Kakheti. The volunteers of the Georgia Red Cross Sighnaghi branch has delivered the COVID-19-related recommendations to the older people living in Tsnori. The volunteers spread the information about the virus prevention measures to the community and asked to avoid any social gathering. Read more... Source: The organization's page in the social network

Imereti. Local Democracy Agency Georgia held consultations in the Sachkhere municipality with civil servants responsible for NGO relations as well other public servants.  The consultations were conducted as part of the project "Civil Society Development Initiative". The meeting focused on the challenges posed by COVID19 and identified topics in which civil society organizations continue to work actively. The Project ”Georgian Civil Society Sustainability Initiative” was developed and is implemented by the consortium led by the Konrad ­Adenauer­ Stiftung in cooperation with four Georgian Civil Society Organizations: Civil Society Institute (CSI), Center for Training and Consultancy (CTC), Center for Strategic Research and Development of Georgia (CSRDG) and Education Development and Employment Center (EDEC).The project is funded by the European Union and co-funded by the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung. Read more... Source: The organization's page in the social network

Tbilisi. On September 23, 2020, Ghasan Khalili, Representative of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) in Georgia, met with Madona Basiladze and Tamta Chechelashvili at the Western Georgia Division of the Public Defender's Office. "The situation of children's rights in the regions of western Georgia and the role of the Public Defender in the context of the pandemic (COVID-19) were discussed at the meeting. Particular emphasis was placed on the child’s right to education and the challenges relating to remote learning. The growing number of cases of domestic violence against children, child poverty, difficult social conditions of families and the situation in these areas in the regions of Georgia were other topics of discussion". Read more... Source: ombudsman.ge

Human Rights Center, in the frame of the project “Free Legal Advocacy and Human Rights Monitoring After the COVID-19 Pandemic”, organized field visits to the project targeted regions of Imereti, and Kvemo Kartli.  The project regional lawyers met citizens and informed them about the free legal aid Human Rights Center can offer them to advocate their breached human rights.  Read more…   Source: Page in the social network

Adjara. The thermal screening of the drivers and passengers continues at the entrances of Batumi. The activity is carried out by more than 30 Red Cross volunteers. Read more… Source: The organization’s page in the social network

Tbilisi. The Public Defender’s Office of Georgia has drawn up an information bulletin on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in and out of the Context of Novel Coronavirus Pandemic. The document reviews the efforts of national human rights institutions, various international organizations and networks in the direction of the protection of the rights of persons with disabilities. Information Bulletin  Read more…  Source: The web-page of the organization

Tbilisi. Fair Labor Platform releases a statement in regard to death of two and injury of one electricians, employed at JSC “Georgian Railway”, during dismantling of a high voltage transmission line support structure on September 17 in the city of Kutaisi. “The issue of working conditions of those employed at high-risk work places is still problematic and acute in the country. Despite certain changes made at the legislative level, the state is still unable to create fair and safe working conditions for those employed at high-risk work places. Work of people employed at such facilities is extremely vulnerable and dangerous for both their life and health”, - is noted in the statement. Read more… Source:www.gyla.ge

Tbilisi. The Institute for Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI) publishes analytical material in regard to a Russian information war carried out against Lugar Laboratory. “Although the Ministry of Internal Affairs has not yet named the country from which the cyber-attack on the Ministry of Health of Georgia was conducted, Paata Imnadze, Deputy Director of the National Center for Disease Control and Public Health, supposes that it is the Russian Federation from where the attack was carried out. Russia was also mentioned by Salome Zurabishvili, President of Georgia, in her statement made in regard to the cyber-attack. This assumption is further supported by the fact that the Russian Federation has been carrying out attacks on Lugar Laboratory for years, which mostly carries the character of an information war”, - is stated in the material. Read more… Source: idfi.ge

Tbilisi. With the support of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the Government of the United Kingdom, the Georgia Red Cross Society actively continues to support the older people and volunteers in terms of both, safety information dissemination and the development of home care services. “The program aims to support home care services for people affected by COVID-19 in the country, which includes more than 4,000 older people in Tbilisi and 29 municipalities who live alone, have a chronic disease or are in need of additional services and self-isolation”. Read more… Source: The organization’s page in the social network

Tbilisi. The Public Defender of Georgia is responding to the growing trend of confirmed cases in Georgia in the context of the novel coronavirus pandemic and calls on the relevant agencies to pay special attention to the protection of the right to health of persons placed in state care institutions, strengthen the risk prevention measures and closely monitor the implementation of the relevant recommendations. Read more… Source: ombudsman.ge

Guria. On September 10, during her visit in Guria region, the Ambassador Kelly C. Degnan visited the USAID-supported Ozurgeti Youth Center and met with young leaders of the program.  “During the meeting, PITA’s youth center members presented a brief presentation about the Youth Center activities (including youth engagement to prevent COVID-19), followed by a Q&A session. The Ambassador and young leaders discussed diverse issues, including challenges country is facing (unemployment, education, migration, regional development, etc.), European integration, counteracting malign Kremlin influence, youth cooperation with local government, political processes and elections, and the impact of the PITA program on young people”. Read more… Source: The organization’s web page in the social network

Adjara. During the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Georgia Red Cross Society set up tents at two more locations in Batumi today. Citizens are able to take a free test at the following addresses: • Alphabetic tower (near the seaside) • Colonnade (Boulevard) • Ajarian House (Boulvard) • Tsereteli street • Market “Khopa”  Read more… Source: The organization’s page in a social network

