Samegrelo-Svaneti. USAID partnered with GITA to organize a tech festival for young people in Chuberi and Mestia.  The festival helped young people learn digital and entrepreneurial skills, as well as knowledge of topics like artificial intelligence, virtual reality, 3D modeling, and STEM.  More... Source: USAID/Georgia

Tbilisi. This year UN Women continues to support Grace Hopper Award initiated by The USAID Economic Security Program and TBC Bank. The winners have been awarded in six nominations of Grace Hopper Award, who have made significant contributions in strengthening the field of technology, introducing positive changes, and creating innovative products or services for women's empowerment. The following individuals and organizations have been recognized as the 2023 winners of the #GraceHopperAward: Nana Janashia: Emerging Leader Award. Tamar Bosikashvili: ICT Champion Award. Bizon.ge • ბიზონი: Tech Startup Award. Technovation Girls Sakartvelo: Program Award. ForSet • ფორსეტი: Industry Award. Nino Gamisonia: Supporter Award. Read more… Source: The organization’s page on the social network

Tbilisi. Within the framework of the project Enhancing Georgia’s Capacity to Counter Targeted WMD Assassination Attempts GCSD delivered a training on CBRN security to representatives of various media organisations. The training was led by Dr. Mark Michael Blum and over the course of three days it covered a wide range fo topics from  history of nuclear weapons and Nuclear Arms Control Regimes to the types of chemical weapons and assassinations using weapons of mass destruction. The project is implemented with the support of the Office of Cooperative Threat Reduction of the State Department of the United States of America. Read more… Source: The organization’s page on the social network

Tbilisi. GCSD signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Business and Technology University. The Memorandum aims to promote information technology awareness through joint projects, research, student employment, and interdisciplinary knowledge accumulation and sharing. Read more… Source: The organization’s page on the social network

Tbilisi. On July 4- 6 2022, EU Cyber Direct in cooperation with GCSD, conducted a three-day event “Building A Common Future While Managing Cyber Crises/Cyber Consultations with Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine.” The event aimed to better understand the security environment across the region, identify common interests and opportunities for cooperation in strengthening cyber resilience at national and regional levels. Read more… Source: The organization’s page on the social network

Kakheti. The new educational and energy efficiency centre at Kabali’s public school helps schoolchildren, teachers and parents understand how renewable energy works. It showcases amazing everyday solutions, like mini solar panels, energy-efficient ovens, wind power generators and biogas digesters. “Over 200 village residents already attended information sessions and training courses. The centre engages twenty local schoolchildren who offer educational tours to their peers and tell them about the advantages of renewable energy. This green educational project was rolled out by the Lagodekhi Local Action Group (LAG) with European Union in Georgia and UNDP Georgia support under #ENPARD, the EU-funded programme for rural development. Educational activities are organised in partnership with the non-governmental organization “Energy Efficiency Centre”. Read more… Source: The organization’s page on the social network

Tbilisi. At the request of locals, an interdepartmental commission established by the Decree of the Government of Georgia is examining events that transpired in Itkhvisi in March 2022, three months after geodynamic processes damaged residents’ homes in the area. The absence of an independent expert and a local representative in the commission's composition creates mistrust among Itkhvisi’s residents. Doubts are exacerbated by the fact that people are unaware of the commission's methodological approach. Furthermore, before the completion of the commission's work, officials of the local government offered insufficient and legally ambiguous compensation to affected families. The local population requests more information about the commission's work and asks the involved state authorities to ensure the commission's operations are transparent by making its protocols, plans, and deadlines public. Read more… Source: socialjustice.org.ge

Tbilisi. Institute for Development of Freedom of Information publishes the article: Russian Information Warfare against the Lugar Laboratory. “Besides the above-mentioned disinformation, the accusations against the Lugar Laboratory periodically appeared in Russian and pro-Russian media. It has been accused of spreading the Swine flu, creation of biological weapon used in Syria, production of a biological weapon by the US, etc. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the laboratory once again became a target of Russian disinformation and it was blamed for spreading the virus. For effective dealing with such challenges, it is essential to enhance the collaboration between decision-makers, civil sector and cybersecurity specialists in order to ensure the implementation of strategy for countering Russian disinformation and cyber threats”. Read more… Source: idfi.ge

