Guria. As part of the program supporting the integration of convicts in the society and crime prevention of the Georgian National Agency for Enforcement of Non-Custodial Sentences and Probation, trainings will be delivered in the Guria Youth Resource Center to up to 60 probationers in the Guria Region.

KvemoKartli. On October 1 and 2, "Sida" has organized the "Personal Development" training in the local municipality of Dmanisi for the youth at conflict with law and other interested persons. During the two-day work the participants were informed about issues such as a healthy lifestyle, life objectives and ways to achieve them, communication techniques, leadership and team-work. Source: the organization's page in the social network.

Tbilisi. The Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center (EMC) has presented the study - "Implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in the EU Member States". During the presentation EMC has informed the audience about institutional reforms that the EU member states have undertaken to implement the Convention and harmonize the country's internal institutional model with the Convention's principles. Source: the organization's page in the social network.

Tbilisi. "Young Lawyers" has released the statement on the day of Sokhumi's fall. The organizaiton demands the allocation of social benefits for the Abkhazian war veterans. "Young Lawyers" will submit an initiative in the Government and Parliament of Georgia for them to develop the system of social benefits and make relevant amendments to the law, based on which the war veterans and families of heroes who died in the war will enjoy social benefits. Source: the organization's page in the social network.

Tbilisi. A bill of legislative amendments was drafted as part of the project – "Promoting Systemic Changes for Single Mothers to Secure Social and Legal Guarantees". The amendments aim to provide a legal status of the "single mother" in the Georgian legislation, as well as to create the guarantees of social and legal protection for persons of similar category. The project is funded by the Anti-Violence Network of Georgia, Open Society - Georgia Foundation and USAID. The bill was drafted in partnership with other NGOs and state authorities. Source: ginsc.net

Tbilisi. Press Conference regarding homeless citizens problems was held at the Human Rights House in Tbilisi on September 27. "Homeless people are one of the most vulnerable parts of our society. Lack of accommodation is their permanent and acute problem. Local self-governments are authorized to give shelter to these people, start administrative proceedings in case of applying and estimate how fair their requirements are. Majority of homeless citizens are indigent population, but since they do not have permanent address, they cannot get social allowances and in most cases they cannot get status of indigent person either Unfortunately, in similar cases local self-governmental agencies do not act timely and adequately to resolve years-long problems of  homeless citizens". Project "Provision of free legal aid to Georgian indigent population” is implemented by HRHT member organizations Article 42 of the Constitution and Human Rights Center. Source:humanrights.ge

Tbilisi. From September 30 to October 2, NGO "Mariani" and the "Ari Ari" Fund have organized the public lecture-seminars of the Polish cultural scholar, ethnologist and sociologist, professor VoitekBursta on the "Research methodology of invisible minorities". Seminar participants will be able to become co-participants of development of the questionnaire for the study on the needs of the blind. The questionnaire will be based on the publication of MartynHammersley and Paul Atkinson "Field Research Methods". A lecture-seminar will be of interest to the researchers in various fields, students and all persons interested in the minority-related topics. Source: the organization's page in the social network.

Imereti.  Acting Mission Director Roy Plucknett opened the first apartment building renovated by USAID’s Municipal Infrastructure and IDP Housing Rehabilitation Project in Tskhaltubo. The completely remodeled building includes 17 apartments, interior and exterior common areas, a playground for children, and is accessible to people with disabilities. More than 50 IDPs will benefit from the new, comfortable homes provided by the project. Source:USAID Georgia's page in the social network

Kakheti. In Telavi the workshop of the Small Group Homes’ leaders and mentors was convened with the initiative of "Our Home-Georgia" and "Our Home-Poland". The workshop participants discussed about the successes and problems of the specialized model of Small Group Homes. After the workshop the participants visited the Small Group Home in Kurdghelauri and explored its environment. The Kurdghelauri home has been deliberately selected for the visit as one of the most successful homes in Georgia. The leader of the Kurdghelauri home shared the home’s experience to visitors and emphasized the importance of participation of mentors and children in all activities. Source:CHCHA Georgia's page in the social network

Tbilisi. Human Rights Center published a report: "The psychiatric institutions -  problems, needs, recommendations" . The report is based on researches and visits of Mental institutions conducted by the representatives of the Human Rights Center. The members of the working group were: two lawyers, pathopsychology specialist, human rights defender (who is also user of the service) and a journalist along with the operator. In the framework of the project  a documentary film - "outcast" has been prepared. The research is funded by the  Pro Victims Foundation. Report Movie (Part 1) Movie (Part 2) Source:humanrights.ge

Shida Kartli. "Donate Books" - In June 2013,  Open Society Georgia Foundation staff members started collecting books for the children of Khurvaleti, Shavshvebi and Tsitelubani schools of the Gori municipality.  Soon after the launch, different NGOs, publishing houses and citizens joined the campaign.  OSGF employees handed over books to children on 23 July."We have collected around 850 books with 400 different titles and distributed them among 3 village schools in the Gori Municipality according to the age and number of children. We have also collected some money and bought different items needed by schools: a binding machine, boards, lamination machine etc", said Nino Kiknavelidze, one of the organizers of the campaign. For full text Source:osgf.ge

