Adjara. Students in Adjara region organized event, "Future Generation Choose Peace.” In Batumi students held a march, an exhibition of drawings, and a flash mob. Together with their peers from Maritime Training Center and Batumi Youth Palace, over 200 students expressed their point of view against terrorism, violence, war, and the importance of peace. The event was supported by the representatives of local government, USAID funded Center for Civic Engagement in Batumi and the Georgian Young Lawyers Association. The event was supported by USAID-funded project "Momavlis Taoba”, implemented by PH International. Source: USAID/Georgia

Tbilisi. As part of the Small Grants Program of the US Embassy's Democracy Commission, the Civil Society Development Center is producing a cycle of radio programs "Invisible Children". The program will be broadcast via Radio "Chocolate". Head of CSO "Child and Environment", Nana Iashvili was the guest of 17th program. She discussed problems experienced currently by the day centers, transit centers and the crisis intervention shelters. The program. Source: web page of the Civil Society Development Center in the social network.

Adjara. Event dedicated to the Holocaust Memorial Day was held on January 27 for members of the Batumi Youth Center. Young peers were briefed about the Holocaust, anti-Semitism, and the II World War. A short documentary about Anne Frank was shown. The event was organized as part of the Advancing National Integration in Georgia project, implemented by the UN Association of Georgia with financial support from the US Agency for International Development. Source: web page of the Batumi Youth Center in the social network.

Kakheti. The Juvenile Justice Code was discussed in Kvareli, pursuant to which a specialized justice institution will be set up for persons under the age of 18 years. Specialized police officers, investigators, prosecutors and judges will examine cases of children at conflict with law. The project was developed based on recommendations of the EU and the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF), with support of the EU project - "Supporting Criminal Justice System Reform in Georgia". UNICEF representative in Georgia, as well as representatives of the Ministry of Justice and local non-governmental sector have attended the meeting. "We impatiently wait for the entry of the Code in legal force, and at the same time express readiness to facilitate its implementation", UNICEF representative, SaschaGraumann has stated. The new Code combines in one legislative act norms regulating the liability of juveniles, administrative and criminal proceedings, penitentiary and other issues and introduces new standards and mechanisms of protection of juveniles' rights.

Samtskhe-Javakheti. The Georgian Democratic Initiative has delivered a training on January 24 in Akhaltsikhe, in the youth club of the Union of Democrat Meskhetians on "Standards of freedom of expression - local and international practice". Training aimed to raise awareness among youth on standards of freedom of expression, human rights and freedoms. Meeting participants have discussed international and local standards of freedom of expression, current situation in Georgia and the recent developments around "Charlie Hebdo" in France. For the full text. Source: gdi.ge

Tbilisi. On January 23, the 1st Building of the IvaneJavakhishvili Tbilisi State University has hosted a seminar on the program of the European Voluntary Service, delivered by the volunteers of youth association "Droni" (Times). Volunteers have shared their experience and the project's main idea with Georgian youngsters, as well as the opportunities and positive aspects associated with the project. Participants were actively involved in the working process and expressed interest in future partnership. Source: the association's web page in the social network.

Shida Kartli. According to the Local Governor (Gamgebeli) of the Gori Municipality, Davit Oniashvili, who has met with the Gori youth self-government, youth centers will be set up in the Gori villages, which will strive to solve youth problems and cooperate actively with the Gori youth self-government group. The meeting, at which youngsters have discussed problems of concern to the rural population, was organized as part of the project of CSO "Friendship Bridge Qartlosi" - "Enhancing Youth Participation at Regional Level in Georgia". Source: qartlosi.org

Kvemo Kartli. The Marneuli Youth Center has hosted the final event of the project "Information Campaign on NATO for Youth in the Marneuli Region". The Marneuli Youth Center has organized this project with support of the NATO and EU Information Center and the Romanian Embassy in Georgia. As part of the project, a cycle of trainings was delivered in 7 villages of the Marneuli Municipality, focusing mainly on the role of NATO in ensuring global security and the significance of Georgia's Euro-Atlantic integration. At the final event, 35 active participants who were selected from all seven villages involved in the project, have participated in an intellectual game on the topic of NATO. Members of a winner team were awarded with special prizes. Source: NATO and EU Information Center.

Tbilisi. Every Thursday, at 19:00, the problems of children living and working in the streets and ways of their solution are discussed through live broadcasting at Radio "Chocolate". "Invisible Children" – is the name of the program produced by CSO "Civil Society Development Center", with financial support of the US Embassy. The program is available on the organization's web page at: csdc-itv.ge

Tbilisi. The Public Defender Started Examination of a Fact of a Student Leaving the Patriarchate Children’s Home. "On December 9, 2014, the Public Defender’s Office of Georgia received information through electronic media that on November 30, 2014 a 15-year old student of the St. Matata Apostle boarding school in Batumi which is under the auspices of the Patriarchate of Georgia left the school. ...Based on the above-mentioned information, the Public Defender launched appropriate proceedings". For the full text Source: ombudsman.ge  

Tbilisi. Another meeting was held as part of the joint project of "Liberal" magazine and the Frontline Club – "Discussions over Children's Rights". Meeting participants have discussed what should be done in Georgia to better preserve children's lives and secure their health and development. Video recording of the discussion     Source: liberali.ge