Tbilisi. Taso Foundation shares information about Cyberbullying. “Cyberbullying is sending of intimidating, mocking, or threatening messages, often through social media, and according to studies, in most cases, it targets teens, young girls, and members of minority groups. Face-to-face bullying and cyberbullying can happen following or in line with each other, but in some cases, cyberbullying leaves a digital trace of malicious activity - a record or a message that can be useful and provide evidence to stop violence”. Read more… Source: Marcum, Catherine D. et al. “Battle of the Sexes: An Examination of Male and Female Cyberbullying.” International Journal of Cyber Criminology. Source: The organization’s page on the social network

Tbilisi. UNICEF Georgia has prepared 5 tips to keep the children safe online. Keep them safe with open communication Use technology to protect them Spend time with them online Encourage healthy online habits Let them have fun and express themselves Read more… Source: www.unicef.org

Tbilisi. According to the information of the IDFI February 8 has been declared the Safer Internet Day. The organization joins this initiative annually. “This year, Teona Turashvili, Internet and Innovations Directions Head at IDFI, will participate in an Internet Society-led (ISOC Georgia) online conference dedicated to creating a safe online environment for children and young people. Follow the link to attend the event… Internet freedom, enhancing digital literacy, and Internet access are one of IDFI's top priorities”. Learn more about IDFI's activities… Source: idfi.ge

On September 18-19, in collaboration with StrategEast, the United Nations Development Program and with the support of GITA, there was held EPAM Engineering Hackathon: Design your future.  The traditional marathon brings together professionals, innovators of Information Technology and facilitates civil society and charity organizations, schools, public sectors, medical institutions of various countries to improve services and processes through digital solutions. The favorite team of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP Georgia) Accelerator Lab, supporter of the Hackathon, is Dart Team that came up with an idea of creating an interactive map for wheelchair users. The idea implies creation of a mobile application that lets people with disabilities know in advance where they should expect an adapted environment. Within the framework of the hackathon, the team created a prototype of the application, while at this stage they work on refining the product. As mentioned before, Dart Team became the favorite team of UNDP Georgia, however, instead of receiving the prize, it decided to purchase a computer for a teenager from Samtredia. “A Georgian schoolgirl has received a computer as a gift from us, Dart Team and a social charity project “Charte”. It is a valuable gift for Janna, which will help her fully engage in online schooling and search for vital information needed in her studies”, - is stated on the website of UNDP Georgia on a social network.

Tbilisi. UN Women together with the Business and Technology University and in partnership with IT companies, launches a new programme – 500 Women in Tech with the support of the Norwegian Government. “The project was launched on December 21 and it aims to enhance women’s participation in technologies throughout Georgia. The programme is designed for the beginners as well as for women and girls who already have some experience in this field”. Read more… Source: The organization’s page on the social network

Tbilisi. According to a statement released by Social Justice Center, “Georgian Manganese”, which was avoiding questions about harm caused by extraction for years, had to become a party to negotiations as a result of the protest of residents of Shukruti and thus acknowledge its responsibility. “Unfortunately, the rule and conditions for compensation of harm caused by extraction of minerals to affected local population are still not defined at the legislative level. Respectively, population of Shukruti had to carry out private negotiations and reach civil agreement on the procedure and amount of compensation for suffered harm directly with the company. Besides, released information about the agreement, as well as an uneven and non-transparent nature of the negotiation process are essentially problematic, as fairness and credibility of the agreed mechanism of compensation remain questionable, while facts of the ongoing criminal persecution against protesters raise additional questions about the subject of the agreement”, - is noted in the statement of the organization.  Read more… Source: socialjustice.org.ge

