Tbilisi. Social Justice Center (former EMC) publishes a new study on “Participation right of minorities and standards of the Framework Convention of the Council of Europe”. “The study contains an analysis of standards defined by Article 15 of the Framework Convention of the Council of Europe and recommendations made by the Advisory Committee to up to 20 European countries. The study allows us to see what standards the Council of Europe sets for minority groups to exercise their right to effective participation in cultural, social, economic life and public activities”. Read more… Source: socialjustice.org.ge

Tbilisi. April 2 is World Autism Awareness Day. According to information released by the Ombudsman, within the framework of celebration of this day in the current year, the United Nations focuses on a clearly visible inequality in the world in the conditions of the pandemic, which has a negative impact also on people with autism. “On the background of the situation entailed by the corona virus, people with autism, living in Georgia, faced a number of challenges. It became even more complicated to exercise their rights properly. The state still does not provide these people with programs tailored to their individual needs. It is problematic to access health care facilities and services, as well as non-adapted medical services. The challenge is the difficulty of communication with medical staff. There are no social or psychological support measures for people with autism and their families”. Read more… Source: The website of the organization on a social network

Tbilisi. Transparency International Georgia presents an evaluation of activities of the Parliament of the 9th convocation and relevant recommendations. “The parliament of the 9th convocation implemented a constitutional reform and the country completely moved to the model of parliamentary governance. The Parliament had to perform its legislative and supervisory functions during also the state of emergency and on the background of tense political developments, which fact further highlighted the shortcomings that show up in the process of activity of the Parliament during a number of years. Improvement of legislative norms has a positive impact on the parliamentary control practice. However, despite the progress, a problem still remains to be the role of the opposition in the parliamentary control process, as well as issues related to accountability and responsibility of members of both the Parliament and the Government”. Read more… Source: transparency.ge

Tbilisi. The Economic Policy Research Center (EPRC) releases a petition to prevent the third lockdown. “We, signatories of the appeal, share recommendations that have been provided by professionals, united on the healthcare platform at the Economic Policy Research Center, and sent to the government on a regular basis. At the same time, at this stage, we consider it urgent to have the government: Launch a large-scale and diverse target groups oriented, systematic and intensive information campaign highlighting the risk of COVID-19 infection and the necessity of response actions (wearing a facemask, social distancing). Provide evidence based justification of the impact of current regulations on control of spread of infection and ensure consistent enforcement of existing regulations that have an essential importance in order to prevent spread of infection. The petition is open and can be signed by anyone”. Read more... Source: The website of the organization on a social network

Tbilisi. FactCheck releases information regarding a post about the Pfizer vaccine published on a social network. “On February 26, 2021, a Facebook user published a post with an audio recording. The audio recording was accompanied by a Russian inscription - Cрочно !! Всем Услышать !!! (Urgent !! Everyone must listen !!!). There is a woman, speaking in the record, who introduces herself as Yulia Gaponyuk and says that she is a general practitioner. The doctor talks about Pfizer vaccine and human infection after vaccination in Israel. The information spread on the Internet in the form of an audio recording does not correspond to the truth and is a false story”, - is stated by FactCheck. Read more… Source: The website of the organization

Tbilisi. Transparency International Georgia has prepared a survey about which televisions were used by parties to place their political advertisements during the elections 2016-2020 years. “Political parties spend a considerable amount of money on TV political advertising during the pre-election period, which is a significant part of income of broadcasters. Within the framework of the present survey, we studied data related to TV political advertising carried out by political subjects during pre-election periods as part of 4 elections held in 2016-2020 years. In particular, we analyzed data submitted by political subjects to the Audit Office and the Central Election Commission. The practice of advertising by parties also shows the polarization that the Georgian political and media space is distinguished with”, - is stated in the introductory part of the survey. Read more… Source: The website of the organization

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 European Union (EU) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) continue inviting Georgian companies of the packaging value chain to apply for co-funding that will assist them in increasing sales, boosting employment, improving production quality, and creating new products and services.  The grant initiative is part of a broader EU-funded program “The Innovative Action for Private Sector Competitiveness in Georgia” implemented by the UN agencies in cooperation with private companies and business associations. Drawing on an overall budget of up to USD 6 million, the initiative aims to assist Georgian entrepreneurs, improve the legal environment and access to finance, and strengthen ties with the EU.  Read more…   Source: The web-page of the organization

Tbilisi. According to media reports, law enforcement agencies of occupied Abkhazia have launched an investigation against Alyona Tania, who says in a video posted on the social network that “Abkhazia is Georgia”. Law enforcers of the occupation regime forced Alyona to apologize to the public for her action. “Rights Georgia” considers that beginning the investigation by the occupation regime against Alyona Tania contradicts definitions and standards of the European Court of Human Rights. Read more... Source: rights.ge

Tbilisi. MDF Georgia published a new study “Infodemic in Georgia – 2020”. The study, which involves monitoring of traditional and social media in 2020, aims at identifying key messages and false information concerning the pandemic as well as mapping sources, including anti-vaxxer groups and channels of dissemination of information. Read more…  Source: The web-page of the organization

Tbilisi. Social Justice Center (former EMC) has published a research document: Employment policy for ethnic minorities. The research has published within the framework of a project - “Strengthening ethnic minority integration and rights protection via research, education, advocacy, and confidence-building activities”.  “Current reality brings double damage to the employment of ethnic minorities because poor access to education, public services, including economic support programs, weak language competencies and radical omission of minority languages in the language policy - a discriminatory environment make it difficult for them to engage and participate in social and economic life. The purpose of this document is to review relevant experiences of ethnic minority employment policies, which may become an interesting resource for the state in the process of considering special needs of ethnic minorities in the employment policy and pursuing additional supportive policies”. Read more… Source: socialjustice.org.ge

Tbilisi. On March 17, 19 and 26, 2021, the Public Defender’s Office, in cooperation with the Council of Europe Office in Georgia, held meetings with representatives of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Prosecutor’s Office and Lawyers’ Association on issues relating to the administration of justice on sexual violence against women. “Recommendations and key findings of the Administration of Justice on Sexual Violence against Women in Georgia, a report drawn up by the Public Defender’s Office (with the assistance of the Council of Europe) were introduced to the prosecutors, investigators and lawyers. Participants talked about their practices and challenges relating to the investigation of cases of sexual abuse, criminal prosecution and consideration of such cases in the court”. Read more… Source: www.ombudsman.ge

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