Samegrelo. UN Resident Coordinator in Georgia, Ms. Sabine Makhli has visited the Crisis Center for the victims of domestic violence and the survivors of violence in the village of Tsaishi, Samegrelo. “The Crisis Center in Tsaishi was launched in 2019 as a result of cooperation between the non-governmental organization "Sakhli" and the local municipality within the framework of the UN Joint Program on Gender Equality, supported by the Swedish Government. The Crisis Center offers psychological, social and economic assistance, as well as provides rehabilitation, medical, legal and referral services to the victims of domestic violence and the survivors of the violence”. Read more… Source: transparency.ge

Samtskhe-Javakheti. Regarding to the information of Transparency International Georgia, Arali, the construction company that donates to the Georgian Dream, won tenders worth of GEL 181,923,427 GEL in 2011-2021, out of which GEL 25,816,009 (14.1% of the total amount received from tenders) won without competition, and GEL 17,447,628 (9.5%) at the expense of disqualifying its competitors. Transparency International Georgia calls upon the Anti-Corruption Agency of the State Security Service of Georgia to study the state procurements of Arali LTD and find out whether there were any alleged corruption deals between the company and the procuring entities. Read more… Source: transparency.ge

Tbilisi. According to the statement made by the UN Children's Fund, monitoring of remaining large size institutions for children should be carried out by relevant agencies of the country in order to make sure rights of children are fully protected. “In regard to remaining large size institutions for children, there should be developed and strengthened alternative services within the framework of the common strategy for deinstitutionalization. These services should clearly outline relevant goals and objectives, which in turn would facilitate gradual replacement of mentioned institutions with family and community based services. At the same time, all relevant state institutions should be able to conduct monitoring at all sites where children are in order to make sure their rights are protected”, - is noted in the statement of the organization. Read more… Source: www.unicef.org

Tbilisi. The Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association (GYLA) submitted alternative reports to the Parliament, in which the organization appraises individual and general measures taken by the state in order to enforce decisions and rulings made by the European Court of Human Rights against Georgia and, in addition, calls on the state to take specific steps. Alternative reports submitted by GYLA in 2021 touch upon cases of Tsintsabadze and Identoba Group. Read more… Source: gyla.ge

Tbilisi. Social Justice Center publishes a video of members of the Solidarity Platform, activists of various ethnic and religious groups, expressing their solidarity with defenders of the Rioni Valley. The Solidarity Platform aims to connect activists working in regions populated by religious and ethnic minorities and strengthen their influence and participation in public life. Read more… Source: socialjustice.org.ge

Tbilisi. The Public Defender of Georgia calls on the Parliament of Georgia to expeditiously adopt the updated rules for the selection of members of the High Council of Justice, which will ensure greater transparency and trust in the justice system and reduce the spheres of influence on the judiciary. Read more… Source: ombudsman.ge

Samegrelo. Ms. Sabine Machl, the UN Resident Coordinator in Georgia, met with the local women entrepreneurs and farmers in Zugdidi. “Participants provided information about the current economic situation in the region, the impact of the pandemic on small and medium-size businesses, challenges and needs. The second part of the meeting will be focused on the discussion about the challenges of women entrepreneurs. The women attendees of the meeting lead small and medium size businesses. They developed their business with the support UN Women project "Joint Action for Women's Economic Empowerment in Georgia" funded by the Norwegian Government”, is noted in the statement. Read more… Source: The organization’s page in the social network

Tbilisi. Signatory organizations call on judges of common courts of Georgia not to hold the XXIX Extraordinary Conference on May 26, at which it is planned to elect 4 judge members of the High Council of Justice of Georgia. “Despite the fact that 9 (4 judges and 5 non-judges) out of 15 members of the Council will have to be re-elected during the 2021 spring session, the Parliament of Georgia has not yet started to work on changing the rule of staffing the Council. In view of this, holding an extraordinary conference and election of judge members of the Council in accordance with the current legislation contradicts the spirit of the April 19 agreement and destroys possibility to make sure judge members of the Council are selected through a fair process, while selected candidates have high public and professional confidence and legitimacy". Read more… Source: socialjustice.org.ge

Tbilisi. Social Justice Center (formerly EMC) has presented a document appraising police measures applied during protest rallies carried out against construction of the Namakhvani HPP. The document analyzes how lawful and proportional police coercion measures used by the state were during protests. Read more… Source: The website of the organization on a social network

The web portal CsoGeorgia.org releases a weekly newsletter of grants competition, contests, vacancies, fellowships, and tenders for civil society organizations, and for any interested person. Newsletter...

