Tbilisi. The Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center (EMC) has released the publication of member of the Center's Civil Activism Platform Tea Kakhadze titled: "The Analysis of Epistles by the Catholicos-Patriarch of Georgia (1997–2014)". The publication focuses on social issues most frequently raised in the epistles of the Catholicos-Patriarch of Georgia. For the full text (geo) Source: emc.org.ge

On February 7, 10, 12 and 14 n the frames of the project "Accessible Justice for National and Ethnic Minorities in Administrative Court” NGO "CiDA” organized a meeting with the ethnic minorities living in Kakheti and Kvemo Kartli regions. The meetings took place in 9 villages located in Sagarejo, 5 villages located in Gardabani and 3 villages located in Marneuli. The meetings were attended by "CiDA” Legal Expert Lika Tshekhani as well as village representatives and local inhabitants. Source:cida.ge

Tbilisi. The School of Liberalism has published another edition of "Libtime". The topic of the program is "Problems of the Javakheti population on its way to state integration and if the region is detached from the rest of the country". Chairman of CSO "Multinational Georgia" Arnold Stepanian and the teacher of Georgian in one of the villages of Javakheti as part of the state program and the student Diana Surmanidze discuss the topic. The program. Source: the organization's page in the social network.

Tbilisi. The "Centre for Consultation and Training” released a yearly edition which overviews main events and topics the organization was involved in. Edition (geo): Source: ctc.org.ge

The Open Government Partnership (OGP) has officially published the Independent Reporting Mechanism (IRM) reports of implementation of the Action Plan of Georgia of the so called second cohort countries (i.e. countries that joined OGP in April 2012). Among these was the report regarding Georgia, written by an independent expert from Transparency International – Georgia, Lasha Gogidze. For the full text Source:ogpblog.wordpress.com

Tbilisi. Transparency International - Georgia published opinion of Lasha Tughushi, Eka Gigauri and Kakhi Kakhishvili. "On 31 January 2013 Temporary Commission on Illegal Surveillance and Wiretapping has issued its report  regarding illegal surveillance in Georgia.Three members of this Commission, Eka Gigauri, Lasha Tughushi and Kakhaber Kakhishvili have a separate opinion which was not published on the official website of the Ministry of Internal Affairs". For the full text Source:transparency.ge

Tbilisi. The first grant competition of 2014 of the Children and Youth Development Fund was presented on February 14 in the conference hall of the Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs. Projects can be submitted from February 14 through March 4. Information on the grant competition and rules for filling in the application.

Tbilisi. A meeting was held in the Georgian Bar Association. The director and a member of the decision-making council met the members of the Bar School and the "Georgian Advocates for Independent Profession. During the meeting were discussed future activities and perspectives for 2014. Source: Web-page of the organization in social network. 

Tbilisi. The Georgian Blinds' Union is organizing the chess and checkers championship tournament in Tbilisi among the blind from February 10 to 23. The competition aims to popularize types of sports accessible to the blind and identify the strongest. Source: the organization's page in the social network.

Tbilisi. The Georgian Young Constitutionalists' Association is carrying out an opinion poll. The organization will issue an award for special contribution to the development of Georgian constitutionalism. Any interested person can vote. To vote (geo) Source: gyca.ge

Tbilisi. "Open Society - Georgia" Foundation and writer LashaBughadze have presented to public in the Frontline Club a cycle of radio programs "Dialogue on Censorship" published as a book. The book includes 47 programs aired since January 2013 on the Radio "Chocolate" (98.5 FM) and hosted by LashaBughadze. During this period the program has hosted writers, scientists and artists who spoke about topics such as censorship and art, censorship and religion, impact of censorship on human lives, censorship in the totalitarian regimes, etc. The program "Dialogue on Censorship" was produced as part of the project implemented by the Radio "Chocolate" and the Georgian Pen-Center with support of the "Open Society - Georgia" Foundation. For the full text (geo) Source: osgf.ge

Tbilisi. "First Step Georgia" prepared an annual Newsletter that covers the most important activities fulfilled in 2013. Newsletter Source: First Step Georgia"

Tbilisi. Secretary General of the Council of Europe (CoE), Thorbjørn Jagland, visits Tbilisi on February 6 for the launch of CoE’s two-year action plan for Georgia.The Action Plan with a total budget of EUR 17 million, which was adopted by CoE’s committee of ministers last October, involves 34 projects in the areas of human rights, justice system, penitentiary, elections, media, good governance, confidence building, tolerance and antidiscrimination. For the full text Source:civil.ge

Tbilisi. Georgian Young Lawyers' Association released "Cases Successfully Litigated in January". For the full text Source:gyla.ge

Tbilisi. Eurasia Partnership Foundation is happy to host the Change Agents’ Forum, which will bring together representatives of civil society organizations, the media, public authorities, and the business community, whose actions have brought changes in Georgia’s social, cultural, and business environment.  The Forum will take place in Tbilisi during February 13-14, 2014. For the full text Source:www.caf.epfound.ge

Tbilisi. The Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Georgia Toshio Kaitani and the Executive Director of the Union of Democratic Development of Georgia Levan Khintibidze have signed the project officially. Funded by the Japanese side, it provides for full rehabilitation and equipping of the Chokhatauri kindergarten #1. This is a joint project of the Union of Democratic Development of Georgia and the local authorities of the Chokhatauri Municipality. A building of the Japanese Embassy in Georgia has hosted the project signing ceremony.

Tbilisi. The "School of Liberalism” has hosted on January 31 a public lecture of political scientist Koba Kuprashvili on the "Clash of Civilizations”. The School offers a recording of the lecture for those who were unable to attend. Source: the School's page in the social network.

Tbilisi. A session of the Council of National Minority Leaders was held in the office of the general-civil movement "Multinational Georgia". Heads of 20 communities and the Georgian MP, Deputy Chair of the Committee for Regional Policy and Self-Government have attended the meeting. MP has informed national minority leaders about his activities in the Parliament and the working plan.Discussion has evolved around the self-government reform and the state of ethnic minorities in the regions and particularly in Kvemo Kartli. Source: the organization's page in the social network.

Tbilisi. Public Defender welcomes the decision, voiced by the Prime Minister of Georgia, Irakli Garibashvili that along with Orthodox Christian Patriarchate of Georgia other religious groups in Georgia will also receive funding from the state budget. "It is noteworthy that the government initiative is clearly aimed at eliminating the discriminatory environment. However, the decision which includes funding of only four religious groups is problematic due to the several reasons. ... we believe that it is extremely important that the government hears out the position of the Council for Religions regarding the funding of religious groups, as the Council for Religions at the Office of Public Defender has been exploring this issue intensively and has come up with several options acceptable for the member of the Council". For the full text Source:ombudsman.ge

Kvemo Kartli. CSO "Sida" has published a video instruction "How to use social media for public relations", developed by the "Civil Society Regional Network". Video Source: page of the Network in social network.

Tbilisi. A meeting was held on January 28 in the "Frontline Georgia" office on the monitoring of Patriarchate's children homes. The Head of the Social Protection Department of the Ministry of Labor, Health and Social Welfare, representative of CSO "Partnership for Human Rights" and the Head of the Patriarchate's Social Department were invited to the meeting. Representatives of the civil society and international organizations have also attended the meeting. For the full text Source: page of the "Partnership for Human Rights" in the social network.

Tbilisi. The "Election Environment and Development Center" has released a petition, in which it demands immediate release of the Chairman of the Azerbaijani CSO "Center for Election Monitoring and Democratic Research" AnarMamadli. Any interested person can join the petition by signing the document. The petition Source: eedc.org.ge