Tbilisi. The Economic Policy Research Center (EPRC) publishes a document: “Strategic vision for development of a social security system”. The document contains main provisions that are agreed among authors. In the opinion of the organization, development of an optimal social security model for the country and society should be based on these provisions. Read more... Source: The website of the organization in a social network

Tbilisi. The Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center (EMC) interviewed one of the miners employed at the Tkibuli mine in regard to hard working conditions in mines. ”Today, main concern of Tkibuli miners is lack of assurance that they will return safe and healthy back home after they go out. Security is a major challenge. There is not much difference compared to previous periods. No fundamental changes have been made to eliminate causes of numerous tragic accidents. The only thing the new company has come up with is to install gas appliances and evacuate people when the “lava” explodes. Nothing is changed in terms of both coal mining and processing. The problem that leads to so many tragic cases is extraction of coal through a “camera” system”, - is stated on the website of the organization. Read more… Source: emc.org.ge

Tbilisi. The Institute for Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI) publishes an analysis: Importance of a system of petitions for citizen participation: International examples and practice of Georgia. “It is important to keep the minimum margin, defined for collecting petitions, low at the initial stage so as to make sure that a comparatively high level of it does not have reverse effect and develop nihilistic mood within active citizens. Two aspects that have the utmost importance are accountability and transparency of public institutions, which imply proactive access to information on submitted, as well as addressed petitions, openness of the process of revision of successful petitions and substantiation of a final decision. Read more… Source: idfi.ge

Tbilisi. On March 4, 2021, IDFI presented the study “Challenges of Whistleblowing in Georgia – Legislation and Practice”. The aim of the research is to determine the reason for the low number of cases of whistleblowing in Georgian public institutions, to identify gaps, and to elaborate specific recommendations for their elimination through the analysis of the legislation and study of the practice.  The full study and key findings can be found here... Source: idfi.ge

Tbilisi. #ReturnMySurname is a civic campaign, within the framework of which Azerbaijani activists demand to have Russian ending of their surnames changed to Azerbaijani. “We are people who always carry an ID card with us. It is a document, which demonstrates our state identity on the one hand, however, when looking into our own ID card, it also reminds us about occupation of our country and surnames. This is what often makes us angry, irritates, hearts”. The campaign is organized by a “Salam” platform with the support of EWMI ACCESS. Read more… Source: The website of the “Salam” Platform in a social network

Tbilisi. The Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center (EMC) publishes a video footage prepared within the framework of the project – “Promoting and Enabling Legal Capacity in Georgia”. “In 2014, the Constitutional Court restored deprived civil rights of hundreds of people with disabilities. They are no longer given the status of incapable and no guardian is appointed to look after them. In independent life, they are now assisted by a supporter of their choice”. Read more… Source: emc.org.ge

Tbilisi. According to the information of the Georgian Institute of Politics a plan to submit a formal application for EU membership by 2024 was announced recently by the ruling Georgian Dream party. "At the invitation of the organization a selection of experts from France, Germany and Sweden have given their responses to the following three questions: Considering current challenges in the EU, what could be the costs and benefits for Georgia’s European ambitions of an initiative to apply for EU membership in 2024? If Georgia does decide to apply for EU membership, would it be wiser to do so alone or together with Ukraine and/or Moldova? What strategy/tactics do you recommend to the government of Georgia (and other EaP countries) to best handle the EU’s scepticism towards the European aspirations of the EU associated countries?" Read more… Source: gip.ge

Tbilisi. On February 25, IDFI and the National Parliamentary Library of Georgia organized the opening of an exhibition in the Maro Makashvili Garden of the third building of the Library. The exhibition was dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the occupation. “Exhibition artworks can be viewed online at the following link..., while from March 1, the May 26 Hall at the second building of the National Library may be visited to see them. The purpose of the exhibition is to expose people fighting for freedom and the national spirit, honor those sacrificed for the idea of independence of the country”. Read more… Source: The website of the organization in a 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...

Kvemo Kartli. On February 16, employees of the Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center (EMC) visited Akhali Dioknisi and Dashtapa villages in Marneuli Municipality of Kvemo Kartli to study problems of population and the current situation on the ground. “In both Akhali Dioknisi and Dashtapa population suffer from problems related to disarrangement of internal roads and drainage canals. Besides, absence of kindergartens is also a dilemma”, - is stated on the website of organization.  Read more… Source: emc.org.ge

Tbilisi. IDFI studied the practice and legislation of the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the Georgian public sector. The study revealed that the introduction of AI systems in the Georgian public sector is at an early stage of development. Also, there is a lack of normative acts regulating AI systems and documents defining ethical norms. Read more… Source: idfi.ge

Tbilisi. Due to the information of the CENN - one-third of food produced each year is lost or wasted. “Food Waste is caused by incorrect labeling, insignificant flaws with the packaging, overproduction, spoilage, overbuying, and a lot more! In order to avoid complaints from the consumers and decrease in quality, supermarkets often remove the products from the shelves one or two weeks before its expiry date and goes to landfills. One of the best solutions to this is to donate the food that is still good for consumption, which is a common practice in most developed countries. However, in Georgia, due to strict tax laws, donated food is taxed with profit tax (15%) and VAT (18%)”. Read more… Source: The organization’s page on the social network