Samegrelo. UN Resident Coordinator in Georgia, Dr. Sabine Machl met with the representatives of local NGOs, IDP and conflict affected women in Anaklia. “The participants discussed the relevance of the localization of the 2018-2020 National Action Plan of Georgia for Implementation of the UN Security Council Resolutions on Women, Peace and Security and participation of IDP and conflict affected women in the decision-making, peace and security processes. The women shared with the UN Resident Coordinator their concerns and challenges as well as their ideas on how to address these”. Read more… Source: The organizations page on the social network

Samtskhe-Javakheti. According to information released by the office of the Public Defender, representatives of the Ombudsman revisited the Ninotsminda boarding school for children, however, they again were not allowed to carry out the monitoring regardless of temporary measures issued by the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child. Representatives of the institution did not express willingness to be interviewed and stated an instruction of its head as the reason for it. “Representatives of the Ombudsman also visited a Ninotsminda public school #4. It is noteworthy that no child from the boarding school went to the public school, which fact indicates that the institution was informed by state agencies about the possible visit of the Public Defender. An interview with the principal of the school revealed once again that children attend the school accompanied by supervisors. Furthermore, supervisors remain in the school building during lessons and wait for children there. Regarding this practice, the administration of the school was given a recommendation on the spot as it violates the best interests of the child. The Public Defender of Georgia once again calls on all relevant state agencies to immediately apply temporary measures issued by the Committee on the Rights of the Child and ensure that an independent monitoring body performs its authority at the boarding school”, - is stated on the website of the Ombudsman. Read more… Source: ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. Social Justice Center publishes a video about violations related to the Namakhvani construction. “Environmental and construction permits for the cascade of Namakhvani hydropower plants were issued under specific conditions without mandatory examinations and thorough study, as stipulated by law. More than a year has passed since permits were issued, however, the company has not completely submitted additional inspections to the state yet. With works carried out on the site, Enka violates conditions of both environmental and construction permits”. Read more… Source:socialjustice.org.ge

Abkhazia. USAID/Georgia is providing emergency health assistance to help communities in Abkhazia respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. “Since June 2020, we have partnered with UNICEF to provide 6,000 liters of hand sanitizer and 350 hand sanitizer dispensers to all public schools across Abkhazia. This is just one example of how USAID/Georgia is helping combat COVID-19 in all regions of Georgia, including Abkhazia”. Read more… Source: The organization’s page on the social network

Tbilisi. On May 17, 2021, the Public Defender published Report on Positive Obligations of Law Enforcement Officers to Protect the Equality of Vulnerable Groups. “The report assesses the effectiveness of investigations of alleged hate crimes committed against Jehovah's Witnesses and members of the LGBT+ community in 2015-2020. The report also highlights the recent violations of the freedom of assembly and freedom of expression of LGBT+ persons. At the end of the document, the Public Defender offers recommendations to the law enforcement agencies relating to the measures to be taken to eliminate hate crimes and improve the realization of freedom of expression and freedom of assembly of LGBT+ people”. Read more… Source: ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. The Coalition for an Independent and Transparent Judiciary calls on the Parliament of Georgia to start working on a reform of the justice system promptly. And ensure that the High Council of Justice is made up of qualified and reliable members. “As it is known to public, one of the key issues of the agreement signed between the Government and the opposition on April 19 is an ambitious reform of the judiciary. Conscientious implementation of terms of this agreement is important for stability of political processes in the country and reduction of severe effects of the current multi-layered crisis. At the same time, work on each clause of the agreement should be carried out with high public involvement and mutual respect of political actors, which goes along also with the spirit of the April 19 agreement”, - is noted in the joint statement. Read more… Source: gyla.ge

Samtskhe-Javakheti. UNICEF Representative in Georgia, Ghassan Khalil got his first doze of COVID-19 vaccine in Akhaltsikhe within the national immunization plan. "Vaccination is crucial in combating this pandemic which is affecting every one of us and children as well. No one is safe until everyone is safe." - says Dr. Khalil  Read more… Source: The organization’s page on the social network

