Samtskhe-Javakheti.At the initiative of one of the members of the Akhaltsikhe Youth Center Viktoria Eghian, another presentation on "Domestic Violence and its Impact on Children" was delivered on September 9 in Akhaltsikhe, in the conference hall of CSO "Union of Democrat Meskhetians".Youngsters interested in the issue have attended the event, which ended with active discussion among the participants.The presentation was developed as part of the project - "Advancing National Integration in Georgia", implemented by the UN Association of Georgia (UNAG) with financial support of the US Agency for International Development.

Guria. Youngsters of the Ozurgeti Youth Center have celebrated the International Literacy Day on September 8. At the event, youngsters have discussed books of their interest and expressed opinions on the need to read books. They have advised peers to read this or that book and talked about the importance of the Literacy Day.A mobile library program is functioning in the Ozurgeti Youth Center for the third consecutive year, as part of which interested readers can get familiar with the works of contemporary Georgian and foreign writers. Source: the organization's page in the social network.

Imereti. As part of the "Advancing National Integration in Georgia" project, peer educators have delivered a training in "Leadership and Active Citizenship" for the Center members on September 9 in the Kutaisi Education, Development and Employment Center.The training aimed to raise youth's awareness on active citizenship and leadership skills. Source: the organization's page in the social network.

Tbilisi. The Association of Young Economists of Georgia has released a statement on enterprises in the ownership of the Tbilisi City Hall. "We welcome the recent interest of the new management of the Tbilisi City Hall in the municipal enterprises and their examination. At the first stage, it is important that the Tbilisi City Hall develops a new policy in respect of enterprises in its ownership, which will increase their efficiency and improve the quality of relevant services/products", says the statement. For the full text. Source: the organization's page in the social network.

Adjara. The Ministry of Health, Public Healthcare Center and the Employment Agency have organized on September 8 a public discussion over projects of the 2015 programs. Out of the project with over 6 million budget, large portion of funds will be spent for medical assistance of the socially unprotected population. Further, funds are allocated for supporting primary healthcare and aid equipment for persons with disabilities, pensioners, children and citizens with visual impairments. The shelter of homeless mothers and children will be funded as well. Third sector representatives have expressed certain comments and opinions concerning the programs. In addition, they have addressed the Minister with a request to take into account CSO recommendations in the future program.

Samtskhe-Javakheti. "The International Center for Conflicts and Negotiations" has launched a new project in Samtskhe-Javakheti and Shida Kartli together with organization "Mercy Corps". The project is titled "Expanding the Horizon, Improved Choice for Professional and Economic Development of Women and Girls".As part of the project, women's rooms will be opened in these two regions, where local ladies will gain necessary knowledge. They will use Internet, a library, and the conference hall and children's corner will be arranged.The project facilitates active involvement of women in the regional activities. The first municipal women's room will be opened in Samtskhe-Javakheti – Ninotsminda, and the services in the remaining five municipalities will be provided gradually.Women's rooms already exist in Tsalka, Tetritskaro and Dmanisi. The project is implemented with financial support of the US Agency for International Development.

Imereti. As part of the project of the Kutaisi Education, Development and Employment Center - "Individual Assistance to Georgian Migrants", an information meeting was organized on September 9 in village Kukhi of the Khoni Municipality, attended by potential migrants. Prior to the discussion, they have watched a film about the history and traditions of Greece and Turkey and the migration-related issues in these countries. After the film, meeting participants have discusses pros and cons of migration.The project "Individual Assistance to Georgian Migrants" is initiated by the civil development agency – "Sida" with financial support from the EU. The project is implemented in 5 regions of Georgia – Kartli, Kvemo Kartli, Imereti, Samegrelo and Adjara. The Kutaisi Education, Development and Employment Center is a project partner in Imereti. Source: the organization's page in the social network.

Adjara. The German-Caucasian School "European Criminal Law" was opened on September 8 in the Constitutional Court. The project aims to deliver seminars to students and practicing lawyers in the South Caucasian states in the European criminal law and form an internal Caucasian dialogue. The School has 5 Azerbaijani, 5 Armenian and 15 Georgian students. German professors will deliver lectures on the European criminal law and the European Convention of Human Rights.All 25 students of the School will receive the Law Faculty certificates from the Humboldt University in Berlin.

Tbilisi. Transparency International - Georgia released a statement - "The government must not restrict citizen journalism”. "Transparency International (TI) Georgia would like to express its concern regarding instances of police officers restricting citizens from recording recent publicly performed law enforcement raids. Restrictions are applied without any explanation and include prohibition of recording, erasing of recorded material, and in some cases even detention of citizens", says the statement. For the full text Source: transparency.ge

Tbilisi. The "Study on Religious Discrimination and Constitutional Secularism" was presented on September 8 in the "Frontline Georgia Club".The study includes the analysis of offences committed based on religious discrimination in Georgia, legal framework on freedom of religion and the state practice; further, it reviews the rhetoric of politicians with respect to principles of secularism. The study was carried out by the Tolerance and Diversity Institute (TDI) as part of the "Policy, Advocacy and Civil Society Development in Georgia" Program (G-PAC) of the East-West Management Institute (EWMI), with financial support of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Source: the organization's web page in the social network.

