Expansion of the CSO Meter – a tool for monitoring of an enabling environment of civil society organizations is intended. More than 800 Eastern European organizations participated in development of the instrument. We remind you that this tool is based on international standards and covers 10 different areas and indicators that are used to measure an enabling environment of CSOs in terms of both legislation and practice. CSO meter is divided into 2 main parts: 1. Fundamental rights and freedoms, which constitute the basis of existence of civil society. 2. Necessary conditions, which provide additional support and are important for development of civil society. There are prepared regional reports on the basis of it, including those about Georgia. In Georgia, the study is carried out by the Civil Society Institute (CSI) in cooperation with the European Center for Non-for-Profit Law (ECNL). As mentioned above, it is intended to refine the tool in the near future. In particular, ECNL, together with the Civil Society Institute and other partners, plans to add a system for evaluation of scores to the tool. This will allow interested individuals and parties to compare results of the study by years, areas, countries. Besides, there will be expanded the area of the study of the tool in coming years - for example, evaluation of an influence on civil groups through digital technology or artificial intelligence. It is also planned to expand the CSO Meter as a means of monitoring, as well as circle of users - CSOs and activists in target countries. New initiatives and changes will be carried out within the framework of the project – “CSO Meter: A Compass To Conducive Environment And CSO Empowerment”. It is implemented by the European Center for Non-for-Profit Law (ECNL) with financial support from the EU and in collaboration with partner organizations: Transparency International - Armenia (TIAC); MG Consulting LLC (Azerbaijan), the Civil Society Institute (Georgia), Promo-LEX Association (Moldova), the Ukrainian Center for Independent Political Research (Ukraine).

Tbilisi. EU awards grants to 12 youth start-up projects to promote social entrepreneurship in Georgia within the framework of the EU4Youth initiative project "Social Entrepreneurship in Armenia and Georgia". The grants signing ceremony with the first seven winning young social entrepreneurs took place at the venue of one of the winning project, the social café “Cafune” in Rustavi. The project aims to provide creative young people from Armenia and Georgia with the necessary knowledge and skills and a unique opportunity to develop existing or establish new sustainable business with a clear social mission. Read more… Source: eeas.europa.eu

Tbilisi. A civic platform “No to Phobia!” condemns a statement made by Tea Darchia, considering it as Islamophobic and encouraging discrimination on the ground of religion. “The statement of Tea Darchia stirs up stereotypical perceptions related to the point that a Georgian can only be Orthodox (“there is nothing Georgian in them anymore”). Those particular attitudes contribute to discrimination on the ground of religion and religious conflicts in society. In such circumstances though, journalists have a special responsibility not to become facilitators of dissemination of stereotypical perceptions”, - is noted in the statement. Read more… Source: www.gdi.ge

Tbilisi. The USAID Independent Living Program in Georgia is pleased to inform you that six Independent Living Centers have begun operations in Lagodekhi, Telavi, Kutaisi, Zugdidi, Ozurgeti, and Batumi. “The centers will assist persons with disabilities to achieve and maintain independent living by helping them to access information, resources, and services, overcome social, psychological and physical barriers, and by linking them and local municipalities with service providers”. Read more… Source: The organization’s page on the social network

Tbilisi. Social Justice Center (formerly EMC) publishes an analysis of possibility to export electricity generated by Namakhvani HPP. “While talking about benefits of Namakhvani HPP, representatives of state agencies, along with other issues, often underline importance of the project in strengthening energy independence of the country. This assertion of energy independence is another of loud statements, which is often voiced by government officials and is not backed up by the text of the agreement - the content of the agreement signed between the investor and the Government”. Read more… Source: socialjustice.org.ge

