Kakheti. A meeting was held in Gurjaani as part of the Restoring Efficiency to Agriculture Production Activity project of the US Agency for International Development, attended by women entrepreneurs residing in the Municipality and interested persons. This project is implemented by the Association of Business Consulting Organizations of Georgia (ABCO Georgia) and it is aimed at promoting the engagement of women entrepreneurs in the agricultural business of Georgia.Meeting participants have received new information and expressed the desire to hold similar meeting more frequently.

Tbilisi. The Council of the Charter of Journalistic Ethics of Georgia has completed deliberations on the judgment. The Council has examined the application of TarielPotskhveria's spouse Irina Asatiani against the "Rustavi 2" journalists PaataIakobashvili and Nona Mikiashvili, in respect of the story aired on 22 December 2013 in P.S. Currier "Hunger strike in prisons - is the criminal world coming back?".According to the Council's decision, out of 4 disputed principles, the story has violated 2 - the first and third principles of the Charter. Further, the Council has rejected the applicant's request in relation to the journalist of "Alia" ZhanaAsanidze, because in the story Zhana Asanidze was the respondent and it was not the product of her journalistic work. Source: qartia.org.ge

Tbilisi. Caucasian Institute for Economic and Social Research (CIESR) organized a Needs Assessment in the framework of the project: "Capacity Building of Civil Actors in Low Civil Activity Municipalities” – "Become an Active Citizen”.  Based on open contest the following local organizations were awarded: Samtredia - Civil Society for Sustainable Development, Martvili -Center for Civil Society Development and Research, Kazbegi –Stepantsminda and Dmanisi – LORE. Local NGOs conducted a Needs Assessment in Samtredia, Martvili, Kazbegi and Dmanisi municipalities referring a survey, focus- groups and interview methods.Based on the results of the Needs Assessment local NGOs developed survey reports, where local problems were outlined according to the target municipalities. For the full text Source: ciesr.org

Guria.  "Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center" (EMC) held a discussion "The rule revision of the Constitution of Georgia - the legitimization and public engagement ways” in Ozurgeti.The discussion was held within framework of the project "Inclusive and consensus-oriented process of constitutional reform in Georgia”. The project has been implemented by "Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center" (EMC) with financial support of German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ). Source: Organization's page in the social network

Tbilisi. Transparency International Georgia publishes a new report on certain expenses of political parties. The report presents the findings of the parallel counting and monitoring of four electoral subject/political parties’ certain expenses in the run-up to the 2014 local self-government elections. For the full text Source: transparency.ge

Tbilisi. Georgian Young Lawyers' Association released a statement. "A draft law has been initiated in the parliament, envisaging amendment of the Criminal Code of Georgia and postponement of enacting restriction of freedom as one of the types of non-custodial punishment for two years. These changes were initiated by the government of Georgia and drafted by the Ministry of Corrections. GYLA disapproves of the initiative. ...We urge the Ministry of Corrections, the government of Georgia and the parliament to treat determination of the new term of enactment with maximum responsibility and refrain from delaying the enactment restriction of freedom; further, the issue of allocating necessary financial resources should be included in the process of reviewing the state budget law", says the statement. For the full text Source: gyla.ge

Tbilisi. Organization "Young Lawyers" gives proposal to the State Constitutional Commission and offers to discuss the feasibility of abolishing juriesfor the implementation of effective governance. According to statement made by a lawyer of "Young Lawyers”: "In the National Legislative system maintenance of juries should be justified, as there is high risk that during providing fair trial rights process juries might fail to make adequate justifying decision and ignoring real destination of justice may take place”.  For the full text Source: barristers.ge       

The United Nations Development Program published the Human Development Report 2014 – " Human progress is to keep: to reduce vulnerability, increase resistance". The report pays special attention to the vulnerability of the problem, the basic social assistance and universal employment. The report also contains an updated index of human development.Human development index is 0.744, which corresponds to the group of countries with high human development. Among 187 countries and territories Georgia takes 79th position. For the full text Source: www.ge.undp.org 

Tbilisi. On July 24 the presentation of textbooks "Community Mobilization", "Participatory Planning” published by "SIDA” was held. The event was attended by academic and student groups of higher education institutions, representatives of civil society, international and donor organizations. The authors present the audience with the main aspects of the guidelines, approaches and practical findings. For the full text Source: www.tavisupali.ge

Tbilisi. Caucasian Institute for Economic and Social Research is implementing the project – "Local/Regional Economic Development Network as decisive leverage point for enhanced competitiveness in the Black Sea Basin regions”. Within the project framework in June and July one-week trainings were held in local economic development issues in three selected regions of Georgia: Samredia, Dmanisi and Martvili. Training topics were represented by PACA methodology (Increasing Competitive Advantage through Co-Financing) issues. Trainings were attended by local entrepreneurs and NGO representatives as well as local government officials and interested people.  Within the project framework meeting of the project management in Greek city Katerini was held. AT the management meeting achieved progress of the project and provided activities were reviewed.       

