Tbilisi. Open Society Georgia Foundation wishes you Happy New Year. The office of the Foundation will be closed for Holidays from December 25 untill January 10, 2018. In full… Source: www.osgf.ge

Tbilisi. ''Transparency International Georgia'' (TI) publishes a statement regarding a controversy that took place on December 20 in the Parliament of Georgia. ''On December 20, at the meeting with candidates for member of government in the Parliament of Georgia, the society witnessed a controversy, during which politicians made emotional and unethical statements. This fact confirms that there is a necessity of setting standards for ethics of behavior of politicians and members of parliament'' – is noted in the statement. Read more… Source:The website of the organization

Tbilisi. On December 8, 2017, Nino Lomjaria, the Public Defender of Georgia, started performing her duties. The Parliament of Georgia elected the sixth Public Defender of Georgia for a five-year term on November 30. On her first working day, Nino Lomjaria told reporters her priority will be the protection of social and economic rights, along with political and civil rights. According to her, she is going to intensify the efforts of the Public Defender’s Office in terms of protection of the rights of vulnerable groups (children, women, persons with disabilities) and to focus on the rights of employees and healthy lifestyle. Other important areas will be strengthening of regional offices and creation of decent working conditions for the staff of the Public Defender’s Office. Nino Lomjaria, Master of Law of Washington University in St. Louis and Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University, was the First Deputy Auditor General of Georgia in 2016-2017; from 2003 to 2016 she occupied leading positions in the following organizations: International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy (ISFED), European Network of Election Monitoring Organizations (ENEMO), Georgian Young Lawyers' Association. Nino Lomjaria delivers lecture course - Democracy and Election Systems at the University of Georgia; she had been delivering lectures in Election Law as a visiting professor at Ilia State University in previous years. She is the author of about twenty surveys and publications. In full Source: The organization’s webpage

Tbilisi. Transparency International Georgia positively assesses government decision not to unify security and intelligence services. ''Transparency International Georgia welcomes this step, as well as, consideration of opinions expressed by international and local experts. Reform of the state security system is one of the priorities for the country. Within the project Advocacy for Modern Security System, Transparency International, in cooperation with Center for Human Rights Teaching and Monitoring will present recommendations on the reform in spring 2018. We hope that the reform will be implemented in an open manner, with engagement from experts and as a result we will build state security system with accountability and strong democratic oversight mechanisms'', is noted in the statement. In full… Source: www.transparency.ge

The office of the Public Defender of Georgia shared IOI President’s statement. "The International Ombudsman Institute (IOI) has become aware of the difficulties faced byone of its members, the Office of the Public Defender of Georgia and its current incumbent,Ombudsman Ucha Nanuashvili”. - IOI President mentioned, - "Ombudsman institutions are a core element of every democracy and form an integral partof constitutional reality. In a state ruled by law it is in the best public interest to fullyrespect and support the independent investigative mandate of the Ombudsman. The IOItherefore strongly encourages the acknowledgement of the mandate of the Public Defenderof Georgia and a reasoned and professional response to the Ombudsman’s work”. In full Source: http://ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. A Permanent Council of the Parliament of Georgia on Open and Transparent Governance conducted a conference – ''Accessible Parliament for All'' at the Parliament building in Tbilisi. At the conference, the Parliament of Georgia presented an adaptation plan of the Parliament building in Tbilisi, implementation of which will ease movement of persons with mobility and vision restraints on the territory of the Parliament. Read more... Source:The website of the organization

On November 28-29, 2017, Public Defender meetings in the European Parliament and NATO within the framework of his visit to Brussels. The Public Defender focused on the situation of human rights and high profile cases of Georgia, including the Mustafa Emre Çabuk case, the Afgan Mukhtarli case and the so-called cyanide case. The Public Defender also spoke about the attacks and open confrontation of the authorities against the ombudsman's institution, which according to him, has recently turned into a campaign. He reviewed the criteria for the election of Public Defender and emphasized the necessity for transparency of the process. He also spoke about the performance of the law enforcement agencies, shortcomings in the justice system, constitutional reform, media environment and human rights situation in the conflict regions. In full  Source: The organization’s webpage

Tbilisi. The Public Defender’s Office of Georgia is a national mechanism for promoting, protecting and monitoring implementation of the 2006 UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities under Article 33 (2) of the Convention. ''The aim of the Council is to facilitate effective monitoring of the implementation of this Convention by the Public Defender of Georgia, considering the principles of the Convention'', is noted in the statement. In full… Source: www.ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. The Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association releases a statement regarding intended changes in the Government. ''We welcome the goal of the Government of Georgia to create a flexible state apparatus, reduce bureaucracy and optimize expenses as much as possible, however, it is noteworthy that fundamental changes have been planned without civic engagement and conducting public discussions'' – is stated by GYLA. Read more... Source:The website of the organization

