Adjara. According to information released by Social Justice Center, the issue of transferring part of the beach on the boulevard to a private hotel has been removed from the agenda by the Batumi City Assembly as a result of a protest of population, which fact temporarily, but still stopped the difficult and damaging process of seizure and privatization of public spaces. As Tornike Rizhvadze, Head of the Government of Adjara, explains, the moratorium will apply only to new construction projects and will not be spread on those sites, main permits for which have already been issued. We, hereby, remind you that there are given permits for construction of Riviera and Batumi Ambassador. The organization considers that this explanation calls into question the purpose of the moratorium itself, which, under these circumstances, will not be able to actually protect the historical and cultural value of Batumi. Read more… Source: The website of the organization in a social network Photo: Netgazeti

Tbilisi. The Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association (GYLA) publishes a blog post of Nino Kapanadze: Another negative report of the Venice Commission and ODIHR. “As it turned out, the report of the Venice Commission and OSCE/ODIHR is fully in line with opinions and arguments sent by GYLA to the Parliament and the initiator had an objective opportunity to get acquainted with them prior to requesting assistance from the Commission. If they realized them, the ruling power would escape the unpleasant response from the international format, while the country - the label of the one having “bad intentions” in matters of the rule of law and political pluralism”. Read more… Source: gyla.ge

Tbilisi. POWER - Promoting Opportunities for Women’s Economic Resilience is a project of the Economic Policy Research Center (EPRC), which aims to explore what needs women have in business today. Within the framework of the project, the organization offers activities that serve to share knowledge and experience.  The study “Women in business: Opportunities and challenges of the pandemic” contain a review of general situation of women entrepreneurs, starting business as well as opportunities and challenges of its operation, problems caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, recommendations that need to be considered in order to ensure common support of activities of female entrepreneurs and overcome negative economic consequences entailed by COVID-19 in Georgia.  The project is supported by the Good Governance Fund of the British Embassy.  Read more…  Source: The website of the organization in a social network

Tbilisi. The Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center (EMC) presents a translation from the collection – “Social Reproduction, Women’s Work and Domestic Labor”. “At the turn of the 21st century, heavy burdens fall on women, alongside undeniably empowering changes. These burdens include, among others, the double day, absent husbands, isolation from kin, and single motherhood without adequate social support. In short, women's experience still points to the question of theorizing domestic labor and its role in capitalist social reproduction”. Read more… Source: socialjustice.org.ge

Tbilisi. On March 29, 2021, Nino Lomjaria, Public Defender of Georgia, got vaccinated with AstraZeneca vaccine at Academician Nikoloz Kipshidze University Clinic (Republican Hospital).  The Public Defender spoke about the importance of vaccination to eradicate the pandemic, especially emphasizing the commitment of officials to set an example for the population. The Public Defender noted that despite the widespread belief, the effectiveness of the AstraZeneca vaccine has been confirmed by the relevant organizations. Read more… Source: ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. The Coalition reacts to the amendments to the Organic Law of Georgia on Common Courts submitted by Anri Okhanashvili, Chairman of the Legal Issues Committee. The organization believes that the proposed fragmented changes are completely detached from the current reality. “The Coalition believes that an agreement on key issues of judicial reform should be reached within the framework of the current mediation process. In particular, the government and the opposition should first agree on a consensus-oriented rule for the composition of the High Council of Justice and the Supreme Court, which will contribute to the elimination of the rule of the Clan and weaken the government's improper influences over the system”. Read more… Source: idfi.ge

Tbilisi. Civil society representatives welcome the involvement of the European Union and the United States in the de-escalation of the political crisis in the country. “Unfortunately, despite Mr. Danielson’s active involvement, no consensus has been reached yet between the parties. We, the signatory organizations, express our regret that the mediation process takes place behind closed doors and is not very transparent to the public. This allows both the government and the opposition to blame each other for the failure of reaching the agreement. Given that the EU continues to mediate between the parties, we, civil society representatives, would like to express our wish that impartial and neutral mediators provide the public with more information specifically about the mediation process, the responsibilities of political forces in this process, and its consequences. We believe that conducting mediation in such a manner will help increase public awareness and prevent further speculation, misinformation and anti-European narratives, both in the country and abroad”, is mentioned in the statement. Read more…  Source: osgf.ge

