Kakheti. Representative of the Public Defender of Georgia has met with CSO and media representatives on May29 in the Telavi Civic Engagement Center. The meeting aimed to analyze the situation of human rights and freedoms in the region and get familiar with current problems.

Tbilisi. The Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center responded to information disseminated by media and released the statement. "... Several information portals (including the agency  "Pirweli", topnews.mediamall.ge, pirveliradio.ge, newposts.ge) have disseminated misinformation based on the statement of organizer of one of the events planned by clerics and various public groups on 17 May 2014, Beka Tskhadadze, according to which "on May 29 up to ten CSOs, headed by the "Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center", plan to organize a rally by the State Chancellery to celebrate the "IDAHO" day."The Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center (EMC) clearly denies the released information and urges Beka Tskhadadze to refrain from disseminating wrong facts and information and thus misleading the public," the statement says. For the full text. Source: emc.org.ge

Kvemo Kartli. On June1-2 the members of the Rural Sociologists' Club will visit village Avranlo of the Tsalka Municipality. The project aims to organize various cultural and social events in rural areas. The Club members will visit the village Avranlo public school as well. All interested parties can contribute to project implementation, assist organizers with toys, inventory, books or other material resources. Volunteers can join the event with creative ideas.Contact information: t.gugushvili@hotmail.com

Tbilisi. The forum of Coalition "For Independent and Transparent Justice" was organized on May 28 in Tbilisi. Meeting participants have discussed problematic issues associated with the selection and appointment of judges in Georgia.The meeting was organized with support from the US Government. Source: GYLA's web page in the social network.

Tbilisi. The Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center has met with representatives of the Dukhobor community living in village Gorelovka. The meeting aimed to study the rights of the Dukhobor community and evaluate prospects for rendering legal aid to them. "Primary assessment of the condition of the Dukhobor community demonstrated that problem of integration is their huge concern," says the organization's page. For the full text Source: emc.org.ge

Tbilisi. The Heinrich Boll Foundation has released the Bureau's statistics on gender. "When evaluating the last year work we got interested in the statistics of our Bureau - did we manage to observe the gender democracy principle during the implementation of various activities? The results turned out to be so encouraging that we have decided to share them with broader public to demonstrate that planning programs gender-wise is a great opportunity for transforming gender hierarchies and gender roles, which are so firmly established in private or public institutions." For the full text Source: ge.boell.org

Tbilisi. Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center (EMC) conducted a research of the national policies against drug crimes within the frameworks of a project funded by Open Society Georgia Foundation. Together with the analysis of declared drug policies, the research presents a review of recent practices and trends in criminal law against drug crimes. The aim of the research was also to review all the important political documents, legal regulations and practical aspects endorsed against drug crimes. The Research Source: emc.org.ge

Tbilisi. On 27 May, an advocacy meeting was held by Public Defender’s Office (PDO) of Georgia with the partnership of United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) on the following topic: „Prevention of Early Marriage for Promoting Gender Equality and Reproductive Health”. The aim of this meeting was a promotion of dialogue among the stakeholders about the problems of early marriage. For the full text Source: ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. Institute For Development of Freedom of Information releases a secret document kept in the archives of the USA for the first time. This document was prepared on 24 April 1990, at an early stage of Georgian independence, by Directorate Intelligence of the USA as an analytical memorandum on the events developed in Georgia. "At the instance of IDFI, its partner organization, National Security Archive at the George Washington University, has requested documents concerning April 9, 1989 events in Georgia several years ago. These documents, exclusively obtained for IDFI soon will be fully published. However, until then we present one of the documents, since we strongly believe that knowledgeable choice of the future generations can only be achieved through objective study and rethinking of the past". The Document Source: idfi.ge

Tbilisi. Student movement "Green Fist" and CSO "Monument's Friend" have organized on May24 a conference in the Tbilisi State University on "Sakdrisi's Prehistoric Gold Mine – Archaeology for the Future". Scientists who have personally worked on the monument have participated in the conference, and therefore the audience has received information directly from the scientists. Source: web page of "Green Fist" in the social network.

Kakheti. The Kakheti Regional Office of the NATO and EU Information Center has organized the qualification tournament in intellectual games "What? Where? When?" of the school championships among the civic club representatives of the Telavi-based schools. Games were topic-oriented and all questions were related to NATO and the EU. Based on the game results, a 20-person group will be formed, which will visit one of the military bases of the Georgian armed forces with funding from the Information Center.