Adjara. On July 24, at the office of Association "Deserving Old Age” under the Project " Social Centre for the Elderly" (donor - EU) held the regular meeting for discussion the discrimination cases against the Elderly. "Unfortunately the facts of violence and fraud against elderly people from their family members are frequent. Elderly people who suffer from violence and who are the victims of discrimination from their family members refrain from speaking on this topic, because they feel shame and humiliation, and most importantly because of the fear that if their condition will be told it worsen even more their already intolerable situation. The violation of stereotypes of domestic violence is that both, the victim and the community members say what they feel and suffer, do not hide the fact of violence and do not speak only what is socially acceptable and anchored in stereotypes", says the organization's page in the social network. Source:the organization's page in the social network

Tbilisi. The Human Rights Center publishes an article - "Children without Care Stay Without Shelter after They Reach Full Age". "Adults stay in the street after orphanages; there are no other shelter and employment programs for them. Several nongovernmental organizations work on their resocialization but the state budget still cannot assist adults outside orphanages", says the organization's web-page. For full text Source:humanrights.ge

Tbilisi. The Youth Association "Droni" organizes a charity event "Give children toys" in Skra's settlement for refugees.  Association receives donations till June 13 at the organization's office.  For additional information contact: Arnold Korneli and Nutsa Vashakidze +995 571 60 99 55, მობ: +995 598 25 28 88. e-mail: cornelia@droni.org, nutsa.vashakidze@gmail.com.  For full text Source: The Organization's page in the social network 

Tbilisi. NGO "Civil Initiative" and "Marian" are seeking for volunteers to record audio books for blind children.In the framework of the Project, 20 volunteers will record audio books for blind children. Recordings will be distributed to libraries, schools and Blind Union branches throughout the Country.  Application form Source:the organization's page in the social network

Adjara.  Movement "Accessible environment for everyone" held a Seminar for the journalists from West Georgia. The Seminar was focused on topics related to people with disabilities and coverage of these topics. Following seminars will be organized for the media of Tbilisi and East Georgia. Source:the organization's page in the social network

Adjara. On June 1, the Elderly Social Center beneficiaries joined the International Children's Day celebration. The concert was held at Seaside Park, which was organized by the municipality of Kobuleti. Association held gifts to disabled children.Association will dedicate the next Round Table Meeting to the problems of children with disabilities. According to a new report released by the  United Nations Children's Fund and UNICEF, children with disabilities are among the most marginalized people in the world. Source:the organization's page in the social network. 

The members of the civic activism youth network from Kutaisi, Telavi, Akhaltsikhe, Marneuli, Zugdidi and Dmanisi are involved  in the Campaign and meet World No Tobacco Day. They will hold information presentations and distribute printed materials. Source: Union of Democrat Meskhs’ page in the social network. 

Tbilisi. The socialization-rehabilitation group of Criminal Justice Reform Inter-Agency Coordination Council held a meeting on May 30th at the Courtyard Marriott Hotel. The main aim of the meeting was to discuss the rehabilitation issues of the people being in conflict with the law both inside the prison system and outside of the prison once released. The meeting also focused on determining the main directions and priorities for developing effective rehabilitation programs and on agreeing on the action plan of the state agencies.  The strategy and action plan of socialization-rehabilitation of the convicts and ex-convicts have been elaborated and the strategy implementation group has been established in the frames of the meeting. CHCA has become a member of the psycho-rehabilitation and education and employment working groups. The Centre for Crime Prevention of the Ministry of Justice of Georgia, Penitentiary Department of the Ministry of Corrections and Legal Assistance of Georgia and National Probation Agency will coordinate the activities of the working groups. Source: Abkhazeti’s page in the social network. 

Tbilisi. The Memorandum of Mutual Cooperation was executed on May 21 between the organization CiDA and the National Probation Agency. The Memorandum aims to rehabilitate and re-socialize the offender minors residing in the KvemoKartli and Samtskhe-Javakheti Regions.

Tbilisi. The Civil Coalition for Migration Issues and the Adjara Coordination Group for Eco-Migration have released the joint statement. They focus on the problems of Eco-Migrants and "support the eco-migrant families evicted from the villages of the Tsalka Municipality and assess the state reaction to existing situation as inadequate." They are ready "to provide recommendations to the responsible state agencies and assist in introducing the effective regulations in the field of eco-migration." For the full text.(geo) Source: ecomigration.ge

Tbilisi. CSO members together with volunteers have organized the welfare event - "Daisies for charity". On May 18, the event participants have sold the daisies gathered in Kojori in the Tbilisi streets and have distributed booklets about the village Anaga day center. The event "Daisies for charity" aimed at assisting the village Anaga day center. 382 GEL were raised during the event. The charity event initiated by the "Civil Initiative" was joined by the representatives of other NGOs and the society. Source: the page of Civil Initiative in the social network.