Adjara. On December 11, the Batumi City Council has hosted the official closing of the Youth Internship Program and the presentation of competition projects. The City Council members have identified the best project winners and awarded them with special certificates. Youngsters have presented five projects: "Studying the Needs of Persons with Disabilities", "Supports in the Batumi Streets and Cycle Tracks", "Vouchering of Children from Socially Unprotected and Multi-Children Families in Private Kindergartens", "Studying the Needs of the Youth" and "Green Batumi". According to the decision of the City Council members, the interns of the Commission for Health and Social Issues have won with 15 votes for the project "Studying the Needs of Persons with Disabilities". 25 youngsters have undertaken internship in the field commissions of the City Council over six months, while the commission chairs were their direct coordinators. The Batumi City Council, along with CSO union "Progress" for promoting development and cooperation, is implementing the youth internship program in the city's self-government for two years now. The Program aims to involve youth in the activities of the City Council's field commissions and the City Hall's relevant services, as well as to raise their awareness.

Kakheti. The Kakheti Bureau of the Nato and EU Information Center and the Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy (NIMD) have organized a meeting in Sighnaghi on December 11. It was held as part of the project "Youth Partnership - Future Prospects", which aims to organize informative meetings with the public school pupils and raise their knowledge and awareness on the EU history, Georgia-EU relations, and issues related to the Association Agreement. Schoolchildren have received the guide - "EU and Georgia". The project is implemented with support from international organizations - the Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy (NIMD) and the European Partnership for Democracy. As part of the project, Internet radio will be founded, and television programs and brochures will be produced on the Association Agreement and the EU related topics.

Samtskhe-Javakheti. A conference hall of CSO "Union of Democrat Meskhetians" has hosted the UN modeling session on December 9. Session participants have discussed gender inequality and the related issues. Youngsters participating in the modeling session have performed functions of up to 20 country representatives and shared their visions among each other. The meeting aims to achieve the acknowledgment of diplomatic responsibility among the youth. A modeling session was organized as part of the Advancing National Integration project, implemented by the UN Association of Georgia with financial support from the US Agency for International Development. This project is underway in 13 cities of Georgia. 4 delegates will be selected from each of them. They will then participate in the national modeling session to be hosted by Tbilisi. Overall, the best diplomat will be revealed across Georgia.

Kakheti. Representatives of the Georgian Young Constitutionalists' Association have held a meeting in the Telavi State University as part of the "For Student Liberty" project, supported financially by the "Open Society - Georgia" Foundation. The meeting aimed to discuss issues related to the student self-government. The organization's representatives have discussed various models of the student self-government.

Tbilisi. The UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) has organized a discussion in the Writers' House - "Writers for a Better Education", with participation of writers Ana Kordzaia-Samadashvili and Diana Anpimiadi. In November 2014 the international community has celebrated 25th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of a Child. Children's education is one of the essential parts of the Convention. The Writers' House has echoed the event with this discussion. Source: 17maisi.org

Tbilisi. Interactive game CITY GAME - NATO was organized at the initiative of the NATO and EU Information Center and the Georgian Young Diplomats' Club, with participation of students and senior schoolchildren. Each 3-member team aimed to find the signs hidden in the territory of the Youth and Children's Palace and answer questions about NATO. Winner team has received prices provided by the Bulgarian Embassy in Georgia. Source: the organization's page in the social network.

Tbilisi. The NATO and EU Information Center has organized a meeting of the State Minister for Integration in the European and Euro-Atlantic Structures with young representatives of partner CSOs. The State Minister has focused on the importance of Georgia's Euro-Atlantic process and the youth participation in it. Discussion evolved also about future partnership and projects planned by CSOs in 2015. Source: the organization's page in the social network.

Tbilisi. The Public Defender launched trainings on rights of children in small family-style children’s homes. The first stage trainings will be held in 30 small family-style children’s homes in Eastern Georgia. Trainings for school children are based on the manual oh human rights education for children "Compasito” developed by the Council of Europe that provides information on main principles of the Convention of the Rights of the Child in the child-friendly format. For the full text Source: ombudsman.ge  

Guria. Schoolchildren of the Lanchkhuti Leaders' School functioning with the "Young Teachers' Union" have celebrated the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. Pupils have organized sort of a conference and read essays written especially for this day. Each of them described an individual case and facts. Schoolchildren have invited to the meeting a special guest - one of their school's Resource Officers - who has briefed children about the subject, followed by a discussion. The event has ended in the school yard with a rally.

Tbilisi. The Parliament of Georgia has hosted on November 30 a final plenary session of the Youth Parliament of the 2014 calling. During the first part of the session, the Committee for Legal Affairs has presented its initiative on amending the Criminal Code of Georgia. Further, yearly activities were summarized at the final session. The committee chairs have summarized committee activities before the young MPs. Members of the Executive Board of the Youth Parliament have addressed the young MPs of the 2014 calling, presented the annual report and discussed future plans. Source: the organization's page in the social network.

Tbilisi. The Public Defender released a statement on Possible Fact of Violence towards a Child with Disabilities. "Starting from October 16, 2014, case proceedings are under way at the Centre of the Child’s Rights of the Public Defender’s Office on a possible act of violence (beating) towards a student with disabilities at one of the private pre-school educational establishments. ...The Public Defender of Georgia calls on the Chief Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia and the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia to conduct the investigation in a reasonable timeframe and use all legal leverage at their disposal to avoid delay of the investigation and impartial truth on the case to be determined". For the full text Source: ombudsman.ge