Tbilisi. The Institute for the Development of Freedom of Information has released the February activity newsletter. For the full text... Source: idfi.ge

Tbilisi. CSO "JumpStart Georgia" has released another infograph: "A boy preferred in the South Caucasus" The infograph... Source: feradi.info

Tbilisi. To commemorate 9 March 1956 – to document the events of 59 years ago, in 2011, with support from the Boll Foundation and the Swiss Embassy, the Institute for the Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI) has collected archive materials released by the Institute last year. The archive... Source: idfi.ge

Tbilisi. Last week the Parliament of Georgia has adopted at the first hearing amendments to the Civil Code of Georgia. According to Transparency International – Georgia, "draft law launches a key reform related to re-conceptualization of the legal capacity institute...”. For the full text (geo)... Source: the organization's web page in the social network.

Tbilisi. An annual exhibition on volunteerism was held on March 7 in the "Courtyard Marriott”. The event presented organizations serving persons with disabilities, uncared-for and homeless children, IDPs and persons with various needs. Each organization had a display stand for its activities, providing relevant information to interested persons. In addition, all interested persons could register to get involved in volunteer activities. Exhibition was organized by CSO "Helping Hand”. For the full text (geo)... Source: tavisupali.ge

Tbilisi. The Public Defender's office has released a manual on response to facts of domestic violence. The manual is intended for all organizations or persons working on the topic of domestic violence. The manual (geo)... Source: www.ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. As part of the School of Tolerance, the book house "Ligamus" of the Ilia State University has hosted bishop Malkhaz Songhulashvili's public lecture on Religion and the Tolerance Culture. A cycle of public lectures as part of the School of Tolerance is a new project, implemented by the Tolerance and Diversity Institute (TDI) together with the Ilia State University with support from the Dutch Embassy. The organization offers a video recording of the lecture. The lecture (geo)...     Source: the organization's web page in the social network.

Imereti. GYLA's Kutaisi Branch has a new head. The branch will be headed by Giorgi Santuriani, who has replaced on this position Giorgi Chikaberidze. Santuriani, who is the lawyer at GYLA's Kutaisi Branch, will serve as the Branch's Chair for one year. Source: web page of GYLA's Kutaisi Branch in the social network.

Tbilisi. The Heinrich Boll Foundation has released a publication "Heinrich Boll in Georgia: Western Tramp and Eastern Dissident: Nonconformist Bridge", which describes Boll's two visits to the South Caucasus. He "has visited the South Caucasus in 1966 and 1972 and returned home both times full of strong impressions and excited". For the full text (geo)... Source: web page of the Boll Foundation in the social network.

Tbilisi. As part of the civil activism platform, the Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center has posted Bakar Berekashvili's lecture "Social movements, ideological discourses and politics in the European societies: comparative approach". The lecture (geo)....        Source: the Center's web page in the social network.

Tbilisi. CSO "Jumpstart Georgia" has released a new visualization on the attitudes towards ethnic minorities in the South Caucasus. The visualization... Source: feradi.info

Tbilisi. Transparency International – Georgia has released a new blog on problems persisting with the immigration policy. A new law has entered into effect on 1 September 2014, which "has been criticized on numerous occasions, was amended twice since adoption, and the third bill of amendments is already registered in the Parliament. In addition, the Prime Minister has announced changes even of larger scales". In its blog post released last October, TI wrote about problems created by the new law, and later the organization has addressed the Government with concrete recommendations. The Government has taken part of recommendations into account, such as the possibility of obtaining a visa in the territory of Georgia and receiving a visa online. "Yet, other problems remain, including an unusually large number of unjustified refusals to grant residence permit to foreign citizens", the blog post states. For the full text. Source: transparency.ge

Tbilisi. The Civil Society Institute has published the expert opinion of the European Center for Not-for-Profit Law (ECNL) over the State Concept on CSO Development. A working group is set up to this end, including Georgian MPs as well as CSO representatives. The State Concept on CSO Development aims to foster civil initiatives, create development-oriented environment, and secure their real participation in the decision-making process. Expert opinion...

Tbilisi. CSO "Young Barristers" offers the Government of Georgia a novelty in communication with the Abkhazian and Ossetian populations, "as part of which the Government ministries must be instructed to provide information about their activities, implemented or pending reforms, and state services and proposals in the Abkhazian and Ossetian languages", the organization's web page states. For the full text. Source: barristers.ge

Tbilisi. To celebrate the adoption of the Constitution of the Republic of Georgia in 1921, the Georgian Young Constitutionalists' Association has hosted a reception. In addition, winners for contributing to the development of Georgian constitutionalism were announced at the event. Symbolic prize was awarded to Doctor of Law Davit Zedelashvili. Constitutionalists and representatives of CSOs and state authorities have attended the event. Source: the organization's web page in the social network.

Tbilisi. Society "Memorial" and the Institute for the Development of Freedom of Information are organizing the exhibition on February 25 on the Rustaveli Avenue: "Sovietization Consequences in Georgia in the Form of Lists and Photos of Former Political Prisoners". The exhibition will continue on February 26-27 in the Literature Museum. The event aims to commemorate the occupation of democratic Georgia by the Soviet Russia in 1921. For the full text. Source: the organization's web page in the social network.

Tbilisi. CSO "Helping Hand" is organizing an annual volunteering exhibition on March 7 in the "Courtyard Marriott" Hotel. CSOs have an opportunity to participate in the exhibition, inform audience about their programs, and attract volunteers. For the full text (geo)...

Tbilisi. The Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center has released a publication titled "Legal assessment of funding of four religious organizations". The organization finds that the "Government must fundamentally revise the current practice of funding (in respect of the Orthodox Church as well as four religious associations) and it should be brought in compliance with principles of secularism and prohibition of discrimination. In this respect, it is especially important that the legislative body develops an integrated policy on these issues as part of wide public discussions, and exercises effective parliamentary control over the processes", the publication states. For the full text (geo)... Source: emc.org.ge

Tbilisi. CSO "Young Barristers" has released a statement on the nomination by the President of Georgia of Nino Gvenetadze for the Supreme Court Chairperson. The organization "views the decision of the President of Georgia to nominate Nino Gvenetadze before the Parliament for the Chairperson of the Supreme Court of Georgia as a step towards formation of a legal state and independence justice". For the full text (geo)... Source: barristers.ge

Adjara. To reduce and prevent risks on the roads in the Shuakhevi and Khulo Municipalities, a large-scale education project is being launched aimed at raising awareness on the road safety. Trainings in road safety will be delivered by the English organization Eastern Alliance for Safe and Sustainable Transport, Foundation "Partnership for Road Safety", and the company "Adjaristskali Georgia", with participation of representatives of local municipalities, resource centers, and schools.

Tbilisi. On February 11, 2015, for the purpose of improvement of the Law of Georgia "On the elimination of all forms of discrimination”, the Public Defender addressed the Parliament of Georgia with a proposal to introduce changes into the Law on the Public Defender, the Civil Procedure Code, the Labour Code and the Law on Civil Service. For the full text Source: ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. As part of the discussions of the School of Liberalism, "Libcenter" has released a video recording of discussion over issues of securing road safety. Students of "Libcenter" have delivered presentations on road safety, while the founder of the "Partnership for Road Safety" Foundation, Gela Kvashilava, has summarized the issues raised subsequently. The discussion... Source: web page of "Libcenter" in the social network.