Tbilisi. A closing meeting was held on June 11-12 within the framework of the ongoing project “Empowering New Generation of Local Civil Society Leaders in Georgia". "The project is being implemented with the technical support of ISFED and the financial support of the Black Sea Trust, a Project of the German Marshall Fund of the United States. Young leaders who have attended civic education workshops from different municipalities of Georgia participated in the meeting. The main goal of the meeting was to give the graduates an opportunity to inform each other about the success stories accumulated as a result of participating in the project. Those graduates, who implemented small grant initiatives in their municipalities within the project, shared their successful practices with others, talked about the implemented activities, the achieved results, and the lessons learned. The participants also discussed the ways of further cooperation”. Read more…  Source: isfed.ge

The web portal CsoGeorgia.org releases a weekly newsletter of grants competition, contests, vacancies, fellowships, and tenders for civil society organizations, and for any interested person. Newsletter...

The web portal CsoGeorgia.org releases a weekly newsletter of grants competition, contests, vacancies, fellowships, and tenders for civil society organizations, and for any interested person. Newsletter...

Tbilisi. Georgian Civil Society Organizations appeal to Carl Harzell, the EU ambassador in Georgia. “On behalf of the civil society of Georgia, we would like to thank you for many years of successful work in Georgia and for the support that our homeland and civil society have always felt from the European Union – and you personally. We are certain that our friendship flourished in Georgia will continue in the future and that you will remain a firm supporter of our country. Thank you for your service and the support that you have personally extended to our country, citizens and civil society”. Read more… Source: osgf.ge

Regions. CENN with the support of the German Government hosted meetings with 85 CSOs from 5 different municipalities in Georgia to support the localisation of SDGs. The training were held in Kutaisi, Zugdidi, Batumi, Telavi and Rustavi. The trainings helped raise awareness about the SDGs and their importance, the role and capabilities of various sectors, especially the civil sector, in achieving the goals. The training aimed to offer municipal non-governmental sector representatives practical steps and best practice examples to ensure their involvement in the localisation and implementation of the SDGs. Read more… Source: The organization’s page on the social network

Tbilisi. On 15 July 2022, President of Georgia issued a decree on convening an extraordinary session of the parliament from 18 July 2022, in order to consider a number of issues necessary for granting Georgia the EU candidate status. The President was addressed by 46 opposition MPs requesting that she convene an extraordinary session. The issues specified for consideration at the extraordinary session are the draft law on constitutional amendments that has already passed its first reading, and the initiated draft laws on the amendments to the Law on Common Courts and on the establishment of anticorruption agency. The consideration of aforementioned bills has been suspended in the Parliament. Transparency International Georgia calls on the members of the parliamentary majority to discuss the issues of the extraordinary session at committee sittings, take part in the extraordinary plenary sitting and support legislative changes thereby helping our country move forward on the path towards the EU integration. Read more… Source: transparency.ge

Tbilisi. IDFI shares annual report 2021.  Annual report includes information on the achievements and progress of the organization in the following thematic directions: Open Government, Fighting Corruption, Economic and Social Policy, Rule of Law and Human Rights, Local Government, Media and Freedom of Expression, Internet and Innovations, Memory and disinformation studies. Source: idfi.ge

The web portal CsoGeorgia.org releases a weekly newsletter of grants competition, contests, vacancies, fellowships, and tenders for civil society organizations, and for any interested person. Newsletter...

Adjara and Racha. On July 5 and 8, 2022, within the framework of the “Civil Society  STAR Initiative” project, job shadowings were organized in Adjara and Racha municipalities.  Representatives of local civil society organizations visited the “Independent  Journalists’ House” in Batumi municipality, and the offices of fund “Abkhazintercont” and “Adult Education Centre” in Ambrolauri municipality.  As a result of the activity, the experience of CSO’s/CBO’s representatives of  the Imereti region increased in the direction of management and development of the organization. The circle of contact persons in the form of organizations working in the bordering regions has also increased. The study visits are being organized within the framework of the project “Civil Society STAR Initiative,” with the support of the European Union and the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung. Read more… Source: The organization’s page on the social network

Tbilisi. Today, Ambassador Hartzell held a farewell meeting with civil society organisations. They shared views on how best for Georgia to implement the 12 priorities outlined by the European Commission. The Ambassador also thanked for the support and commitment of Georgian civil society and pledged the EU’s continued support in the months and years ahead. Read more… Source: EU’s page on the social network

Tbilisi. With the legal assistance of "Rights Georgia", a citizen of the Syrian Arab Republic won the court dispute regarding the issuance of a study residence permit in the Supreme Court of Georgia. Read more... Source: rights.ge

Tbilisi. On June 30, 2022, a webinar was held as part of “DRIVE: Digital Research and Impact for Vulnerable E-citizens”, a joint project of the Institute for the Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI) and the eGovernance Academy (eGA). The training was based on the report on digital vulnerability published in May, intended for civil society organizations. It covered the stages of civic engagement, tools for collaboration between stakeholders, and effective communication issues. Read more… Source: idfi.ge

Tbilisi. Social Justice Center publishes a survey: Electronic System of Case Distribution in Courts. “The present document is the third monitoring report. It critically analyzes legislative changes introduced in the rule on electronic system of case distribution, updated statistics, and the remaining challenges concerning the system from January 1, 2020, to December 31, 2021. The report also reviews the shortcomings of the electronic case distribution that were identified during previous reporting periods but no further steps were taken to eliminate them”. Read more… Source: socialjustice.org.ge

The web portal CsoGeorgia.org releases a weekly newsletter of grants competition, contests, vacancies, fellowships, and tenders for civil society organizations, and for any interested person. Newsletter...

