Tbilisi. Social Justice Center has highlighted in the video all those major problems that the agreement signed between the state and the company on the Namakhvani HPP project has. “The agreement was signed in 2019, behind closed doors, and just two years later was made public. Under this agreement, the state concedes its interests in favor of a private company”, - is stated on the website of the organization. Read more on this topic... Source: socialjustice.org.ge

Tbilisi. GCSD conducted online trainings on prevention of violent extremism and radicalisation. “This is the first PCVE curriculum in Georgian which reflects and was adapted to the Georgian context. The curriculum includes "Countering Violent Extremism: An Introductory Guide to Concepts, Programming and, Best Practices" a trainer's guide, thematic videos, presentations and supporting Exercises. The project is supported by Hedayah Center in the framework of STRIVE Global Program funded by the EU. The training material was translated and adapted for the local context by the GCSD. For more please, follow the link... Source: gcsd.org.ge

“Civil Society STAR Initiative” - is a new project funded by the European Union and the Konrad Adenauer Foundation. The purpose of the project is to facilitate enhancement of civil society as an independent, sustainable, transparent and accountable actor. Information about project news, competitions or editions can be obtained at the website on a social network - Civil Society STAR Initiative Visit the site and get informed The project is supported by the European Union (#EU) and the Konrad Adenauer Foundation (#KAS), while it is implemented by: the Center for Strategic Research and Development of Georgia (#CSRDG), the Civil Society Institute (#CSI), the Center for Training and Consultancy (#CTC), Education Development and Employment Center (#EDEC) and the Institute for European Politics (#IEP)  “Civil Society Initiative” - is based on the knowledge and experience gained during implementation of the “Civil Society Sustainability Initiative” project (CSSIGE 2017-2020), supported by the European Union.

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...

Tbilisi. “I am an heiress too”, a new campaign of both Sapari and “Naambobi” web platform, calls on people to overcome gender prejudices during distribution of inheritance. “I am an heiress too”, a Facebook campaign, is basically based on life stories of respondents in regard to distribution of inheritance and exposes many of unjust traditions that are rooted in our customary law or culture. Read more… Source: sapari.ge

Tbilisi. On April 21, the Public Defender presented a special report – “Impact of closure of so-called checkpoints in 2019-2020 years on legal situation of population living in the occupied territories”. “According to the opinion of the Ombudsman, formal regime, imposed by the de facto Government to regulate movement on the occupation line, as well as establishment of various barriers, such as unpredictable closures of so-called checkpoints, unlawful detentions, problems related to de facto documentation required for relocation and etc., restrict freedom of movement of residents of the occupied regions and create unjustified obstacles to them in terms of access to livelihoods. It is important to have the Government of Georgia use support, provided by the international community, and apply all possible mechanisms to protect rights of people living in the occupied territories. This includes negotiations with representatives of the occupation regime so as to convince them to let international missions access conflict regions”. Read more... Source: www.ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. On June 19, GYLA called on parties, involved in the mediation process, to sign a compromise proposal presented by the President of the European Council, however, the organization made it clear that the agreement should be implemented in accordance with the Constitution of Georgia and international standards. The organization urges political parties to “prevent initiation of a bill that aims to extend the amnesty to crimes committed by law enforcers on June 20-21, 2019 (regardless of what the qualification of the investigation is). Otherwise, not only the issue of individual criminal responsibility of an offender is going to be endangered, but also public trust in and respect for the law enforcement system, as well as fulfillment of the state obligation to combat the sense of impunity that an offender may have due to his official position. As a result, among other benefits, the right to freedom of assembly or expression will also be significantly harmed”. Read more… Source:gyla.ge

Tbilisi. The Center for Development and Democracy (CDD) shares a guide to citizen participation in a local self-governance implementation process. For participation of citizens... “Participation of citizens in a decision-making process is a cornerstone of democracy and has great effect on substantial improvement of local self-governance related processes and issues”, - is stated in the document. Source: The website of the organization on a social network

