Tbilisi. In order to increase the awareness of the Association Agreement between the EU and Georgia, Fundamental European values and address existing myths in society CDD in partnership with Education Center and Youth Center of Patriarchate of Georgia conducted meetings and conferences "Georgia and EU" for representatives of the Georgian Orthodox Church - priests, students of spiritual seminaries, universities, schools as well as teachers of Georgian Orthodox church education institutions from around the country. In full... Source: Social network

Tbilisi. The Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association responds to the fact of interference of the law enforcement units within the rights of a peaceful assembly on November 12 of the current year in Gori. GYLA calls on the relevant institutions to ensure protection of the right to peaceful assembly, acknowledged by the constitution, and not to establish incorrect practices of restriction of peaceful assembly and freedom of expression with the motives of distortion of the image of self-governing unit, or other unwarranted motives, which has been repeatedly mentioned by GYLA” – is noted in the statement of the organization. In full… Source:gyla.ge

Tbilisi. ''Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center'' offers a three-part series of articles on ''The function of the public space in the post-totalitarian society - dangers and symptoms.'' ''The objective of the current series of articles is to analyze totalitarian roots of Georgian society and holdovers of post-totalitarian legacy. How do the public spaces operate in the societies with totalitarian experience and to what symptoms or dangers may the issue of its delegation to different groups be related?'' – is stated on the web-page of the organization. In full… Source:emc.org.ge

Tbilisi. The Public Defender of Georgia considers that the appointment/promotion of judges has an essential importance for a state oriented to democratic order, rule of law and human rights. Selection of the kind of personnel that fully meet the high status of the judge is a primary guarantee of independent and impartial judiciary.  ''The Public Defender considers that in terms of evaluating the competence of judges it is important that the results of the Public Defender's monitoring of the hearing of cases by common courts, as well as the Public Defender's parliamentary reports and recommendations provided to certain judges about launching disciplinary proceedings, be taken into account'', is noted in the statement.  In full... Source: www.ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. Non-Governmental Organizations respond to the comment of the former Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili. ''Former Prime Minister was traditionally critical while talking about the representatives of Non-Governmental Organizations, which he labeled as an extension of one of the opposing political parties. Undersigning organizations declare: high officials and politicians should adequately realize the role of the civil sector in the democratic society and demonstrate the importance of democratic values and protection of human rights in their public speeches…'' – is noted in the joint statement. In full... Source:The web-page of the organization in a social network

Tbilisi. Transparency International Georgia publishes a blog post regarding the establishment of private enforcement institution and existing barriers. ''This initiative aimed at founding such alternative mechanisms of enforcement, which, in comparison with the public enforcement, would be cheaper, faster and more effective. However, it may be said that since the moment of creation of the institution started its derogation process via numerous of those legal and actual restrictions, which were gradually imposed to private bailiffs'' – is stated in the blog post. In full… Source:www.transparency.ge

Tbilisi. Transparency International Georgia publishes a podcast of the parliamentary news. The podcast reflects the following topics: Review of drafts of the law regarding eviction, Amendments to be made into the laws on ''The Public Defender of Georgia'' and "Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination'', Draft of the law ''Regarding Public Service'', presented by Zaqaria Qutsnashvili in the manner of legislative initiative. In full… Source:www.transparency.ge

Tbilisi. On November 8, the organizations, working on women issues, have met with Dubravka Simonovich, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Violence against Women, its Causes and Consequences, and Ingibjörg Sólrún Gísladóttir, Designated Regional Director for Europe and Central Asia of UN Women. ''The representatives of public sector had the opportunity to receive answers from invited guests, as a recommendation on current issues for them, such as domestic violence prevention, promotion of women political participation, and prevention of early marriage'' – is stated on the web-page of the organization. In full… Source:www.ginsc.net

Tbilisi. Within the framework of the East-West Management Institute project – Advancing CSO Capacities and Engaging Society for Sustainability (ACCESS), the new grant competition will be announced in November. "In November of the year 2015, within the framework of EWMI ACCESS the Public Policy Research and Monitoring (PPAG) grant competition will be announced. The grant competition is designed to increase the accountability of the government and to involve civil society in the process of working out the issues on national policy-making and monitoring" – is stated in the bulletin, published within the frames of the program. Besides the news on grants it reflects activities, performed within the frames of the program. In full... Source:The web-page of the program in a social network

Tbilisi. On October 28, 2015, the Public Defender addressed the Municipal Development Fund with a recommendation to ensure that the needs of persons with disabilities and the principles of ''universal design'' are considered in the project of University metro station, so that all components of the station (underground and aboveground buildings, escalators, stairs, etc.) are accessible for persons with disabilities. In full... Source: www.ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. The organization "Young Barristers” responds to the wiretap recordings, uploaded by the Ukrainian site. ''Developing events with a revolutionary scenario by the individuals, participating in the phone conversation, provoking crime and deliberately allowing violence in the occasion of declaring the decision on the court case, related to the TV Company ''Rustavi 2'', and starting its enforcement process is nothing else, but the offence against the constitutional order and security basics of Georgia'' – is noted in the statement of the organization. In full… Source:www.barristers.ge

