calls on the International Criminal Court and the Contracting States of Rome Statute to comply with the requirement under which genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity must never remain unpunished. Thus, we call on the International Criminal Court to: Launch an investigation into the situation in Ukraine, in connection with which the pre-investigation stage has been on for already eight years; Take specific steps to prosecute those who committed the most barbaric crimes in the Russian-Georgian war: raids on the civilian population and facilities, taking civilians hostage, murders and rapes, looting, etc, the facts that are documented by members of the Coalition as well as other international organizations”. Read more… Source: gyla.ge

Tbilisi. On February 22, 2022, Nino Lomjaria, Public Defender of Georgia, met with Dunja Mijatović, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, who is paying an official visit to Georgia. “The Public Defender briefed Dunja Mijatović on freedom of expression, freedom of the media, recent offences committed against journalists and human rights defenders, their inadequate investigation, and, in general, shortcomings in the field of justice”. Read more… Source: ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. According to the information of the GYLA Ekaterine Kiknadze appealed to the Public Defender against Tea Tsulukiani and the Museum Directorate to establish discrimination. “As it is known to the public, after the appointment of Tea Tsulukiani as the Minister of Culture, Sports and Youth, the reorganization of the institutions subordinated to the Ministry began with large-scale changes. As a result, many employees have been dismissed from their positions by this time. Among those dismissed is Ekaterine Kiknadze, who was first demoted from the position of museum manager to the position of laboratory assistant without her consent and then dismissed altogether. Ekaterine has already applied to the Tbilisi City Court on this issue. GYLA represents the interests of Ekaterine Kiknadze in the Tbilisi City Court and the Public Defender's Office”. Read more… Source: gyla.ge

Tbilisi. The Public Defender proposed to the Parliament of Georgia to make legislative changes in order to enable accused prisoners to call their lawyers any time, even when their right to make calls is restricted. The change is necessary to ensure the effective defence of the accused. Read more… Source: ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. UNDP Georgia and OHCHR organized a two-day training of trainers to assist Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia to better protect the rights of people with disabilities and fight stigma and discrimination. Read more… Source: The organization’s page on the social network

Tbilisi. On 11 February 2022, training was held for the personnel of the State Inspector’s Service within the frame of the joint project of the Institute for Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI) and the State Inspector’s Service - "Promoting Personal Data Protection in Georgia”. The training was related to the case law of the European Court of Human Rights and the Court of Justice of the European Union on personal data protection. Learn more... Source: idfi.ge

Tbilisi. Transparency International Georgia defends the interests of 18 employees illegally dismissed from the Ministry of Justice while Thea Tsulukiani was the minister. “The state budget has already lost 332, 172 Gel in compensations due to these illegal dismissals”. Read more… Source: The organization’s page on the social network

Tbilisi. Taso Foundation offers you to join the global campaign dedicated to International Women's Day - Break The Bias. “Copy this post and as a sign of solidarity, upload your photo with crossed arms, or share a poster created specially for the campaign. Tag five friends and challenge them to join the campaign”. Read more… Source: The organization’s page on the social network

Shida Kartli. The Association "Anika" held meetings with local people and representatives of municipalities in Shida Kartli within the framework of the advocacy campaign of the project “Cross-Disability Partnership for Protecting the Rights using Law”. “The purpose of the meetings was to present the needs identified as a result of the research, to consult with the focus groups, and to discuss future plans with the representatives of municipalities". Read more… Source: The organization’s page on the social network

Shida-Kartli. Kaori Ishikawa, the UN Women Country Representative in Georgia, visited the Gori Crisis Centre for the victims and survivors of domestic violence, got acquainted with the activities of the Center and discussed plans and opportunities related to its sustainability. “Center offers not only psychological, social and economic assistance and rehabilitation but also medical, legal and referral services to the victims and survivors of violence”. Read more… Source: The organization’s page on the social network

Tbilisi. The Public Defender’s Office has prepared a study assessing the impact of the novel coronavirus pandemic on the rights situation of women working in the health sector, both in their workplace and social life. To address the above needs, a small-scale survey was conducted and 90 women employed in the health sector were interviewed by telephone. Both nurses and doctors were among the respondents. Read more… Source: www.ombudsman.ge