Tbilisi. UNICEF publishes the article: What you need to know before, during and after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine.  Before you go, do your research. There’s a lot of misinformation about vaccines online, so it’s important to always get your information from trustworthy sources like UNICEF and WHO. Talk to your doctor: If you’ve ever experienced a severe allergic reaction from any vaccine or you have any questions about the medications you are currently taking, talk to your health care provider before your appointment.  Take care of yourself: get a good night’s rest and hydrate well before your vaccination so you can feel your best on the day.  During the appointment: stay safe: make sure to follow safety precautions at the vaccination facility such as physical distancing while waiting and wearing a mask.  Communicate: let the health care professional know if you have any medical conditions that could be considered precautions, such as pregnancy or a compromised immune system. Keep your records: you should receive a vaccination card that tells you which COVID-19 vaccine you received, when you received it and where you received it. After you’ve been vaccinated: stay for monitoring. The health care provider should observe you for about 15 minutes after the vaccine is administered to make sure you don’t have any immediate reactions. However, it is extremely rare for severe health reactions. Be prepared for some side effects. Be patient: Building immunity takes time. Keep yourself and others safe: it is important to continue practicing safety precautions to protect yourself and others, including avoiding crowded spaces, physical distancing, hand washing and wearing a mask. Read more… Source: www.unicef.org

Tbilisi. Social Justice Center (formerly EMC) responds to developments taking place in Dmanisi and calls on the state to take immediate and effective measures so as to ensure a safe and peaceful environment on the ground. In the opinion of the organization, this requires the Ministry of Internal Affairs to mobilize additional police forces on the ground and high-ranking officials to get engaged in order to defuse the situation. “Last night there was spread information about violence and conflict in Dmanisi, which, at first glance, started on ordinary grounds and further turned into a large-scale confrontation and violence between Svan eco-migrants and representatives of the Azerbaijani community in Georgia”. Read more… Source: The website of the organization on a social network

Tbilisi. On International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia (IDAHOTB) we reaffirm our commitment to supporting equal human rights protections for all Georgians, including members of the LGBTQI+ community.  “As part of our efforts to strengthen the Rule of Law in Georgia, USAID is currently partnering with two organizations, the Equality Movement and the Women’s Initiatives Supporting Group, to protect the rights of LGBTQI+ persons. The Women’s Initiatives Supporting Group is providing legal services to members of the LGBTQI+ community who have been victims of hate crimes, discrimination, or violence. The organization is also working to advance legal precedents for protecting the rights of persons with disabilities. The Equality Movement is combatting workplace discrimination through evidence-based advocacy and awareness raising activities, working toward a future where Georgia’s labor market is free from discrimination”. Read more… Source: The organization’s page on the social network

Tbilisi. The Media Development Foundation (MDF) has prepared the present report within the framework of the research project implemented by Open Information Partnership. Think tanks from 5 countries (Poland, Lithuania, Georgia, Estonia, Czech Republic) have studied the issue of advertising the products of local companies on Kremlin propaganda websites through Google Ads. The Media Development Foundation participated in the research from Georgia. The report reflects Georgia’s findings. The report provides key findings of the research, methodology; a separate chapter is dedicated to how Google Ads works. The first part of the report covers the issue of Georgian companies’ advertising on Kremlin propaganda websites; the second part is about the ads placed on Sputnik news agency operating in Georgia and the third part involves information about which company responded to the research findings. The final part reviews the profiles of those media outlets that are Kremlin propaganda platforms. Read more… Source: www.mdfgeorgia.ge

Tbilisi. May 17 is International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia. On this day, LGBT+ people, activists and supporters once again remind the public of the importance of equality and call for their solidarity. “Unfortunately, with the increase in the visibility of the LGBT+ community in recent years, the number of violations of their rights has also increased, which is often ineffectively responded by the State. The lack of state policy and vision relating to the rights situation of LGBT+ people encourages human rights violations, including discriminatory crimes, against them. The Public Defender once again calls on the relevant governmental agencies and officials to take effective preventive and responsive actions against alleged crimes and violations committed against LGBT+ people; plan activities to raise awareness of equality in society; make public statements in support of vulnerable groups, including the LGBT+ community”. Read more… Source: ombudsman.ge