Tbilisi. A survey of the Institute for Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI) on “Transparency of the judiciary in Georgia” highlights key shortcomings existing in terms of proactive transparency of the judiciary. “Failure to execute a decision of the Constitutional Court in regard to accessibility to court acts remains to be a serious challenge. Incomplete disclosure of public information by courts and the High Council of Justice is problematic. There should also be mentioned gaps in maintenance of statistics in the common court system and its publication. Based on identification of existing gaps and challenges, the survey includes specific recommendations that are essential to be considered so as to improve transparency and openness of the judiciary”, - is stated on the website of the organization. Read more… Source: idfi.ge

Tbilisi. On March 23, 2021, Nino Lomjaria, Public Defender of Georgia, met with Thomas Mülmann, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Austria to Georgia. The human rights situation in Georgia, the Public Defender's activities, mandate and priorities, as well as the challenges facing democratic institutions in Georgia were discussed at the meeting. Read more… Source: www.ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. According to information released by the Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association, court ruled that in May 2018, the Parliament of Georgia unjustifiably refused an employee to take leave and fired him from work. “Court annulled the order regarding dismissal of the plaintiff from the position of the leading specialist of the Human Rights and Civil Integration Committee office and charged the Parliament of Georgia to make a new decision based on study, examination and conciliation of circumstances that have substantial significance for the case”. GYLA defended rights of the dismissed employee in court. Read more… Source:gyla.ge

Shida Kartli. The Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center (EMC) has won the employment-related dispute of one more social worker. "According to the March 19 decision of the Khashuri District Court, the LEPL “Agency for State Care and Assistance for the (Statutory) Victims of Human trafficking” must reinstate the social worker, fired in 2019, as well as compensate the loss. Besides, as the court ruled, the restitution and compensation process should begin immediately, which judgement is especially important and rare in employment-related law cases. This is already the sixth successfully completed dispute out of those eight cases that EMC works on. As for the remaining two disputes, trials still take place and public will be informed about the news related to these cases during legal proceedings”, - is stated on the website of the organization in a social network. Read more... Source: The website of the organization in a social network

Tbilisi. The Center for Strategic Research and Development of Georgia (CSRDG) shares a survey of community organizations operating in Georgia in 2019-2020 years. “The purpose of the survey was to study groups operating in villages or small settlements of Georgia, their working environment and obstacles. Besides coming up with the results of the survey and accompanying recommendations, there was also a justified list of active community organizations. The list will be made public in the spring of 2021. See the survey in Georgian  See the survey in English   The survey was conducted by the Community Development Center (CDC) in 2019-2020 years with the support of the Center for Strategic Research and Development of Georgia (CSRDG) and the Open Society Georgia Foundation, while it was translated into English within the framework of the “Civil Society Sustainability Initiative” project. Read more… Source: The website of the organization in 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...

Tbilisi. The Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center (EMC) responds to an interview broadcasted through the air if the TV Company “Mtavari” and notes that the continued practice of unlawful surveillance causes an irreparable damage to human rights and the democratic order. “Use of information, obtained in this way, for political purposes is encouraged by inefficiency of the Government and absence of political will to investigate facts of violation of privacy. The practice of unlawful surveillance and gross violation of privacy is directly linked to both failure of legislative and institutional reforms in this field and delayed, as well as ineffective response of law enforcement agencies to specific cases”, - is stated on the website of the organization. Read more… Source: emc.org.ge

