Adjara. The Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy (NIMD) has presented the project "Batumi Democracy School” in the Batumi Civic Engagement Center on September. This Democracy School is the 5-month in-depth education program, under which the participants gain necessary knowledge and skills for the civil activities. The training course includes modern skills, democratic issues, substantial topics of democratic governance, leadership and social entrepreneurship. The training will be delivered by the highly qualified researchers, practitioners and experts from Georgia and abroad. In addition, the participants will use the electronic education environment and the possibility to participate in the small grants competition. Interested citizens and representatives of NGO, local self-government, political and media organizations can participate in the program. Deadline for submitting applications for participation in the Batumi Democracy School is September 27. The project is financially supported by the Friedrich Naumann Stiftung.

Samtskhe-Javakheti. Do Not Torture! No To Torture! Punish The Criminals! Respect Human Rights! – the civil sector and media representatives have rallied with these slogans on September 19 in Akhaltsikhe, in the territory adjacent to the Rustaveli monument. Representatives of NGOs "Tolerant”, the "Akhaltsikhe Youth Center” and Union "Southern Gate” and citizens have protested against the facts of torture of inmates aired on September 19 through televisions. The rally participants have assessed these facts as gross violations of human rights and noted that the public must tmely speak up against teh human degrading treatment.

Tbilisi. On September 20 NGOs have responded to the President’s statement of September 19. Organizations believe that the "announced measures are insufficient and the proportional reaction is required to those drastic and systemic facts of human rights abuses, which the public has witnessed in recent days”. The statement (Geo) Source: osgf.ge

Imereti.The representatives of Kutaisi-based CSOs and media organizations have gathered on September 20 in the Kutaisi Civic Engagement Center to work on the text of statement concerning the recent developments in Georgia. Kutaisi-based CSOs and media organizations fully share and adhere to the pathos and formulated demands of the statement released by the NGO sector in Tbilisi. The representatives of 34 civil society and media organizations and active citizens have signed the statement. The statement (Geo)

Imereti. Under the aegis of the "Liberal Club”, the Civic Engagement Center has hosted the discussion on September 19 on the "Political Culture – Notion Citizen”. The writer and philosopher Tariel Datiashvili spoke about the events and social responsibility that permeate the current political culture of the Georgian society. For full text (Geo) Source: social network.

Tbilisi. "Non-governmental organizations condemn the practice of torture and inhumane treatment in the penitentiary system. They demand immediate investigation and the criminal and political liability of respective persons", – says the statement signed by NGOs. The statement says that inhumane treatment is a systemic problem in the penitentiary system of Georgia, which was emphasized by the Public Ombudsman and NGOs over years. NGOs believe that the state has to resort to immediate measures in order to eradicate the systemic problem. For full text Source: osgf.ge

Samegrelo. The lawyers of the Georgian Young Lawyers' Association have delivered a training on September 18 in Zugdidi for the representatives of Samegrelo-based CSOs and media. The discussion has concerned the facts preventing media representatives from discharging their duties, as well as the polling day procedures and rights of observer organizations present at election precincts. The Georgian Young Lawyers' Association will deliver trainings on election legislation in other cities of Georgia as well.

Imereti. Following the shots aired by media outlets, media and CSO representatives have gathered by the Kutaisi 2nd penitentiary institution and held the rally – "Do Not Turture". They have condemned the facts of inhumane treatment of inmates in the Gldani Prison #8, expressed the support towards the inmates and demanded the punishment of criminals. After the rally held at night, at 2 pm on September 19, the civil sector representatives have once again gathered by the Kutaisi 2nd penitentiary institution.

Tbilisi. In partnership with the Georgian Association of Education Initiatives (SIQA), the Dutch organization will hold an international seminar "European Identity and Democracy" from September 25 to October 3 in Tbilisi. The youngsters from the Netherlands, Denmark, Armenia and Georgia will participate in the conference. Notion of citizenship, duties of citizens, democracy and elections are the topics of the seminars. In addition, the participants will work as free-lance observers of the October elections together with the foreign participants. Source: the organization's page in the social network.