Tbilisi. GYLA and EMC assess the imposition of remand detention to Nika Melia critically and believe that this decision shows signs of selective, political justice. The organizations call on political leaders to take constructive steps to bring the country out of the political crisis and to avoid polarizing the society, further radicalizing the situation and shifting it to a violent mode. Read more… Source: gyla.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. According to information released by the Institute for Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI), the European Court of Human Rights has reaffirmed in its important decision of January 21, 2021 once again that restriction of access to information of public interest while carrying out journalistic activities breaches freedom of expression. “The case was about providing a Ukrainian journalist with information regarding purchase of state property by Viktor Yanukovych, former President of Ukraine. A subject matter of the dispute was also a refusal of the Constitutional Court to provide the applicant with a copy of a constitutional claim of Members of Parliament, which challenged the Law on Language Policy adopted in Ukraine in 2012. The court should judge whether the refusal of public institutions to provide information to the applicant constituted an unlawful interference with freedom of expression or not. The court decided unanimously that it was breach of freedom of expression. A fair balance between two conflicting interests in the case - protection of personal data and access to public information was ruled out in favor of the latter”, - is stated on the website of the organization. Read more… Source: idfi.ge

Tbilisi. The Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center (EMC) responds to parliamentary review of the bill initiated in regard to determining narcotic drug quantities. The organization calls on representatives of the ruling political team to stop rhetoric that misleads society while stating as if inaction of the state over the years in regard to introduction of a humane drug policy is the fault of civil society organizations, activists and experts. “Proposed version of the bill improves current legislative order, however, its content does not completely reflect principles of a humane drug policy that meets human rights and the reason for this is again a punishment oriented Georgian drug policy and its repressiveness”. Read more… Source: emc.org.ge

Tbilisi. IDFI published a policy Document – “The Concealed Beneficiaries behind Fictional Characters”. „Beneficial ownership has become one of the most hotly debated topics globally. Governments, as well as international and civil society actors, are trying hard to implement new regulations tackling problems associated with beneficial ownership“, - Is mentioned in the document, - “Though Georgia became a member of the Open Governance Partnership and pushed for more transparency, the government largely ignored the recommendations of non-governmental organizations and, particularly, of the Institute for Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI), for creating a registry of beneficial ownership. It should be noted that the Government of Georgia took the obligation to consider creating such a registry in 2016, during the Anti-corruption Summit in London, but never fulfilled it. Additionally, on the Anti-corruption Summit, Georgia undertook the following commitments: ensure that law enforcement agencies have access to information about the beneficial owners of offshore companies; sign bilateral agreements with partner countries for the purpose of exchanging this information; take necessary steps in order to ensure the transparency of ownership of companies taking part in public procurement; form public-private information sharing partnerships aimed at detecting, preventing and disrupting money laundering. Though overall, it can be argued that Georgia has implemented positive measures towards the fulfillment of the obligations undertaken at the Anti-corruption Summit in London, it failed to execute any significant actions in achieving the transparency of the beneficial ownership. Therefore, the problems in the sphere of beneficial ownership still remain”. Read more…  Source: The web-page of the organization

Tbilisi. International Holocaust Remembrance Day is marked on January 27. The purpose of marking this day is to commemorate the victims of the Holocaust, to think about the threat of anti-Semitism, and to reaffirm the importance of tolerance. On January 27, 2021, the Public Defender of Georgia, the Tolerance Center of the Public Defender, the Council of Europe Office in Georgia, and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) organized an online meeting to discuss the historical path of the Holocaust and its consequences, to recall the interesting and important facts about the coexistence of the Jewish people and to talk about the possibility of condemning each expression of anti-Semitism. Read more…  Source: The web-page of the organization

The Eastern Partnership Civil Society Facility invites all civil society organizations based in to join the Webinar & Workshop on Human-centred Design on January 25 and 26.  The Workshop will be held in English only. To join Register here  Read more... Source: The page in the social network

Tbilisi. The Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center (EMC) responds to the religious controversy, occurred in the village of Buknari, and calls on the state to de-escalate the conflict and to take effective steps aiming at ensuring unwavering protection of human rights.   “The analysis of these conflicts shows that the state did not provide a proper legal response to any of the cases, which fact, in general, resulted in encouraging impunity and turning it into a rule. Furthermore, in some cases, police representatives themselves were directly involved in large-scale violent actions organized against local Muslim communities”, - is stated on the website of the organization. Read more… Source: emc.org.ge

Tbilisi. Myth Detector publishes a blog post: How do different vaccines work and is any of them dangerous? The article is about disinformation, according to which the Pfizer vaccine is a technical virus and contains danger, while Russian (meaning Sputnik V) and Oxford (meaning AstraZeneca) vaccines are considered exemplary. As false information states, the Pfizer vaccine can alter DNA, egg, and sperm cells, which change reflects also on the fetus. “Published posts about the threat of the Pfizer vaccine and termination of the vaccination process in Greece contain disinformation: 1. All COVID-19 vaccines that are in use have passed all necessary stages of testing; 2. The European Commission and the European Medicines Agency have recommended using Moderna and Pfizer vaccines throughout Europe. 3. The principles of the impact of the Pfizer/Moderna vaccine, on the one hand, and the AstraZeneca/Sputnik V vaccine, on the other hand, are different, however, none of them contain an artificial virus. 4. Vaccines cannot cause changes in human DNA, sperm, and egg cells. 5. The vaccination process has not been terminated in Greece”, - is stated in the blog post. Read more… Source: mythdetector.ge