Tech activists in the Eastern partner countries and across the world are invited to take part in a global hackathon to find solutions in the face of the Coronavirus crisis, taking place from 9-12 April, globally and online, across all time zones, organised by Estonia and supported by the European Union. Find out more... ource: EU’s page in the social network

Within the framework of the “Keda Leader” project, carried out through the support of the EU ENPARD program, CENN, Institute of Democracy (IoD) and Keda Local Action Group (LAG) are pleased to announce a grant competition: “New Challenges - New Opportunities”. The purpose of the grant is to react quickly and respond to those new challenges that Georgia faces as a result of the “COVID-19” pandemic caused by spread of the Corona virus. The grant competition begins on March 27 and ends on April 6 at 6:00 pm. Read more…  Source: kedalag.ge

Tbilisi. Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center (EMC) publishes an article by Mariam Shalvashvili and Aitaj Khalil: Missing needs, interests and history - Problem of teaching Georgian language in the Azerbaijani community of Georgia. “Present critical review evaluates textbooks, designed for Azerbaijani students, in terms of teaching Georgian language as well as historical place and self-identification of Azerbaijanis of Georgia in these texts. The document is essentially based on studies, existing in this area, as well as interviews with focus groups, conducted with Azerbaijani activists in Georgia, and teachers”, - is stated on the website of the organization. Read more… Source: emc.org.ge

Tbilisi. International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy (ISFED) publishes a blog post: 10 disinformations of Kremlin in regard to COVID-19 in Georgia. “A coordinated campaign of discrediting and disinformation, intensified on the background of the Coronavirus, indicates that malicious actors, both inside and outside the country, were forming powerful news networks for the 2020 parliamentary elections. It was supposedly planned to use these networks actively for electoral purposes, however, at this stage, a crisis caused by COVID-19 appeared to be a favorable moment for their use”. Read more… Source: isfed.ge

Tbilisi. Take a look at the address of Carl Hartzell, EU Ambassador, as to how he appraises effective efforts of Georgia against COVID-19 and calls on everyone to take care of each other.  “I am reporting from home. These are clearly unprecedented times for Georgia and the rest of the world. Due to the Corona pandemic the world is turning upside down. I would like to use this opportunity to express my heartfelt admiration for the medical professionals, for doctors and nurses, for law enforcement and border guards, and others for working tirelessly these days for the safety and security of everyone here. This crisis is not only a health crisis but also a tremendous economic challenge, therefore I’m proud to be working alongside other international partners under the leadership of the Georgian Government to properly assess the needs and to set out the way ahead. The European Union stands with Georgia. The European Union is Georgia’s largest donor and strongest partner and we will remain that…”  Read more… Source: The website of the European Union in Georgia in a social network

Tbilisi. On February 25, an exhibition dedicated to the 99th anniversary of the Soviet occupation of Georgia, organized by #IDFI in collaboration with the society Memorial, is being held in the Parliament of Georgia. “Various archival materials and stories, describing the invasion of the Bolshevik Red Army in 1921, Soviet terror and personal tragedies of different people, are displayed at the exhibition”. Read more… Source: Social network

Tbilisi. According to information of the Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association (GYLA), Ivane Machavariani, Minister of Finance, regularly violates the Constitution, which serves the basis for his impeachment. "On February 24, the faction “Independent Members of Parliament” called Ivane Machavariani, Minister of Finance of Georgia, to the sitting of the Committee on Sector Economy and Economic Policy. He did not attend the sitting. According to the Constitution, “in case it is required, a member of the Government [...] - is obliged to attend [...] sittings of a committee [...], answer questions raised at sittings and present a report on activities carried out.” Read more… Source: gyla.ge

On February 21, 2020, the European Network of National Human Rights Institutions (ENNHRI), in collaboration with its partner organizations, issued a statement in support of the Public Defender of Georgia.  International organizations refer to the state’s breach of the confidentiality of the Public Defender’s prison visits, and subsequent attacks on the institution and urge the state to promptly and thoroughly investigate such cases.  Read more…  Source: http://ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center (EMC) releases a joint statement, through which the organizations respond to a crisis existing in Shukruti and Itkhvisi. “Confrontation of locals with “Georgian Manganese LLC” in the Shukruti village of Chiatura Municipality has resumed. The mine was also blocked on February 23 in the village of Itkhvisi, where locals, like those from Shukruti, link damage to their homes, ancillary buildings and agricultural lands to functioning of the mine and demand compensation of suffered loss from Georgian Manganese. In the current circumstance, it is important for the state to realize the crisis that exists in both Shukruti and Itkhvisi, take an active role and eliminate the social and environmental disaster, which the local population remains vulnerable to”, - is stated on the website of the organization. Read more… Source: gyla.ge

Tbilisi. Transparency International Georgia publishes a blog post: Internet ownership in Georgia. “Importance of the Internet, in terms of both daily communication and access to information, increases day by day. A number of Internet users tends to be growing and, respectively, so does the Internet industry. Information, obtained through the Internet, acquires particular importance in the pre-election period and may play a key role on the background of increased threat of misinformation and low culture of media literacy. Taking into consideration high public interest, Transparency International Georgia studied the ownership of large operators, existing in both landline and mobile internet markets in 2018, as well as their business connections. The study also highlights issues related to distribution and use of the Internet among population”, - is stated on the website of the organization. Read more… Source: www.transparency.ge