Shida Kartli. On September 17, the Civil Society Institute has organized a meeting in Gori between the representatives of local CSOs and media, which was dedicated to the communication strategies of CSOs and coverage of their activities. A film prepared by the Civil Society Institute was shown at the meeting, which portrays the history of development of the civil society, and in particular the CSOs. Representatives of organizations themselves and the journalists have discussed the problematic issues raised in the film, such as the low awareness on the third sector, little trust towards it and the stereotypes existing around the sector.

Adjara.On September 14 the Civil Society Institute has presented to the local CSOs in Batumi the concept on national platform. According to the concept, the platform is the tool for collating the opinions within the sector, sharing experience, implementing joint activities and having a dialogue with the authorities and other actors. As already noted, the meeting aimed at receiving the comments and remarks about the platform's concept from the CSOs. The lively and interesting discussion has followed the presentation of the concept about the future model and the working mode of the national platform. Received comments and proposals will be taken into consideration when drafting the regulations of the national platform. Presentations of the concept on national platform of CSOs are planned in all regions of Georgia.

Samtskhe-Javakheti.The competition is focused on the members of the civic club. Interested persons can submit projects in various areas until October 8. In particular, inclusion of business sector in the solution of problems of concern to the youth; cooperation of the youth with media; solution of the school's or community's problems in cooperation with the local authorities; enhancement of students' self-governments or the school-based civic clubs; popularization of healthy mode of life among the youth; protection of human rights and promotion of rule of law; popularization of civic education; promotion of integration (e.g. persons with disabilities, IDPs, etc.); solution of ecological problems, advocacy, promotion of gender equality. Prior to announcing the competition, the Akhaltsikhe Youth Center has delivered trainings to the members of the civic club in the project drafting skills.

Adjara. On September 11-12, the Batumi Education, Development and Employment Center has  delivered a two-day seminar in the Batumi Civic Engagement Center on active citizenship. Representatives of local CSOs and students have attended the seminar. In view of the seminar's topic, the participants have discussed positive aspects of active citizenship and its role in the country's development. In addition, they have noted that active engagement of the youth and common citizens during the pre-election period is of crucial importance.

Adjara. On September 7, the Batumi Branch of the Civil Society Institute has held the informative meeting with the representatives of start-up CSOs. The notion, specifics and challenges of volunteerism were discussed at the meeting, what is the international practice and current situation in Georgia. Attending CSOs have shared among each other their experience on the discussed issues. In addition, the problems and ways of their solution have been discussed.

Guria. A volunteer event for helping the elderly was organized at the initiative of the civil society organization "Women for Development of Region". The youngsters have identified in their community the persons who needed the assistance. The volunteers asked them to fill in special questionnaires that listed their needs. The volunteers have distributed the work among each other, be it cleaning the houses, assisting in transportation, cleaning the yards, etc. In addition, the volunteers have cleaned the territory located in the center of Dvabzu. "The kids have worked hard all evening, and we agreed with the representatives of the local municipality that they would empty bunkers on the next day. And they have emptied them, but today already the whole road in the village that the children had cleaned is full of trash again. This is the public attitude - superficial, heartless, and this is what we would like to change. For this very reason so many projects are funded by the international organizations. To change attitude towards our own country, we assist the people in becoming citizens that take care of their own country", – says the organization's blog. For full text (Geo) Source: wdrguria.wordpress.com

Tbilisi. www.shenmartav.ge – gives users the opportunity to receive information on the work of MPs elected by them in the parliament, get familiar with the latest draft laws and connect directly to their representatives in the legislative body. The web site was created as part of the joint project of the Caucasian Institute for Peace, Democracy and Development and Transparency International - Georgia. In addition, on the site users can observe the decisions made by MPs elected by them, get familiar with the data of MPs' participation in voting, curriculum vitae and annual property declarations, ask in writing on the site or by SMS and receive responses respectively. At the next stage of the project it is planned to expand the web page and add new components to it. For full text Source: transparency.ge