Tbilisi. With initiative of Information Centre for NATO and European Union schoolchildren of Zemo Nikozi visited "National Training Centre of Krtsanisi”. The students were introduced to how the training center was operating and how the preparation of armed forces of Georgia was provided before leaving for international missions. Later, the students visited the Occupation Museum and Information Center of NATO and the European Union. At the end of the day, they met the State Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration, Mr. Aleksi Petriashvili in Georgian Government Administration. They discussed the European values, European and Euro-Atlantic integration processes and the importance of youth involvement in the process. Source: Organization web-site in social network

Kvemo Kartli. On July 23in Rustavi Scout Center presentations of representatives of social enterprises and various youth projects organized by Children and Youth Development Fund were held; the projects were financed and supported by the Fund. During the presentations, the representatives of the social enterprise talked about provided activities, current condition, and the challenges facing and the success achieved. Since 2013 Social Entrepreneurship has become a priority for the Children and Youth Development Fund program, and since then the fund has periodically announces various competitions, where applicants for the establishment of social enterprise can submit project proposals and get grant funding in case of selection.The main objective of the working meeting was introduction of financed project activities to each other, share experiences and establish future cooperation.  For the full text Source: cse.ge

Tbilisi. Association of Young Economists of Georgia published "Georgia, Europe and the Gross Domestic Product". For making general idea in this direction the organization used data of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund for a year 2013. For the full text Source: Organization web-site in social network 

Tbilisi. "The Young Lawyers" respond to the initiative of the Ministry of Justice about the assignment of a lifetime judicial position on the criteria established in the Organic Law of the settlement. "Young Lawyers” positively evaluate this initiative. We believe that amendments proposed by the Ministry fully comply with the standards of developed countries, and it is a step forward on the road to justice reform”, said in the organization web-site. For the full text Source: barristers.ge 

Tbilisi. Public Defender of Georgia expresses his concern on the decrease of experiences in the rate of participation of women in the political life of the country and the absence of progress towards this direction. "The results of local self-government elections of 2014 revealed the acuity of the problem". For the full text Source: ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. Institute for Development of Freedom of Information broadcast information obtained from the administration of Kvemo Kartli governor. The information was posted in opendata.ge on the governor and his deputies’ bonuses; higher education documents; fleet; budget, as well as information on the proactive publication of public information of the legal acts.  For the full text Source: opendata.ge   

Kakheti. With initiative of "Civic Initiative” and NGOs implementing the project "My Village” the action was held in Tsnori.The action aimed the revival of cultural life in the village, and to save cultural houses abandoned and neglected. Representative of Civic Initiative, Nana Bagalishvili pointed out that "by this action we direct our attention to unavailability of services in Municipality cultural houses and would like to reach to relevant departments, ministries and organization representatives. We are going to hold moving exhibition as well. Each photo will be printed together with slogan on one banner; then we will take those banners to all festivals, open air exhibitions, where decision-makers will visit. I believe, with this kind of form they will have to think more accented that availability of cultural services is much important for villages.

Tbilisi. Liberalism training Centre conducted a survey. The students of the centre interviewed randomly selected respondents about violence against women. Interview Source: Organization web-site in social network    

Kakheti. In Civic Engagement Centre of Telavi non-governmental organization "McLain Association for Children” held training seminar for inclusive education.The seminar was attended by school teachers, kindergarten nurses and parents of children with disabilities. Training seminar aimed to raise awareness of parents and teachers working with children with disabilities.    

Tbilisi. Institute for Development of Freedom of Information broadcast information obtained from City hall and local council of Poti. The information was posted in opendata.ge on premiums, emergency purchases; higher education documents and other documents. For the full text Source: opendata.ge  

Kakheti. On July 23 disaster management training was held with initative of the Red Cross Society branch of Sagarejo. The project aimed to enhance public awareness in order to reduce damage during various disasters. According to a statement of Maia Aleksishvili, representative of the Red Cross Society branch of Sagarejo, 20 people team of volunteers was established within the project framework the trainings regarding first aid, psychosocial, fire-rescue activities were held to them.

Tbilisi. Institute for Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI) broadcast information obtained from Martvili, Mestia, Abasha and Zugdidi Municipality governments and local councils. The organization publicized information about premiums, audit acts, budget execution reports and other documents in opendata.ge.  Information from Martvili Municipality government and local council Information from Mestia Municipality government and local council Information from Abasha Municipality government and local council Information from Zugdidi Municipality government and local council Source:opendata.ge