Tbilisi. Today's report, prepared by the European External Action Service and the European Commission and covering the period since the last Association Council in March 2019, shows that Georgia remains committed to the obligations and undertakings of the Association Agreement.  “Alignment to the EU acquis, as well as to European standards, particularly in the area of human rights, has effectively continued. However, challenges remain in the areas of electoral reform, political dialogue and reform of the judiciary. Going forward, it is essential that the parliamentary elections are held in a free and fair environment and that the selection procedure for Supreme Court Judges adheres to all recommendations made by the Venice Commission and is carried out in a transparent manner and in line with a genuinely merit-based nomination process. Legislative changes in line with international recommendations and implementation of the fourth wave of reforms will be important throughout 2020”, is noted in the statement. Read more… Source: eeas.europa.eu

Tbilisi. Members of the youth organizations of political parties and Tinatin Gogeliani, a representative of the State Ministry for Reconciliation and Civic Equality of Georgia discussed the state strategy for civic equality and Integration action plan of ethnic minorities at Rondeli Foundation. "The discussion was a part of the project “National Minorities in Political Processes – Engagement for Better Future” which is implemented with the support and active participation of OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities (HCNM)“, is noted on the page of the organization in a social network. Read more… Source: Social network page

Tbilisi. Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center (EMC) responds to grave cases of discrediting the Public Defender by the Minister of Justice of Georgia and calls on the Government of Georgia to study political responsibility of the Minister and to make sure the Public Defender has guarantees for effective and independent activity. Read more… Source: emc.org.ge

Tbilisi. On January 21st, The Institute for Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI) in cooperation with the Data Exchange Agency (DEA) organized a meeting on the topic: Development Plan and Future Prospects of the Open Data Platform - WWW.DATA.GOV.GE.  “The purpose of the event was to discuss the necessities, challenges and development plans of the Open Data Platform - WWW.DATA.GOV.GE with representatives of Civil Society, Media, Business and Academy”, is noted in the statement. Read more… Source: idfi.ge

The web-page of Civil Society Organizations wishes you happy holidays. At the same time we hereby inform you that csogeorgia.org will resume its work from January 8.

Tbilisi. ASB Georgia conducted a closing ceremony of the project – “Education for reintegration - the way to return to society”. The project has been implemented with the support of the European Union since 2017 and its main objective was to re-socialize people being in conflict with law. Along with the official ceremony there was organized an exhibition of products and goods from social enterprises, individual entrepreneurs and penitentiary institutions. At the end of the closure a documentary film “Way to society” was screened. Read more… Source: The website of the organization in a social network

Tbilisi. In the summer of 2019, the European Union launched consultations with Georgian CSOs on the future of the Eastern Partnership.  In response to this process, on the initiative of the Open Society Georgia Foundation, five Georgian think tanks have produced a joint document describing the ways of transforming the Eastern Partnership in order to address the expectations of the its member states.  Read more…  Source: https://osgf.ge

Tbilisi. According to information released by a part of civil society organizations, mobilization of citizens for a rally, planned by “Georgian Dream” on December 14, is carried out under the pressure on public officials at municipalities. “Signatory organizations call on the ruling party and high-ranking officials of local self-governments to prevent any form of pressure/coercion against public servants and those employed at municipalities, vulnerable citizens that may force them to participate in the rally. Besides, ensure separation of the planned party event from public service as well as self-government activities as much as possible and refrain from misleading citizens about the planned event”, - is noted in the joint statement. Read more… Source: isfed.ge

Tbilisi. Transparency International Georgia publishes a book titled: Who Owns Georgia. The book was prepared together with Radio Liberty journalist Niko Nergadze. “Clearly, the situation where the country’s richest man is also the ruling party’s leader and the country’s de facto ruler is a new kind of challenge for the democratic political system and its key institutions. What are the consequences of this consolidation of power for the judiciary, the law enforcement system or the media? What is its impact on elections? How does it affect the daily affairs of citizens and change the places where they live?” Read more… Source: transparency.ge

Tbilisi. On December5-6, The Institute for Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI) organized the 2nd international conference - Openness of State Archives and Memory Studies. „The open archives are primary facilitators of research aimed at rethinking of totalitarian past and state politics focused on the prevention of the re-emergence of totalitarian ideologies and rehabilitation of victims of the repressive regime. For this, since the day of its establishment in 2009, the Institute for Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI) has been endeavoring to enhance the openness of state archives and the flexibility of their policy and services for researchers in Georgia and beyond” – Giorgi Kldiashvili has pointed out in his speech. Read more… Source: idfi.ge

Tbilisi. Transparency International urges dialogue with civil society during political crisis in Georgia. ‘Transparency International is deeply concerned by the political crisis and backlash against independent civil society groups in Georgia, which risk harming democratic progress in the country and undermining attempts to fight corruption. Transparency International has previously warned about the signs of state capture in Georgia. The failure to proceed with electoral reform weakens the health of Georgia’s democracy and threatens future anti-corruption efforts’ – Is mentioned in the statement.  Read more…  Source: www.transparency.ge