Tbilisi. The organization "Young Barrsiters” addresses to the High Council of Justice of Georgia "to begin complex approach to solve important problems excisting in the justice system, in particular, violations of the procedural terms established by the law for dispute resolision and for the effective working of the judicial authority, by creating the appropriate infrastructural base that will actually help to overcome significant challenges in the justice system". For the full text Source: barristers.ge  

Tbilisi. In the frameworks of the project: ,,Together for a Support of Children’s Rights and Democracy’’ Conference -,,Human Rights and Democracy in Schools’’ was held by Civitas Georgica. The conference played a role of the platform for summarizing various activities implemented on the different stages of the project and sharing the gained experience. Project beneficiaries: The teachers from four municipalities of Shida Kartli and participating students made the presentations of the projects implemented in public schools. At the end of the conference the group of trainers selected within the project was presented to the audience, The trainers are going to visit Poland for a study purpose in the beginning of November, 2014. For the full text Source: civitas.ge  

Tbilisi. Third elections to the Academic Council of the Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University were held on October 21. Polls were organized at seven election precincts. Two candidates from each faculty were elected as members of the Academic Council, total of 14 members. Representatives of the Election Environment Development Center have monitored the election process and the Center's observers have assessed the process positively. For the full text. Source: eedc.org.ge

On 20-21st of October, 2014 Institute for Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI) delivered discussions titled "Control Your Government” at Rustavi and Gori Civic Engagement Centers. The discussions are conducted in the framework of the project "Enhancing E-Skills of Controlling Government among Young People”. The discussions aimed to give participants information about the techniques of effective communication towards local, central government, as well as result-oriented project management. Participants of these discussions had opportunity to learn information related to mechanisms for influence from different actors of the society, main principles of civic activism, methods for conducting effective communication between government and citizen. At the end of the meeting, the participants were invited for the task "Meet Your Local Government Representative”, during whichthey planned every step of meeting with government representative.

Tbilisi. Public Defender released a statement regarding Developments in Mokhe Village. "Given sensitivity and importance of the issue the Public Defender calls on the board of Adigeni municipality to stop dismantling of the building. It is important that all similar issues are decided by local self-governing bodies with maximum involvement of population and individuals with different viewpoint and only then a decision is made.  All the more that, the issue might concern interference in right to freedom of religion safeguarded in the constitution". For the full text Source: ombudsman.ge  

Tbilisi. CSO "Green Alternative" continues posting on the organization's web page pieces of information under the heading - "Interesting about Energy". Just recently the organization has published the material titled "Why aren't large-dam hydro power plants viewed as a source of renewable energy". For the full text. Source: greenalt.org

Kakheti. As part of the project on prevention and elimination of violence against women, the Women's Information Center has organized the horsemanship event at the hotel-relaxation resort "Lopota". According to representatives of the Information Center, majority of women who have participated in the tournament live in the Pankisi Valley. The winners award ceremony was held after the event ended. The project is being implemented by the Women's Information Center with funding from the EU and in partnership with the Kakheti Regional Development Fund. The project aims to raise awareness of the Pankisi Valley population, ethnic and religious minorities and refugees on problems related to violence against women.

Tbilisi. Religious unions – members of the Council of Religions at the Public Defender released a statement. "We would like to comment on recent extremely concerning cases of violence against and killings of women. ...We believe that recent escalation of violence against women is indeed conscious or unconscious  uprising against this freedom and apart from the fact that every such case is a grave offense from the legal point of view, simultaneously, they represent the gravest sin and evil for all religious teachings". For the full text Source: ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. The Georgian Young Lawyers' Association has hosted meetings on October 21 and 22 over freedom of information issues with persons responsible for issuing public information and representatives of the civil sector and media. Meeting participants have discussed problematic issues in terms of request and issue of public information. Source: the organization's page in the social network.

Adjara. "Independent Journalists House" and the book shop "Books in Batumi" have founded the Liberty Club for the schoolchildren of Batumi and Khelvachauri. 20 participants were selected from a contest, who will undertake training over 6 months in line with the curriculum they have developed. Various competitions will be announced periodically for the Club members. Winners will be identified, who will be awarded with vouchers for purchasing books on their wish list. Source: the organization's page in the social network.

Tbilisi. The Georgian Young Lawyers' Association has released a statement concerning a condition of the inmate in the 7th institution of the Penitentiary Department. For the full text. Source: gyla.ge

Tbilisi. Independent group of citizens has organized a rally on October 22 by the building of the Government Chancellery to condemn violence against women. "Rally participants have demanded from representatives of the authorities more active and efficient preventive measures against femicide", says the web page of "Liberal". Video materials on the rally.     Source: web page of "Liberal".