Tbilisi. According to the Institute for Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI), on March 22, 2021, there was published a joint conclusion of the Venice Commission and the Council of Europe Directorate General Human Rights and Rule of Law in regard to Special Administrator related amendments to the Law of Georgia on Electronic Communications. “This conclusion of the Venice Commission once again highlights that hasty legislative changes made by the Parliament of Georgia and other state actors are problematic. Besides, the conclusion confirms that the Special Administrator institution threatens fundamental principles of a state of law and democracy”, - is stated on the website of the organization. Read more... Source:idfi.ge

Tbilisi. The EU announced the winners of the 2020 EU Prize for Journalism. Winners were awarded in seven categories covering print, broadcast, online, photo and conflict-sensitive journalism. Check out the winner in the gallery below… Find out more about this years winners here... Source: eeas.europa.eu

Kvemo Kartli. Civil society organizations respond to developments that took place on March 21 in Marneuli, where activists of the “Movement for Georgia”, along with local population, demonstratively violated the curfew at 21:00.  “We have repeatedly stated that the Government tries to restrict freedom of expression unconstitutionally, justifying it with protection of public health. This time it is especially alarming that we are dealing with the threat of restriction of physical freedom of citizens and their criminal liability. It is noteworthy that the activists decided to hold the rally after the authorities did not heed a request of ethnic Azerbaijani citizens and did not lift the restriction of movement for the overnight of Nowruz Bayram. We consider that this decision is inconsistent and, moreover, discriminatory against ethnic minorities. The Government could make an exception in this case, especially on the background of intended easing of regulations for a football match on March 28, 2021, in fact, restrictions, for instance, were also lifted on the night of January 1”, - is noted in the joint statement. Read more… Source: www.gdi.ge

Tbilisi. On March 21, 2021, a TV story was aired on Mtavari Channel about alleged secret recordings of private life, including those showing the life of politician Ana Dolidze. “The victims of the release of secret recordings of private life or the threats relating to the release of such recordings are mainly female politicians in Georgia. This practice is used as a systemic tool of violence against women involved in public and political processes, in order to oppress and silence them. The Public Defender condemns the practice of illegal interference with the private life by the State, expresses solidarity with all victims and calls on the State to take convincing steps”. Read more… Source: ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. “Rights Georgia” offers a unique opportunity. If you work on protection of rights of asylum seekers, refugees and people with humanitarian status, you can register on the country of origin information portal: and gain access to human rights studies around the world. Read more… Source: The website of the organization in a social network

Tbilisi. On June 18, 2020, police officers stopped a child in Tbilisi and demanded to present an identity document, which the juvenile did not have. Police officers decided to take a photo of him, while the juvenile refused it and, therefore, policemen decided to detain the juvenile, however, people did not allow them to do so. During the attempt of detention the child received bodily injuries. On October 29, 2020, PHR applied to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and demanded a copy of an administrative case file related to the juvenile, but the Ministry delayed the process. In order to protect interests of the child, #PHR applied to the State Inspector’s Service. The State Inspector reviewed the case and concluded that materials were handed within an unreasonable timeframe. According to the conclusion, the Ministry of Internal Affairs performed its duties improperly. In particular, it provided the applicant with the documentation in an unreasonable timeframe, improper manner and incompletely. The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia was declared an offender and fined GEL100 as an administrative penalty. Partnership for Human Rights continues to defend interests of the child. Read more… Source: phr.ge

Tbilisi. The Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association responds to a story broadcasted through the program “Post Factum” on the TV Company “Mtavari”. “A respondent Ivane Gulashvili states that he was an employee of the state security and, on the order of high-ranking officials, used to install recording devices for covert surveillance in residential houses of public figures or various technical equipment. GYLA condemns unlawful encroachment on private life. Extends its support to Ana Dolidze and all victims of unlawful covert surveillance. At the same time, we note that in Georgia, there is painful experience of publicizing personal life footage, obtained through covert surveillance in the recent past, and it entails consequences. This fact requires timely, impartial and effective investigation to be carried out by relevant state agencies”. Read more… Source: gyla.ge