Tbilisi. According to the Institute for Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI), the Parliament of Georgia approved amendments to the Law on Information Security by 77 votes to 2 in the third reading, which amendments contradict certain requirements of the EU Directive (Network and Information Security (NIS) directive). “Initiated changes have been the subject of extensive discussions and criticism within civil society, private sector and experts of the field since the day of registration. IDFI actively participated in the process of revision of the bill, as well as study and analysis of risks associated with changes. Amendments, adopted by the Parliament, cardinally change the cybersecurity system of Georgia and contain significant risks”, - is noted in the statement. Read more... Source: idfi.ge

Samtskhe-Javakheti. On the 9th and the 10th of June of the current year the representatives of the Georgia Red Cross Society and the International Committee of the Red Cross implemented a field trip in Akhalkalaki region where they held informative meetings with the volunteers. “It is worth mentioning that for supporting those who showed an interest and for strengthening the volunteering movement, the leader volunteers of the region used this opportunity efficiently and registered more than 65 volunteers at the Youth Employment Forum in Akhalkalaki on the 10th of June”. Read more… Source: The organization’s page on the social network

Tbilisi. As Myth Detector informs, on May 26, Facebook activated new mechanisms against those sharing disinformation repeatedly to notify users of its platform about disinformation content.  “Whether it is fake or misleading information about COVID-19 and vaccines, climate change, elections or other topics, Facebook will spend more efforts from now on to make sure comparatively less users find similar disinformation in their application”. Read more… Source: mythdetector.ge

On May 24th the International Center for Not-for-Profit Law (ICNL) and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency are hosting a high-level virtual conversation on emergency measures, fundamental freedoms, and revitalizing civic space in the wake of COVID-19. Available in English, Spanish, Arabic, French, and Russian. Learn more and register at www.icnl.org

Tbilisi. Due to the information of the Rights Georgia, according to the amendments to the Law of Georgia on the Legal Status of Aliens and Stateless Persons, the following regulations apply to asylum seekers from 12 May 2021. In particular, For the purposes of issuing a residence permit in Georgia, an asylum seeker will not be considered a person legally residing in Georgia; Asylum seekers are not entitled to apply for a residence permit based on their identification documents; Asylum seekers are restricted to apply for a residence permit while their application for international protection is under examination. Read more… Source: The web page of the organization on the social network

E-cards cover a variety of important issues about vaccination in the time of COVID-19. The cards were developed in the framework of the EU Neighborhood Policy in cooperation with the World Health Organization and EUvsDisinfo All you need to know about vaccination in the time of COVID-19

Samegrelo. Transparency International Georgia won 29 cases in 2020 within the framework of free legal assistance. This time, Ineza Kvitatiani, a citizen, registered a 3,504 square-meter plot of land in the Ingiri village of Zugdidi with the support of lawyers of the organization. Read more… Source: The website of the organization on a social network

Tbilisi. Social Justice Center (formerly EMC) responds to a package of intended changes in legislation on construction initiated at the Parliament of Georgia.  The organization considers that it creates direct risks of criminalization of homelessness and is unequivocally contrary to international standards of human rights.  Read more… Source: socialjustice.org.ge

Tbilisi. The Institute for Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI) publishes an interview with Nino Chkhobadze, an environmental defender, Co-Chair of the Greens Movement of Georgia/Friends of the Earth - Georgia. “The Chernobyl disaster contradicted a narrative about Soviet power or predominance in the field of science, threatened the politics of the Soviet Union. That is why, for a long period of time, they tried in the USSR to hide information about Chernobyl. “Even today, cases of the high level of lead [in the blood] in western Georgia, in our opinion, maybe the result of the Chernobyl disaster”. Read more… Source:idfi.ge

Tbilisi. On April 23, IDFI held a working meeting with the staff of the Supreme Council of Ajara on issues related to the submission and consideration of the petition. “Implementation of written and electronic petition is the 4th commitment envisaged in the 2020-2021 Open Governance Action Plan of the Supreme Council of Ajara.The opportunity for submitting the written petition to the Supreme Council of Ajara shall be in force from May 1, 2021”. Read more… Source: idfi.ge