UNICEF is the largest single vaccine buyer in the world, procuring more than 2 billion doses of vaccines annually for routine immunization and outbreak response on behalf of nearly 100 countries. Learn more... Source: www.unicef.org

Special seminar about protective methods against the new coronavirus was held for the beneficiaries of Daycare Centers for Children and People with Disabilities established at the Education Development and Employment Center (EDEC). “The seminar included the following information: what is the virus; how to protect ourselves from Covid-19; the correct usage of medical masks, show covers and gloves. Through fun activities, with the help of disposable gloves, daycare center specialists taught the rules of hand hygiene, which will help them to gain knowledge and abilities regarding personal hygiene”. Read more… Source: The organization’s page in the social network

Tbilisi. The Institute for Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI) publishes analytical material: Cyber-attack on the Ministry of Health and a Russian trace. “It can be said that cyber-threats coming from the Russian Federation are somewhat predictable. Besides, although the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia does not name a specific country, from where the cyber-attack on the Ministry of Health of Georgia was carried out, on the basis of the same report it is possible to assume that the above was in the interest of Russia, because as previous developments also show, it has been long time that Russia considers existence and successful operation of an American laboratory at its border a threat, which is violation of Paragraph 14 of a military doctrine of Russia”. Read more… Source: idfi.ge

Tbilisi. With USAID/PROLoG's support, Georgian Trade Unions Confederation prepared e-bulletin and banners about COVID-19 influence on employment in the framework of the project "Legal Aid for Protection of Workers Affected by COVID-19 Pandemic." Read the bulletin... Source: The organization’s page in a Social network

Tbilisi. Myth Detector publishes a blog post of Mariam Topchishvili: “Obiektivi” spreads Bill Gates video fabrication and disinformation regarding vaccination. “On August 26, 2020, NodarGogebashvili, an immunologist guesting the “Night Studio” air of the TV Company “Obiektivi”, spoke about the coronavirus vaccine and stated that an Oxford vaccine, created with the funding of Bill Gates, was genetically modified, which could alter human genetics. In the program, the TV Company “Obiektivi” also aired a video on Bill Gates in Georgian, in which Gates talks about the necessary vaccination of people. Assertions related to COVID-19 and vaccination, voiced on the air of “Obiektivi”, are untrue and disinformation. Bill Gates video, broadcasted on the air, is a video fabrication”, - is stated on the website of the organization. Read more… Source:www.mythdetector.ge

Tbilisi. In the wake of a sharp spike up in COVID-19 cases in Abkhazia, signatory civil society organizations call on the Government of Georgia to further enhance humanitarian and medical assistance to Abkhazia. “In our opinion, in response to the current crisis in Abkhazia, it is important to have the Government of Georgia and our society show visible steps of solidarity in support of the Abkhazia region. Besides the inherent purpose of demonstrating supremacy of human life and humanism, these steps have significant political potential of reconciliation and transformation of the conflict”. Read more… Source: emc.org.ge

Tbilisi. A platform On.ge prepared an article with the support of the East-West Management Institute (EWMI ACCESS): Hundreds of people died due to disinformation spread on COVID 19.  “The coronavirus pandemic has been followed by an infodemic in the world - the term refers to a crisis caused by spread of fake news. In the first three months of 2020, at least 800 people died worldwide due to spread of fake news in regard to the coronavirus. Most of them died as a result of drinking methanol and alcohol-based cleansers. While about 5800 people were hospitalized”. Read more… Source: The website of the organization in a social network

With the support of USAID, the Georgia Red Cross Society delivered 270 food and 270 hygiene parcels to the local people of Mestia. In order to reduce the risk of infection, the locals were informed about hygiene rules and preventive measures as well. This humanitarian aid is intended for older people aged 70 or over, who live alone. The Georgia Red Cross Society has already distributed more than 100,000 parcels of basic necessities throughout the country. Read more… Source: The organization’s page in the social network

Tbilisi. Transparency International – Georgia (TI) published an information about situation in the health supervision area of Akhaltsikhe.  By the organization, - “The director of N(N)LE Center for Public Healthcare of the Akhaltsikhe Municipality, Naira Khabuliani, works in several paid positions at the same time. One of her jobs is the position of an epidemiologist at the Clinic of Akhaltsikhe ‘Imedi’. As the head of the non-entrepreneurial (non-commercial) legal entity, she also exercises epidemiological supervision on herself. In addition, Khabuliani worked as an epidemiologist at both fever centers created in Samtskhe-Javakheti at the time of the coronavirus, which was prohibited by law. And the service which exercises epidemiological supervision in the entire region is headed by Naira Khabuliani’s daughter – Nino Zedgenidze is the head of the Samtskhe-Javakheti regional division of the National Center for Disease Control”.  Read more…   Source: The web-page of the organization

As of today, the Commission, on behalf of the EU, has agreed Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) on macro-financial assistance (MFA) programmes with eight partners. The agreements are part of the €3 billion MFA package for ten enlargement and neighbourhood partners, aimed to help them limit the economic fallout of the coronavirus pandemic. Memoranda of Understanding have already been agreed with Albania, Georgia, Jordan, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Ukraine. These documents have also been formally signed with four of them: Kosovo, Moldova, North Macedonia and Ukraine. Negotiations of the MoUs with the remaining two countries – Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Tunisia – are underway. For Georgia, the policy conditions for its €150 million MFA programme relate to strengthening public finance management, improving governance, sector reforms, and labour market policies. Read more...  Source: eeas.europa.eu