Tbilisi. Social Justice Center (formerly EMC) presents an overview of the situation related to work and employment of LGBTQ people in Georgia. This chapter is part of a study - “Social exclusion of LGBTQ Group” carried out by the organization. “Present chapter contains a survey of an employment status and current working conditions of LGBTQ people in the first section. It aims to expose the practice of breach of human rights, which occurs in the workplace, creates a disgraceful work environment and, sometimes, leads to unemployment”. Read more… Source: socialjustice.org.ge

Tbilisi. Partnership for Human Rights (PHR) calls for protection of rights of children at the Ninotsminda boarding school through court. “Instruct the Ministry of Health and the Ninotsminda shelter for children to not restrict the Public Defender from entering there and carrying out thorough monitoring; The Ministry of Health to visit the shelter immediately and study the situation existing there”. With these demands, the organization, as a holder of a special plaintiff status, has already appealed to the Tbilisi City Court in order to protect rights of children living in large institutions. Read more… Source: phr.ge

Tbilisi. ”Social Justice Center”, “Rights Georgia” and “Women’s Initiatives Support Group” respond to the fact of obstruction of activities of trustees of the Public Defender of Georgia by the administration of a Javakheti Ninotsminda Saint Nino boarding school, N(N)LE of the Patriarchate of the Georgian Orthodox Church for orphan and homeless children, as well as those deprived of parental care. “We, the signatory organizations, call on the state to take all measures for unwavering protection of rights of children in religious boarding schools and bringing these institutions under real and effective monitoring of the state”. Read more… Source: rights.ge

Tbilisi. Social Justice Center presents an article by Tamta Melashvili: “Beyond emancipation and exploitation: Women at collective farms in Soviet Georgia”. “This article serves as my attempt to develop a rough idea of how women worked and, in rare cases, succeeded to be promoted in collective farms in Georgia in practice, how they maneuvered when promoted within male-dominated authority fields, and what their agency was like. I will try to adjust experience of Izolda beyond dichotomous representation of a woman emancipated in the communist regime or a woman exploited by the same regime (Fidelis, 2010). Read more… Source: socialjustice.org.ge

Tbilisi. Georgian Democracy Initiative provides an overview of proposals related to rule of law and judicial reform included in the agreement document presented by President of the European Council. Read more… Source: The website of the organization

Tbilisi. Part of civil society organizations releases a statement regarding a new document presented by President of the European Council during the mediation process. “Charles Michel, President of the European Council, offered a new, compromise proposal to parties involved in the mediation process so as to overcome the political crisis existing in Georgia. The proposal envisages response to issues perceived as politicized justice, electoral and judicial reforms, the issue of redistribution of power in the Parliament and deadlines for its implementation. The document may not fully reflect all demands and interests of involved parties, however, a compromise means agreement on such disputed issues and reaching a consensus”, - is noted in the statement. Read more… Source: isfed.ge

Samtskhe-Javakheti. Social Justice Center publishes a video, in which local activists and young people share concerns about difficulties and social challenges of their life in Javakheti. “High migration and thousands of local people left without a status of citizenship, poverty, undeveloped social infrastructure, cheating practices of casinos in Akhalkalaki, weak policy of youth employment - this is the basic list of those social problems, which people in Javakheti face”. Read more… Source: socialjustice.org.ge

Tbilisi. The Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association (GYLA) presents a brief summary of main findings provided in the 2020 report of the US Department of State and an overview of important issues emphasized by civil society organizations, the Office of the Public Defender, media and the international community during the reporting period. “In regard to protection of human rights there were identified the following key problems: significant challenges existing in terms of independence of the judiciary; politically motivated investigations and prosecutions; cases of unlawful encroachment on the right to privacy; interference with the right to peaceful assembly and expression; and violent or threatening crimes committed against LGBT people”. Read more… Source: gyla.ge

Kakheti. In Tsnori, a USAID-supported knowledge café needed fundraising to build a new building. ”Traditional methods did not appear sufficient. In March, in order to raise funds, USAID supported the café in launching Bootcamp - a new experiment for Georgian students. What was the challenge? Young people had 10 days to gain GEL 200 or 300 from GEL 100. 29 teams, participating in the first round, managed to raise money through both selling goods and donations. 20 teams succeeded to move to the second round, with the help of coaching, provided by a startup entrepreneur, they handled to double or triple GEL 200. In the end, these young entrepreneurs collected GEL 35 387 for the knowledge café and, at the same time, improved their business skills”. Read more... Source: The website of the organization on a social network