Imereti. Social Justice Center examined main demands of participants of the protest in Shukruti and reasons of their disagreement with the company, on the one hand, while on the other hand, circumstances, preconditioning this extensive social and environmental crisis, which preceded the protest in Chiatura Municipality. “Residents and representatives of the company assessed damage differently - in terms of both methodology and coverage of different types of damage. It is important to direct efforts of state agencies and knowledge of industry accumulated therein towards assessment of damage associated with mineral extraction as in case of specific owners, as well as in conjunction with the natural environment of the municipality as a whole. This intervention should be carried out in the form of elaboration of a common standard for damage assessment, which would position possible negative impact of the mining sector more sustainably, fairly and methodically in the area of regulation". Read more… Source: socialjustice.org.ge

Ozurgeti. According the information of the Institute for Development of Freedom of Information, in 2018, Article 17 of the updated Constitution of Georgia received a new amendment, according to which "everyone has the right to access the Internet and use the Internet freely". “As such, the amendment means that the state has a positive obligation to make the Internet widely available. IDFI actively advocated for this amendment to the Constitution of Georgia. Please find the overview of the implementation of the pilot project of the state program for broadband infrastructure development in Georgia”. Source: idfi.ge

Tbilisi. Gender Informational Portal publishes an article by Lela Khomeriki: Modern technology-facilitated gender-based violence - a new form of violence against women and domestic violence. “Women living at risk of violence appeared isolated in the same space with an abuser. During the pandemic, like in other countries, the scale of domestic violence increased in Georgia too. Modern technologies offer new ways of prevention of gender-based violence and response to it. However, at the same time, there has emerged a new problem - use of technologies by abusers to keep victims under surveillance and control. This type of gender-based violence is so prevalent that today, technology-facilitated gender-based violence is considered as one of the forms of abuse along with forms of physical, economic or sexual violence”, - is stated in the article. Read more… Source: ginsc.net

Tbilisi. On October 14, 2020, Freedom House published an annual report on Internet freedom around the world. In 2020, Georgia obtained a score of 76 out of 100 and was assessed as “Free” in terms of Internet freedom. The country’s score improved by 1 point compared to 2019. Read more… Source: idfi.ge

Kakheti. A two-day meeting with media representatives on COVID-19 was held on 26-27th of September in Kakheti. Global and local health challenges amid COVID-19, health system management, Epidemiological oversight and protective measures, clinical management, vaccination, UNICEF response to COVID-19 pandemic, the Code on the Rights of the Child and other important issues were discussed during the sessions. Read more... Source: The organization's page in the social network

Mtskheta-Mtianeti. Members from the International Women’s Association Georgia visited the EU-supported Green Camp for Young Leaders and Innovators at Bulachauri Green Center.  During the meeting, the invited guests shared their experiences with the camp participants and discussed topics such as environmental issues, technologies, education and career development. The Green Camp participants presented their community problems and future plans for solving them. IWA member, Mrs. Mette Hartzell, spouse of Carl Hartzell, EU Ambassador to Georgia, addressed the camp participants and read a letter addressed by the Ambassador to the camp participants.  Read more… Source: The web-page of the organization

Tbilisi. The Institute for the Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI) has developed the online module of court statistics, which is an important statistical information resource within the judicial system of Georgia. Statistical and dynamic data are visually represented by categories, which enables the users to search for information and compare the data. The online module of court statistics is already available on the official web page of the Supreme Court of Georgia: www.supremecourt.ge. The court statistics module was developed as part of the project of the Institute for the Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI) - "Improving Public Accountability and Degree of Transparency of the Georgian Judicial System". The project is implemented within the framework of the "Civil Initiative for Independent Courts" program of the Eurasia Partnership Foundation (EPF), which is funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) through the East-West Management Institute (EWMI). The module was developed through cooperation with the Supreme Court of Georgia. For Full text Source: idfi.ge

Guria. The Lanchkhuti Information Center has developed the library management electronic program "GeoLib". The program is Georgia-made and is based on the asp.net technology. It provides a possibility to fill in and edit the books database, search for the books, register withdrawals and returns of the books, fill in / edit the database of readers and to carry out various types of statistical registrations.