Samtskhe-Javakheti. As part of the environmental project, 15 youngsters are in the Atskuri eco-camp, who were selected from Borjomi, Atskuri and Kharagauli based on the contest.The project "Introducing Co-Participative Monitoring System of Rare and Endangered Species in the Borjom-Kharagauli National Park" is implemented by CSO "Nacres" in partnership with the Samtskhe-Javakheti Media Center and the Borjom-Kharagauli National Park.Along with environmental organizations, up to 30 youngsters are involved in the project. In the Atskuri camp youngsters are undertaking trainings and practical exercises.Trainings aim to broaden experience in the field practice and application of present-day methods, which the youngsters will use in the future biodiversity monitoring activities.

Tbilisi. Transparency International – Georgia has released a podcast of parliamentary news. Interested persons can be updated on the developments in the Parliament. Podcast of Parliamentary News: 8 September Source: transparency.ge

Tbilisi. The International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy (ISFED) has released a statement on the organization's web page in the social network."Over past days, during the so-called raids, numerous facts of alleged violations of citizens' rights by the police officers have been reported in the media and social networks...", says the organization's web page in the social network. In case of violations, the organization would like to ask the citizens to contact the organization through the social network (Facebook) or by e-mail - pr@isfed.ge. For the full text. Source: the organization's web page in the social network.

Tbilisi. The Institute for the Development of Freedom of Information has released a blog post: "Agreement between the Tbilisi City Hall and "CT-Park" LLC: Secret Details until Now". "As the agreement publicized by the decision of the Tbilisi's new Government demonstrates, dozens of various articles and sub-paragraphs of the agreement and its annexes, a big portion of annexes and three amendments to the agreement were considered as commercial secret. For the details of the agreement classified until now, please see ... the blog", says the organization's web page. For the full text. Source: opendatablog.wordpress.com

Tbilisi. The Media Development Foundation(MDF) expresses concern over an incident that took place at around 01:00 on 7 September, in which "the police prohibited Nata Grdzelishvili, a journalist from Internet-based news agency media.ge, and a person accompanying her, to take photos of stop and search operation being conducted in the street and in this process, detained the latter person".  The MDF calls on the Interior Ministry of Georgia to timely investigate and adequately react to the committed offence. For the full text Source:mdfgeorgia.ge

Tbilisi. "Young Barristers" and the "New Higher Education Institute" have executed the Memorandum of Mutual Cooperation. The parties have agreed to cooperate actively in the educational and legal areas. For the full text. Source: barristers.ge

Tbilisi. The Institute for the Development of Freedom of Information has released Ana Seturi's letter: "New draft Law limits the broadcasters in disseminating the non-Georgian content". The publication examines amendments to be made to the Law "on Broadcasting". For the full text. Source: idfi.ge

Tbilisi. Non-governmental organization "Helping Hand" delivers trainings on "Volunteering and Active Citizenship" for the youth and CSO representatives residing in Georgia's regions (Kvemo Kartli, Racha, Adjara). The event is organized as part of the program – "Volunteer Incubator in the Regions", which aims to promote volunteerism among the youth, as well as support institutional development of CSOs working on the youth matters and establishment of the volunteer resource centers. The program is implemented with support from the Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs of Georgia.

Guria. Since 2003, a project of the Danish Government is implemented in Georgia, in which Norway and Iceland are involved stage by stage. The project is titled "Fun Football" and is organized in the countries affected by civil wars.The project aims to help children (8-12 years) to overcome stress in the war-affected countries by means of a football game. The project is implemented in Lanchkhuti by the Football School for the 12th time. 132 children, 14 coaches and 14 service staff participate in the event.

Tbilisi. The training - "Promoting Gender Equality in Employment" was held on September 3-4 in the conference hall of the Human Rights House, with participation of students and youngsters interested in the topic of gender. The training mainly focused on: rising gender equality and economic empowerment of women in Georgia. The two-day training was delivered by the CSO Article 42 of the Constitution and the Georgian Trade Unions Confederation. Source: the page of "Partnership for Human Rights" in the social network.

Tbilisi. An online journal was developed as part of the network of the South Caucasian young expert women, which aims to facilitate a peace-building process in the South Caucasus region, as well as activation of women in establishment of peace and security in order to set up an integrated regional platform. The journal. Source: Women's Information Center.

Tbilisi. Transparency International - Georgia released a blog-post "The companies and other organizations related to the Georgian Orthodox Church”"The companies and other organizations related to the Georgian Orthodox Church”. "Unlike other state budget funded institutions that face certain degree of accountability for their spendings, the Georgian Orthodox Church has never been obliged to report back. In order to shed some light on Patriarchate’s finances, TI Georgia conducted a small scale research into publicly listed companies and organizations that are owned or were founded by the Patriarchate. The research highlights few cases that contain possible breaches of the law". For the full text Source: transparency.ge