Tbilisi. On June 28, 2022, the ninth meeting of the Georgia-EU civil society platform was held at the Rondeli Foundation. The platform was established in accordance with Article 412 of the Association Agreement between Georgia and the European Union. The purpose is to monitor the agreement and develop and deliver recommendations to the highest level institutions of cooperation between the European Union and Georgia, governments, parliaments. A joint statement was adopted at the meeting. Read more… Source: The organization’s page on the social network

Tbilisi. The Civil Society Organizations have elaborated an Action Plan which could be easily implemented till the end of 2022, provided political will is present. The Action Plan contains an absolute minimum of critically important reforms, essential for granting the Candidacy status. Read more… Source: transparency.ge

Tbilisi. The “Home to Europe” Movement expresses grave concern over the obstructive and violent incidents occurring during meetings held by our members and supporters with the population in the regions. “We call on the ruling party to put an end to counterproductive provocations that damage the country's reputation. The “Home to Europe” Movement clearly states that it is committed only to peaceful forms of assembly and calls on law enforcement to ensure freedom of peaceful assembly and to prevent further provocations and confrontations. Despite the attempts to interfere and impede our activities, our movement is only emboldened and motivated to continue pursuing its mission. We are also reassured that we are doing the right thing, which we will follow through in a consistent and planned manner”, is noted in the statement. Read more… Source: transparency.ge

Imereti. Within the framework of the project "Civil Society STAR Initiative", LDA Georgia conducted training on the importance, role, stages, methods and specifics of advocacy for the members of CSOs and active citizens in the target municipalities. The trainings are being conducted by LDA Georgia within the framework of the project "Civil Society STAR  Initiative," with the support of the European Union and the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung. Read more… Source: The organization’s page on the social network

The web portal CsoGeorgia.org releases a weekly newsletter of grants competition, contests, vacancies, fellowships, and tenders for civil society organizations, and for any interested person. Newsletter...

Tbilisi. A large-scale rally was held in Tbilisi on June 24 in response to the failure of the Georgian Government to secure the EU candidate status. The European Union deferred giving Georgia its official EU candidate status until after the implementation of conditions set out in the 12-point Action Plan. The EU will assess Georgia's implementation of recommendations and conditions by the end of 2022. “We do not believe that the Government, which has a history of backtracking on promises made to international partners, will carry out the necessary reforms. On June 24, the people’s movement “Home to Europe” made the following demands: The resignation of the Georgian government led by Irakli Gharibashvili, who spared no effort to prevent Georgia from gaining EU candidate status in the run up to the final decision of the European Council by verbally attacking European diplomats and the country’s supporters, fueling internal political polarization and damaging the country's international image. We demanded Bidzina Ivanishvili to relinquish and transfer his executive power within Constitutional boundaries to the “Government of National Consent – For the EU”. This transitional government will be responsible for the implementation of the 12 priorities required by the EU for receiving the candidate status”. Read more… Source: The organization’s page on the social network

Imereti. You can already see the video about a Regional Civil Society Forum organized by Imereti Regional HUB – Local Democracy Agency Georgia (LDA Georgia) and Education Development and Employment Center (EDEC) in Akaki Tsereteli State University  in Kutaisi.  The main purpose of the forum was to promote a culture of volunteerism, to attract potential donors and to strengthen civil society in the Imereti region. The forum was organised within the framework of the project "Civil Society STAR Initiative: CSO's as Sustainable, Transparent, and Accountable and Resilient Development Actors in Georgia", supported by the European Union (EU) and the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS). Read more… Source: The organization’s page on the social network

Tbilisi. Coalition for an Independent and Transparent Judiciary considers, that judicial reform is necessary to obtain EU candidate status. “According to the European Commission’s Opinions, based on which the European Council will make final decisions, Ukraine should fulfill seven conditions, Moldova ten conditions, and Georgia twelve conditions. Judicial reform is one of the main priorities among the conditions imposed on Georgia. We believe that the Venice Commission’s Opinion, critical statements made by local and international actors, and the conditions outlined in the European Commission’s opinion, indicate the need for fundamental justice sector reforms. Such changes are critical considering the ongoing highly important processes associated with European integration, because the justice sector reforms are a key prerequisite for the success of these processes. Considering all the above, we call on the Parliament of Georgia: To acknowledge the dire state of the court system and express a firm political will to comply with the European Commission’s requirements; To promptly amend the legislative framework deteriorated because of the changes of December 30, 2021; To implement all justice system-related legislative processes with the broad involvement of the public and judges, and in close cooperation with the Venice Commission”. Read more… Source: transparency.ge