Tbilisi. On September 5 the National-Democratic Institute (NDI) has released the results of public opinion polls. According to the poll, jobs, accessible healthcare and territorial integrity are among the three top priorities for the population. In addition, majority of population (77%) intends to participate in the parliamentary elections. The poll was conducted during the period of 31 July - 12 August 2012, and face-to-face interviews with 2,038 respondents were taken Georgia-wide. The poll depicts the population's attitude towards democracy, reforms, foreign and domestic policies, and media. NDI will release the ratings of the parties on September 7. NDI's polls are funded by the Swedish International Cooperation Development Agency (SIDA) and they are carried out by the Caucasus Research Resource Center (CRRC).

Tbilisi. Four civil society organizations have presented the coalition project on September 5 in the "Tbilisi Marriott" Hotel. The project is implemented as part of the East-West Management Institute program and it includes the Economic Policy Research Center, ISET research institute, Liberal Academy and "Transparency International - Georgia". The project aims to raise the Georgian public's awareness on the agendas of political parties during the pre-election period. These agendas are mostly examined from the economic and social perspective. Web page will function within the project framework, which will inform the voters about the position of political parties towards various issues. In addition, expert evaluations by NGOs will be available and the debates on respective issues among the political parties will be organized. The project took off today and tomorrow at 12 pm the economic program of the National Democratic Party will be presented in "Tbilisi Marriott". The Coalition "Georgian Dream", "New Rights" and "Christian-Democratic Movement" will participate in the next debates. The dates of presentation of economic agendas of the Labor Party and the United National Movement are not yet known.

Adjara. The Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy and Friedrich Naumann Stiftung will launch the Democracy School in Batumi in October 2012. The Democracy School is a five-month education program, under which the participants will undergo intensive skills training and a professional course in democratic governance, leadership and social entrepreneurship. Trainings will be delivered by practitioners and experts from Georgia and abroad. Participants will also gain access to the electronic learning environment and the small grants competition. Interested citizens and representatives of CSOs, local self-governments, political and media organizations may participate in the program. Deadline for submitting applications for participation in the Batumi Democracy School is September 15. For more information Source: nimd.ge

Tbilisi. On August 31 the Civil Society Institute has organized the meeting, at which the guide on taxation of the civil society organizations was presented. The general section of the guide includes information on founding of a not-for-profit legal entity, legal aspects of its activities, as well as the norms regulating the activities of welfare organizations, sources of income of not-for-profit legal entities, etc. Substantive section of the document focuses on the characteristics of taxing CSOs and the benefits, which are associated with the activities of not-for-profit legal entities and welfare organizations. The guide was developed by the "East-West Management Institute", within the framework of the project administered by EWMI– "Policy, Advocacy and Civil Society Development in Georgia" (G-PAC). The document aims to promote the financial stability of not-for-profit (non-commercial) legal entities and assist CSOs in the realization of tax rights and duties stipulated in the law. The Guide.

Tbilisi. The Civic Development Institute has released the tenth report on the relevance of information priorities of TV companies and the public. The report summarizes two weeks and is structured in two phases. During the first phase the most intensively covered topics by 7 TV companies (1st Channel, Imedi, Rustavi 2, Kavkasia, Maestro, 9th Channel, Real TV) on 3-17 August 2012 were identified. During the second phase, at the commission of the Civic Development Institute the "Institute for Social Studies and Analysis" has conducted the mass sociological survey in Tbilisi. Total of 400 respondents were interviewed in all 10 administrative districts. As part of the interviewing the respondents had to evaluate the significance of each covered topic and rank them by the priorities. Monitoring of televisions was launched on 2 April 2012 and so far the reports for nine periods have been released. Report Source: cdi.org.ge

Adjara. On August 29, the Batumi Education, Development and employment Center has held in the Batumi Civic Engagement Center the conference dedicated to the International Day against Nuclear Tests, titled - "Nuclear Testing and the Society". The members of civic clubs from various public schools of Batumi have participated in the conference. The conference was held as part of the "Civic Education and Teachers' Training Program", under the aegis of the Batumi 8th Public School. This Program is funded by USAID.