Tbilisi. Narcopolitics reform supporter organizations respond to cancellation of a committee hearing scheduled to take place today in the Parliament of Georgia, on which the first discussion of a legislative package of the narcopolitics reform should be conducted. ''Beyond already reached agreements on the bill, the platform does not see an additional resource for compromise and the basis for postponing legislative discussions. Taking this into consideration, we are requesting to put the agreed version of the bill on voting and to urge the Parliament declare through the formal process whether it supports termination of repressive narcopolitics in the country or not''. Read more... Source:emc.org.ge

Kakheti. Through October 30 – November 8, 2017, The Georgia Red Cross Society conducted training in Disaster Management, First Aid and Psychosocial Support for volunteers of five target branches (Sagarejo, Telavi, Kvareli, Lagodekhi and Akhmeta).  ''The aim of the training was to increase knowledge and skills of volunteers. During the theoretical and practical part of the training there was discussed how to provide support effectively to the affected people, during the different disasters'', is noted in the statement. In full… Source: The organization’s webpage in a social network

Tbilisi. On November 27, 2017, the Public Defender of Georgia presented 2012-2017 progress report to the MPs, governmental agencies, international organizations and NGOs. The report provides information about the efforts carried out within the mandate of the Public Defender of Georgia in the field of individual cases, monitoring, public awareness raising and education, as well relations with international human rights organizations. In full  Source: The organization’s webpage

Tbilisi. Due to the high interest of the public, Public Defender Ucha Nanuashvili is making additional explanations on the issue of awarding Tolerance Defenders by the Council of Religions on 16 November 2017 and emphasizes that the Council of Religions selects Tolerance Defenders independently, without any interference by the Public Defender. ''The Public Defender clarifies that according to the same rules, the candidates should be chosen as Tolerance Defenders according to their contribution to the creation of tolerant atmosphere in the country throughout the year. However, these rules, even in case of deviation, do not allow the Public Defender to change the Council’s decision'', is noted in the statement. In full… Source: www.ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. Europe Foundation and twenty-four members of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum’s Georgian National Platform call upon the Prime Minister of Georgia, the Government of Georgia, the Parliament of Georgia, and other stakeholders to engage in open discussions about the political role and functions of the Office of the State Minister of Georgia on European and Euro-Atlantic Integration, in order to make sure that the suggested structural changes will not hinder the strategically important Euro-Atlantic integration of Georgia. In full  Source: http://www.epfound.ge

Tbilisi. GIS and RS Consulting Center GeoGraphic is pleased to invite you to the XVIII International User Conference of Geoinformation Systems and Remote Sensing to be held on 10th of November, 2017 at Radisson Blu Iveria (address: 1 Rose Revolution Square ) in Tbilisi, Georgia. Please register at www.geographic.ge In full  Source: CENN

Tbilisi. On November 3, Open Gallery at Open Society Georgia Foundation will host an exhibition by Upper Ajara and Pankisi photo clubs. These photo clubs are a continuation of the village photo club project that Natela Grigalashvili, wonderful Georgian photographer first started in the village of Gorelovka in Javakheti with OSGF's support. In full  Source: The organization’s webpage

Tbilisi. Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center (EMC) publishes a study on national and international standards and practices – ''Right to maternity, paternity and parental leave on the background of equality''. The purpose of the study is to identify gaps related to the right to maternity, paternity and parental leave in terms of compatibility with the Constitution of Georgia and international legal acts. Read more... Source:The website of the organization

Tbilisi. The Public Defender has been recommending the Government of Georgia to establish an effective mechanism for monitoring labour conditions for years. He has been emphasizing the necessity for similar monitoring not only in harmful and dangerous workplaces, but in other public services as well. ''The current legislative framework does not oblige institutions to let representatives of the Labour Conditions Inspection Department to conduct inspection, which degrades the efficiency of the mechanism. Therefore, in order to show an example to other public agencies, the Public Defender of Georgia has agreed to allow the Labour Conditions Inspection Department to inspect labour conditions in the Tbilisi office of the Public Defender and sent a corresponding letter to the Ministry of Labour, Health and Social Affairs of Georgia. In addition, the Public Defender requested inspection in the Batumi office'', is noted in the statement. In full… Source: www.ombudsman.ge

The web portal www.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. Part of civil society organizations responds to statements regarding selection of the Public Defender and calls on the Parliament of Georgia to ensure participation of civil society in selection of the main defender of human rights of the country. Read more: Source:The website of the organization

On October 11, 2017, representatives of the Department of Prevention and Monitoring of the Public Defender's Office carried out monitoring of the joint return operation of the Georgian citizens living in the territory of the EU countries without permission. ''The process of reception, checking and travelling of the Georgian citizens was monitored non-stop. No incident has taken place and no force or special means were used during the return operation'', is noted in the statement. In full… Source: www.ombudsman.ge

The web portal of civil society organizations - www.csogeorgia.org – conveys feelings of gratitude to its users and says them goodbye just for a two weeks. The portal will resume the activities in September. Stay in touch with us, we will be back soon…