Tbilisi. "Young Barristers" released a statement about suspended student’s status. "The organization offers the ministry to establish new approaches and criteria, when the state take commitment to help to the students who suspended status to continue their studies. However, it should not be universal in nature, but intended only for those students who really need support from the state to cover the tuition fees and despite the good academic performance could not afford to pay". For the full text Source: barristers.ge  

Tbilisi. "Open Society - Georgia" Foundation is hosting a 3-day training for youngsters interested in setting up an online radio. Representatives of Microwav.fm are delivering the training. The project is implemented with financial support of the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA). "Open Society - Georgia" Foundation is the project's partner in Georgia. "3 countries are involved in the project: Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan. Key goal is to set up the youth online radio in the South Caucasian states (Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan)", says the Program Coordinator. According to the project organizers, the online radio will start broadcasting in Georgia from 2015. For the full text. Source: tavisupali.ge

Tbilisi. As part of the project supported by the Heinrich Boll Foundation - "Raising awareness in the energy sector to promote introduction of sustainable energy policy in Georgia", Association "Green Alternative" has organized a two-day training for representatives of CSOs, media organizations, and informal associations of the civil society. Training participants have discussed Georgia's challenges in the energy sector in view of obligations taken under the Georgia-EU Association Agreement. Training participants were briefed about long-term planning of the energy sector, problems related to construction of hydro power plants, requirements of the European legislation on energy efficiency and renewable energy, as well as Georgia's challenges in this respect. Source: web page of the Heinrich Boll Foundation in the social network.

Tbilisi. The Asian Development Fund has hosted the meeting - "Civil society participation in the Fund's annual meeting". The Head of the Department for Regional and Sustainable Development, Chris Morris has met with CSOs and the civil society representatives. Source: the organization's page in the social network.

Tbilisi. The Public Defender addressed the Chairman of the Parliament of Georgia Davit Usupashvili regarding ineffective policies on issues of violence against women and killings of women. "The Public Defender asked to make dangerous tendencies of violence against women in the country a subject of discussion of special importance; in addition, the Georgian Parliament to exercise democratic parliamentary control mechanism and in the nearest future to invite relevant members of the Georgian Government to a presentation of a report on concrete and practical steps aimed at problem resolution". For the full text Source: ombudsman.ge  

Kakheti. The NATO and EU Information Center has organized the meetings of the State Minister for Integration in the European and Euro-Atlantic Structures, Aleksi Petriashvili in Telavi on October 21. He has met with students of the Telavi Democracy School. Later he has discussed the NATO-Georgia and the EU-Georgia relations with the local self-government representatives and interested citizens in the Telavi City Council hall.

Tbilisi. Transparency International Georgia released a blog post - "Who paid 75 000 Euros for the placement of an advertisement in The International New York Times”. "On October 16, 2014 The International New York Times published a letter from the Speaker of the Parliament of Georgia Davit Usupashvili ... The article consisted of statements supporting the position of the ruling coalition about the prosecution of the former President of Georgia, Mikheil Saakashvili. ...we addressed the International New York Times and discovered that agenda.ge commissioned the Paris office of The International New York Times to publish the ‘article’ in the World News section. A full-page advertisement in the World News section costs approximately 75 000 Euros according to their rate card", says the blog post. For the full text Source: transparency.ge  

Tbilisi. Jumpstart Georgia published a visualization - "End violence against children in Georgia". "Violence against children is widespread in Georgia: 45% of Georgians believe that the use of physical violence against children is acceptable, and 60% believe that harsh parenting is more effective than non-violent disciplinary methods. Even though the majority of Georgians believe that physical violence is an issue and needs addressing, they are still reluctant to accept the idea of the ‘authorities’ interfering with family affairs, even when there may be violence". Infographic... The research - Violence Against children in Georgia, UNICEF Source:feradi.info  

Tbilisi. The Civil Society Institute (CSI) has completed selecting the participants for the e-learning program. Over 900 individuals were interested in registering for the first learning cycle. After reviewing the applications, the Institute has selected 40 students for each course. Field of activity was one of the selection criteria - advantage was given to CSO representatives and students. Geographic area was another key criterion - 75% of students registered on e-learning courses represent various regions of Georgia. It is possible to take e-learning courses without registration, with a free listener's status. Classes on e-learning.ge take off on October 27. Second e-learning cycle will be announced in the spring. We would like to remind you that e-learning.ge offers online courses in four subjects - public policy analysis (lecturer Keti Melikadze), research methods (lecturer Iago Kachkachishvili), public finances (lecturers: Otar Kikvadze, Mikheil Dzagania) and advocacy/lobbying (lecturer Vazha Salamadze).

Tbilisi. Georgian Democracy Initiative and the Media Development Foundation released a joint statement. "We would like to respond to the events that developed on October 19, 2014, near the house of the Prime Minister of Georgia at the time of the peaceful protest during which seven participants of the protest, including a journalist of Tabula , were detained", says the statement. For the full text Source: gdi.ge