Tbilisi. Women’s Movement expresses unconditional solidarity with Ninutsa Makashvili. We hope that the state of Georgia and society will be united in fight against violence, while each attempt of its justification will be strongly condemned. “A few days ago, on the air of Rustavi 2, Ninutsa Makashvili, an actress, spoke about her painful personal experience, according to which years ago she became a victim of systematic domestic violence committed by Beso Zanguri, an actor, her then-husband. In our country, where domestic violence is unfortunately a frequent occurrence, while society is still insufficiently intolerant of this type of crime, victims need to mobilize great strength and courage in order to talk about their experiences openly and publicly. In this reality, even more appreciated and exemplary is the decision of Ninutsa Makashvili to speak loudly about the violence committed by Beso Zanguri, her ex-husband, an actor of Rustaveli National Theater. We believe that her courage will be contagious and become a motivation for many women. It is unacceptable for us that Beso Zanguri, a person exposed in a dangerous crime of domestic violence, who has neither been held responsible for nor expressed any regrets, stands on the stage of Rustaveli National Theater and continues his career as if nothing has happened. Therefore, we demand to have Beso Zanguri quit his professional activities in the theater until the investigation in the case is completed...” Read more... Source: The website of the Movement on a social network

Tbilisi. Women’s Fund in Georgia responds to current developments in the Rioni Valley and expresses its solidarity with guards of the Valley. “We consider that by restricting freedom of assembly and expression, the Government of Georgia grossly violates constitutional rights of its citizens, applies a disproportionate, repressive police force against participants of a peaceful protest, restricts the right of citizens to movement, and escalates the situation in the Valley. Besides, it is completely unacceptable and outrageous to demolish tents of guards of the Valley, cultivate the gathering place, erect a wall, and apply unethical attempts to harm the reputation of guards in order to discredit them. We address relevant agencies to immediately stop violence against people in favor of the company “Enka”... Read more... Source: The website of the organization  

Tbilisi. Social Justice Center (formerly EMC) responds to the fact of detention of Giorgi Mumladze, a civil activist, during a rally held on April 14, 2021, in front of the office of the “Georgian Dream” party. The organization notes that the investigation launched against him under Article 353 Part 1 of the Criminal Code creates a dangerous precedent in terms of freedom of expression and democratic order. “The tendency of use of an unjustified police force against civil activists during last period of time deserves criticism and concern. At the same time, response of the state to facts of unjustified restriction of the right to assembly and manifestation is weak and ineffective, which has a negative effect on exercising this right”. Read more… Source: socialjustice.org.ge

Tbilisi. Georgian Center for Strategy and Development (GCSD) presents a study: “Use of artificial intelligence while confronting information operations carried out against Georgia”. Visit the link to find full version of the study... “...Using artificial intelligence, fact-checking organizations can combat disinformation and fake news more effectively, mark messages and respond accordingly. Regardless of its perspective, artificial intelligence should not be perceived as a universal way of solving a problem, like other techniques, artificial intelligence also raises ethical and legal questions”... Source: The website of the organization on a social network

On 12 April 2021, the Council of Europe’s Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) published the Fourth Evaluation Round second compliance report for Georgia, where it assesses the country’s compliance with the recommendations issued in 2016.  By the IDFI, The low progress in implementing the GRECO recommendations clearly indicates a transition to a passive phase in the fight against corruption in the country. Out of 11 recommendations to be implemented for the prevention of corruption, the country managed to fully implement only two recommendations within 18 months, while the remaining nine recommendations are still to be implemented. The need to take action against corruption is also evidenced by the fact that in 2020, most of the international rankings indicate a deterioration of the corruption situation in the country, one of the reasons for which is high levels of corruption. At the end of the first quarter of 2021, the Georgian government has not yet adopted a new Anti-Corruption Action Plan for 2021-2022.  Read more…   Source: idfi.ge