Tbilisi. Foundation "Partnership for Road Safety" carries out a study concerning the participation and education of youth in respect of the road safety issues. The study is carried out as part of the project "Friendly Roads". The questionnaire. Source: the organization's web page in the social network.

Tbilisi. Transparency International Georgia published a video instruction - How to Google effectively? This video is a short overview of how to use google search engine to find news stories, books, reports, scientific works, addresses and many other useful information. Source:transparency.ge

Tbilisi. The "Young Barristers” will provide free legal aid to customers harmed by Liberty Bank. The organization has already activated a hot line at: 2 374509, 2 373503 where communication with citizens harmed by "Liberty Bank” will be held on daily basis from 10:00 to 18:00. For the full text Source:barristers.ge

Adjara. The Batumi Youth Center has celebrated the "world Day for Cultural Diversity" on May 21. Presentations on various ethnic groups were delivered and videos about cultures were shown in the Batumi Press Cafe. In addition, audience had an opportunity to taste national dishes of various countries prepared by the Center's members. Source: the organization's page in the social network.

Tbilisi. The "Young Barristers” have filed a lawsuit against "Liberty Bank" in Tbilisi City Court demanding determination of violation of contractual relationship and removal of illegally charged fines. "The "Young Barristers” address prime-minister of Georgia with an open letter and request to overview the state contract with the "Liberty Bank”, according to which the bank holds monopoly in the market by offering an exclusive service t IDPs and pensioners. However, the bank violates standards of such services and consumers have to receive state aid under sunny conditions". For the full text Source: www.barristers.ge

Tbilisi. Internet-Forum will be held on May 24 in the Education Multimedia Center in Tbilisi. The meeting aims to gather the bloggers, Internet-activists, web-developers and individuals interested in the topic and discuss the development of Internet in Georgia. For the full text. Source: web page of Internet-Forum in the social network.

Tbilisi. Transparency International – Georgia has released another podcast of May 19 including the following topics: examination of draft law on secret surveillance at the first hearing, draft law on the Postal Service, amendments to the Law on the Civil Service. Podcast of parliamentary news. Source: transparency.ge

Tbilisi. The "Young Barristers” have filed a lawsuit against Business Association of Georgia in the Prosecutors’ office. "The case has been opened concerning possession of one million GEL received at a charity dinner held after premier of "5 days of August”. The organization published monitoring results, according to which one million GEL received at the charity dinner on June 2011 was not handed to 400 families of August war victims. ...The "Young Barristers” address prosecutors’ office of Georgia demanding a legal reaction towards the emerging issues. We believe that a criminal fault, in precise signs of misappropriation and embezzlement of funds may have occurred". For the full text Source: barristers.ge

Tbilisi. The School of Liberalism has hosted the discussion "Should prostitution be legalized?” During the discussion members of the School have presented arguments in favor of and against legalization of prostitution. Mentor Lela Gaprindashvili has summarized and analyzed arguments after the presentation of the parties’ positions. The audience also had an opportunity to ask questions and express their own positions. Source: the organization's page in the social network.

Tbilisi. "Internews-Georgia” implements project "Promoting Sensitive Coverage of Conflicts in South Caucasus”. This is a joint project of Georgia, Azerbaijan and Armenia, which in addition covers conflicting regions (Karabakh, Abkhazia, South Ossetia) and is funded by the British Embassy. 6 documentaries were produced as part of the project, which describe the media situation and the conflict coverage trends in each region. Three new films were presented in the office of Internews on May 14. Local partners have made films in Sokhumi and Tskhinvali. The film Source: media.ge

Tbilisi. Transparency International – Georgia has released a statement in the social network. "In the Parliamentary Committees for Economic Policy and Defense the MPs have examined at the first hearing and supported the package of legislative amendments, which, in case of adoption will bring progressive changes to the norms regulating secret surveillance and wiretapping. The civil society representatives involved in "This Affects You Too – They Are Still Listening” campaign have also participated in the work of the Committees.” The last hearing on the draft Law is planned in the Legal Affairs Committee, following which the draft Law will be voted on at the plenary session. Package of legislative amendments Source: the organization's page in the social network.