Tbilisi. On October 29, Giorgi Margvelashvili, the President of Georgia, will meet with the representatives of Civil Society Organizations. ''Regarding the meeting the President has responded to the joint statement of those non-governmental organizations, which have supported the necessity of such dialog at the meeting, organized by ''Young Barristers'' on October 25, 2015 in connection with the case of the TV Company ''Rustavi 2'', concerning independent judiciary, media pluralism and freedom of expression in the country'' – is noted in the statement of the organization. In full... Source:www.barristers.ge

Tbilisi. On October 27th, Georgia was awarded with the OGP Government Champions Award at the OGP (Open Government Partnership) Civil Society Day in Mexico City, Mexico, that was held within the OGP Global Summit Mexico 2015.  ''Institute for Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI) has nominated the Inter-Factional Working Group of the Parliament of Georgia since the Institute believes, Inter-Factional Group, consisting of 11 Members of Parliament from majority and minority factions, has made an active input in the process of elaboration of the Action Plan and putting forward the commitments, which the Parliament is supposed to implement in the years of 2015-2016'', noted in the statement. In full... Source: idfi.ge

Tbilisi. Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association comments about video coverage on torture, broadcasted via the TV Company ''Obieqtivi''. ''We consider it unacceptable to have mentioned video coverage transmitted by the media in the above said manner, because it violates the right of victims to privacy and may have severe psychological consequences as for the victims themselves, as for their family members and the general public'' – is noted in the statement of the organization. In full... Source:gyla.ge

Tbilisi. Non-Governmental Organizations, part of the platform ''No to Phobia'', release the statement regarding the discharge of the individuals, who participated in the dispersal of the action on May 17, 2013 year. ''It has to be mentioned that the practice of investigation and court trial on the case of May 17, 2013 year, once again shows the difficult situation, existing in the country, related to the crime, committed with the motives of hate''… - is noted in the joint statement. In full… Source:gdi.ge

Tbilisi. On Friday, October 23 the Institute for Development of Freedom of Information organized a discussion - ''Public Discussion on 2016 Draft Budget''. Discussion was held within the framework of the project - ''Strategic Plan Georgia 2020 - Strengthening Public Involvement''.  ''The article was published on the blog of the project. Representatives of public, private and non-governmental sectors took part in the event and discussed the draft budget of 2016, its main parameters and significant changes compared to the budget of 2015'', noted in the statement. In full... Source: idfi.ge

Tbilisi. The Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center (EMC) responds to the investigation, started on the basis of the charge regarding overthrow of the government. ''We call on the State Security Service to make a clarification about the real reason of launching an investigation and to provide the information about the investigation process to the public''… - is noted in the statement of the organization. In full… Source:emc.org.ge

Tbilisi. ''Transparency International Georgia'' responds to the criticism of the Minister of Justice regarding the introduction of the electronic way of work distribution. ''We regret that the Minister of Justice of Georgia criticizes the efforts of donors, spent through ''Transparency International Georgia'', to promote an increase of transparency in the judicial system'' – is stated on the web-page of the organization. In full… Source: www.transparency.ge

Tbilisi. With this statement the Coalition responds to the first conference of the Prosecutors Assembly which took place on October 19-21. ''The conference elected 8 members of the Prosecutorial Council. It needs to be noted that a significant part of the election process took place beyond the scope of the Prosecutors Assembly. The conference itself was well organized and open to representatives of media and observing organizations'', noted in the statement. In full... Source: www.transparency.ge

Tbilisi. On 26 October 2015 the Public Defender presented a special report on the state of children's rights in the boarding schools subordinated to the Orthodox Church of Georgia and Muslim denominations of Georgia.  ''The monitoring showed that the quality of care in the above-mentioned institutions varies and is not regulated by a unified child care system, as the beneficiaries of the boarding schools are not under state care – are not involved in social service care program. This makes it difficult to realize the child's fundamental rights and freedoms, such as the right to health, the right to education, protection from violence, and so on'', noted in the report.  In full... Source: www.ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. Institute for Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI) releases a new blogpost: ''Creeping Occupation of Georgia Following the 2008 War''.  ''According to information provided by the Ministry of Defence of Georgia, the inhabited areas of two villages, Greater and Lesser Khurvaleti, turned out to be on the opposite side of the so-called ‘border’. Moreover, Georgia’s State Security Service provided information to IDFI, according to which inhabited areas of village Gugutiantkari was placed within South Ossetian borders after barbed wire fences were installed in 2013. Media channels certified that villages Zardiantkari and Roreti have been divided. Considerable parts of Dvani, Ditsi, Tsitsagantkari, Jariasheni, Adzvi have been added to the list of seized territories. In the case of Jariasheni, by 2015, almost the entire village has been barbed and placed within occupational border lines'', noted in the statement. In full... Source: idfi.ge

Tbilisi. ''Young Barristers'' organized a meeting as a discussion platform for civil society organizations, specialists of law, media experts and constitutionalists. The meeting was dedicated to the evaluation of public events, taking place in regard to the ''Rustavi 2'' case. ''We consider that the position of the government, not to interfere into judicial dispute, is correct. We call on the government to unequivocally refrain from the intervention into the process, while the President Giorgi Margvelashvili to avoid making such statements, as he addressed to the judge Tamaz Urtmelidze, which cannot be appraised otherwise, than the pressure on the judge'' – is noted in the joint statement. In full… Source:www.barristers.ge