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

Tbilisi. On November 25, the Institute for Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI) in collaboration with the National Library of Georgia held the presentation of the memorial album about the life and work of a prominent public figure of the First Republic of Georgia, Nikoloz (Karlo) Chkheidze. The album includes the archival and photo materials that have not been published before, extensive annotations and the details of Karlo Chkheidze’s biography and public work. Read more… Source: idfi.ge

Tbilisi. Europe Foundation is pleased to unveil its food safety application Uvno, which will enable consumers to access the NFA inspection results of food safety enterprises operating in Georgia. The data available to the users since 2016.  The application aims at informing the consumers about food safety compliance in food enterprises so that they make informed decision before purchasing the produce. At the same time, the application represents a platform for civic monitoring and acts as an information-sharing tool.  Read more…  Source: http://www.epfound.ge

Tbilisi. Transparency International Georgia publishes the report on the activities of members of TI Georgia’s Committees of concerned citizens of Imereti in 2018-2019. “In 2019, members of TI Georgia’s Committees of Concerned Citizens applied to the self-government bodies of Kutaisi, Tskaltubo, Khoni, Baghdati, and Tkibuli with a request to address 38 infrastructural problems/needs. The city halls of the municipalities expressed their readiness to address 24 of these problems/needs”, is noted in the statement. Read more… Source: www.transparency.ge

Tbilisi. The Public Defender of Georgia made a statement on the Developments in the Patriarchate.  ‘In recent days, some clergymen have stated via the media that they are aware of alleged sexual harassment and coercion committed by clergy. They also indicated that some of those actions might be committed against minors’, - The Public Defender mentioned, - ‘I would like to make it clear that the allegations contain signs of actions punishable by the Criminal Code of Georgia. Accordingly, I urge the law enforcement agencies to launch a probe into each similar allegation. I also urge anyone, who is aware of alleged criminal actions, to immediately report to the appropriate authorities’.  Read more…  Source: http://ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. Transparency International Georgia publishes the report on activities of members of TI Georgia’s Committees of concerned citizens of Adjara in 2018-2019. “In November 2018, members of TI Georgia’s Committees of Concerned Citizens identified 52 problems and needs in 15 settlements of Batumi, Keda, Shuakhevi, and Khulo. With the aim of addressing them, our organization applied to the municipalities at the end of last year. We received a promise to resolve 25 of the said problems from the city halls of the municipalities”, is noted in the statement. Read more… Source: www.transparency.ge

Adjara. “Transparency International Georgia” has publicized needs identified by civic councils in 2019 in Adjara. Supply of potable and irrigation water, bringing to order internal roads and drainage channels, reinforcement of landslide-prone terrains, installation of outdoor lightings, rehabilitation of kindergartens and sports infrastructure, access to the internet, maintenance of cultural heritage sites – this is an incomplete list of needs, in regard to which the organization has already applied to municipalities urging to address them. Read more… Source: www.transparency.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. “Transparency International Georgia” has publicized needs identified by civic councils in 2019 in Zugdidi and Poti. Members of civic councils of “Transparency International Georgia” identified more than 60 infrastructure problems/needs in Zugdidi and Poti. We anticipate that self-governments of Poti and Zugdidi will consider identified needs of citizens in a draft budget for 2020 as much as possible”, - is stated in the information released by the organization. Read more… Source: www.transparency.ge

Tbilisi. How Georgia responds to Russian propaganda - This was the topic of a discussion at the meeting organized by “Transparency International Georgia” on October 15. “Participants of the meeting talked about dangers, which Russian propaganda poses to the country, ways that are used for dissemination, state policy to address this problem and measures that need to be taken to fight against intensified propaganda”, - is stated on the website of the organization in a social network. Read more… Source:The website of the organization in a social network

Tbilisi. Institute for Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI) publishes a blog post: On the Mass Burial Site of the Victims of the Soviet Repressions Discovered in Batumi.  “IDFI was actively involved in the search for archival documents about the people repressed in Batumi and Adjara. Through the archival research carried out by the organization, specifically through the study of the minutes of the execution of the extreme penalty, it has been established that between 1937-1938, through the various means of punishments (such as “Kulak” operation, Stalinist lists, national repressions, etc.) totally 1050 were executed in Adjara which is several hundred times more than the amount assumed before”, is noted in the statement.  Read more… Source: idfi.ge

Tbilisi. Today, Europe Foundation (EPF) presented its recent survey report entitled Knowledge and Attitudes towards the EU in Georgia.  EPF has been commissioning the EU Knowledge and Attitudes survey biannually since 2009. The survey results are representative of the whole population of Georgia (excluding occupied territories). All waves of surveys have been carried out using identical questionnaire to allow for the comparison of changes in populations knowledge of and expectations towards the European Union, Georgia-EU relations and European integration. In 2019 2,746 interviews were conducted.  Read more… Source: The web-page of the organization