Tbilisi. Social Justice Center presents an article by Tamta Melashvili: “Beyond emancipation and exploitation: Women at collective farms in Soviet Georgia”. “This article serves as my attempt to develop a rough idea of how women worked and, in rare cases, succeeded to be promoted in collective farms in Georgia in practice, how they maneuvered when promoted within male-dominated authority fields, and what their agency was like. I will try to adjust experience of Izolda beyond dichotomous representation of a woman emancipated in the communist regime or a woman exploited by the same regime (Fidelis, 2010). Read more… Source: socialjustice.org.ge

Tbilisi. Georgian Center for Strategy and Development (GCSD) publishes another study: “Digital advocacy of the United States of America: Public diplomacy of the pandemic period to strengthen Georgia”. Visit the link to see the full version of the study. "The study examines communication-related issues during a crisis on the example of the coronavirus pandemic. The author of the work is Mariam Khatiashvili. The study has been prepared within the framework of an Alumni Grant Program of the US Embassy in Georgia". Read more… Source: The website of the organization on a social network

Tbilisi. FactCheck releases information regarding a post about the Pfizer vaccine published on a social network. “On February 26, 2021, a Facebook user published a post with an audio recording. The audio recording was accompanied by a Russian inscription - Cрочно !! Всем Услышать !!! (Urgent !! Everyone must listen !!!). There is a woman, speaking in the record, who introduces herself as Yulia Gaponyuk and says that she is a general practitioner. The doctor talks about Pfizer vaccine and human infection after vaccination in Israel. The information spread on the Internet in the form of an audio recording does not correspond to the truth and is a false story”, - is stated by FactCheck. Read more… Source: The website of the organization

Adjara. According to information released by Social Justice Center, the issue of transferring part of the beach on the boulevard to a private hotel has been removed from the agenda by the Batumi City Assembly as a result of a protest of population, which fact temporarily, but still stopped the difficult and damaging process of seizure and privatization of public spaces. As Tornike Rizhvadze, Head of the Government of Adjara, explains, the moratorium will apply only to new construction projects and will not be spread on those sites, main permits for which have already been issued. We, hereby, remind you that there are given permits for construction of Riviera and Batumi Ambassador. The organization considers that this explanation calls into question the purpose of the moratorium itself, which, under these circumstances, will not be able to actually protect the historical and cultural value of Batumi. Read more… Source: The website of the organization in a social network Photo: Netgazeti

Tbilisi. The Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association (GYLA) publishes a blog post of Nino Kapanadze: Another negative report of the Venice Commission and ODIHR. “As it turned out, the report of the Venice Commission and OSCE/ODIHR is fully in line with opinions and arguments sent by GYLA to the Parliament and the initiator had an objective opportunity to get acquainted with them prior to requesting assistance from the Commission. If they realized them, the ruling power would escape the unpleasant response from the international format, while the country - the label of the one having “bad intentions” in matters of the rule of law and political pluralism”. Read more… Source: gyla.ge

Tbilisi. The Economic Policy Research Center (EPRC) publishes a document: Joe Biden, Russia, Ukraine and Georgia. “Time shows the influence of the new administration on Georgia and Ukraine. It can now be said that efforts spent against Russian expansion, fight against corruption, and establishment of democratic institutions retain priority in the agenda of Biden. Democracy and the rule of law are under the question mark in both Ukraine and Georgia”. Read more... Source: The website of the organization in a social network

Tbilisi. Georgian Center for Strategy and Development (GCSD) presents a study – “Transformation of information warfare methods on the background of development of modern communication capabilities”. Visit the link to find the study in full... “Information warfare, “fake news”, disinformation, these are the terms that have taken place in our daily life. Experts and analysts spend their efforts to address challenges of information warfare, however, it is important to take into consideration not only current circumstances but also those from the past”. Read more… Source: The website of the organization in a social network