Tbilisi. A symbolic event "Life Tree” was organized on May 15 in the Leukemia Center of the M.Iashvili Children’s Central Hospital of Tbilisi at the initiative of the Georgian Red Cross Society and with support of "TAV Georgia”. The event aimed at creating joyful environment for children suffering from leukemia and supporting them. Children have planted an oak, made wishes and tied ribbons to it.This event has laid a foundation to a playground in the yard of the Leukemia Rehabilitation House, which aims to support and encourage children suffering from leukemia. Source: the organization's page in the social network.

Tbilisi. Tbilisi. The Institute for the Development of Freedom of Information has released information obtained  from  the Municipal Development Fund of Georgia. For the full text Source:opendata.ge

Tbilisi. The School of Liberalism has hosted the discussion "Should prostitution be legalized?” During the discussion members of the School have presented arguments in favor of and against legalization of prostitution. Mentor Lela Gaprindashvili has summarized and analyzed arguments after the presentation of the parties’ positions. The audience also had an opportunity to ask questions and express their own positions. Source: the organization's page in the social network.

Kakheti. The Kakheti Bureau of the NATO and EU Information Center has organized an information meeting in the Telavi Media Cafe as part of the European Week.Schoolchildren of the Telavi-based public schools and volunteers of CSO "Telavi Education, Development and Employment Center” have attended the meeting.Toma Chagelishvili’s documentary about the EU was shown at the meeting, followed by a discussion. Youngsters have asked questions on issues of interest to them, and the Head of the Kakheti Bureau of the Information Center has provided exhaustive answers.

Tbilisi. The Institute for the Development of Freedom of Information has released information obtained  from  the National Assessment and Examinations Center. For the full text Source:opendata.ge

Kakheti. A new program of the Telavi Democracy School was presented in the Telavi State University.The NIMD Democracy School has presented an intensive education program designed for representatives of local authorities, non-governmental sector, media, political parties, academic circles, successful students and active citizens interested in the issues of modern democracy.

Imereti. The Gender Equality Netowork has organized a meeting in Kutaisi in support of women candidates running in the local self-government elections. At the meeting in an active dialogue regime women candidates have presented their agendas and the future plans.Single-seat women candidates of political parties and initiative groups in the Imereti Region, candidates to the Kutaisi Mayor and representatives of various public groups have attended the meeting. Source: the organization's page in the social network.

Tbilisi. The Institute for the Development of Freedom of Information has released information obtained  from  the State Fund for Protection and Assistance of Victims of Human Trafficking. For the full text Source:opendata.ge

Tbilisi. Transparency International – Georgia has released information on the "Peace Bridge”. "According to a part of the population, the costs of exploitation of the "Peace Bridge” in Tbilisi would have been too large for the city’s budget, and some have disliked its esthetic side as well. In any case, how much Tbilisi spends on maintenance of the "Peace Bridge”? According to Tendermonitor.ge, starting from March 2014 until May 2015 the Tbilisi City Hall will have to pay 223,958 GEL for maintenance of the Bridge,” says the organization’s page in the social network. For the full text. Source: the organization's page in the social network.

Tbilisi. "Internews-Georgia” implements project "Promoting Sensitive Coverage of Conflicts in South Caucasus”. This is a joint project of Georgia, Azerbaijan and Armenia, which in addition covers conflicting regions (Karabakh, Abkhazia, South Ossetia) and is funded by the British Embassy. 6 documentaries were produced as part of the project, which describe the media situation and the conflict coverage trends in each region. Three new films were presented in the office of Internews on May 14. Local partners have made films in Sokhumi and Tskhinvali. The film Source: media.ge

Tbilisi. The "International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy” is delivering trainings for short-term observers from May 13 to June 3. Two-day trainings are held in Tbilisi, Kutaisi, Batumi, Zugdidi, Akhaltsikhe, Gori, Telavi and Gurjaani.Over this period up to 1100 short-term observers from all municipalities and the self-governing cities of Georgia will be trained. During the two-day trainings the observers will get familiar with the observers’ key principles and rights. In addition, they will be informed about the polling day procedures. Source: the organization's page in the social network.

Imereti. On May 15, in the Parliament building in Kutaisi the "Journalist Network for Gender Equality” has released with the MPs a special appeal on the attitudes towards women candidates during the elections. Journalists and MPs have called on all election entities, the authorities, candidates to the Sakrebulo membership, mayor, Gamgebeli, population and media representatives to demonstrate special vigilance towards women candidates during the elections, in order to avoid obstruction of election campaign of women candidates, discrimination based on sex or any other type, and the violation of rights. For the full text. Source: the organization's page in the social network.

Tbilisi. The Civil Society Institute has organized a round table. Meeting participants have discussed legislative initiatives exercising influence on financial stability of CSOs in Georgia, including the draft Law of Georgia "on Volunteering”. Local CSO representatives and experts of International Center for Not-for-Profit Law have participated in the round table.

Tbilisi. Organization the "Young Barristers” addresses government to urgently react on problems of emergency system of Georgia and discusses the issue of first aid effectiveness as a priority of health system reform. For the full text Source:barristers.ge

Tbilisi. The Association of Young Economists of Georgia reacted to the initiative of Prime Minister Gharibashvili on the formation of the list of objects of special importance and released a statement. "We find that early and incomplete publicizing of this initiative is not justified and includes a negative signal for existing potential investors... We call on the Government of Georgia to make a timely explanation on the initiative in order to avoid alarming the investors and to involve business groups and CSOs in the development and discussion of the second draft Law,” says the statement. For the full text Source: the Association of Young Economists of Georgia.

Tbilisi. Transparency International – Georgia released a post on the procurement of mobile phones. "The requirements of several state tenders are too detailed, thus resulting in its limitation of competition. Perhaps this is happening because in several cases the procuring state agency determines in advance the products to be purchased and/or the supplying company that it wants to have business relations with,” says the organization’s web page in the social network. In the post the organization discusses the tender proposal announced on 22 March 2014 by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs – "For the tender, the description provided ... is extremely detailed.” Currently Transparency International – Georgia has challenged this tender in the Dispute Resolution Council of the Procurements Agency. For the full text. Source: the organization's web page in the social network.

Tbilisi. Transparency International – Georgia has released a statement in the social network. "In the Parliamentary Committees for Economic Policy and Defense the MPs have examined at the first hearing and supported the package of legislative amendments, which, in case of adoption will bring progressive changes to the norms regulating secret surveillance and wiretapping. The civil society representatives involved in "This Affects You Too – They Are Still Listening” campaign have also participated in the work of the Committees.” The last hearing on the draft Law is planned in the Legal Affairs Committee, following which the draft Law will be voted on at the plenary session. Package of legislative amendments Source: the organization's page in the social network.

Tbilisi. Studio "Re” has released the film: "Public Initiative – Jvari Municipality”. The film is about the initiative of the rural population of the town of Jvari in the Tsalenjikha Municipality and its adjacent villages. "The population sees the separation from the Tsalenjikha Municipality and formation of an independent unit as a way out from the grave socio-economic problems. They think that the finances and labor in the Tsalenjikha and Jvari zones in the Municipality are not distributed fairly,” says the film promo. The film. Source: page of the Open Society - Georgia Foundation in the social network.

Tbilisi. A meeting was organized on May14 with the CSO and media representatives at the initiative of the CEC and with support of the International Foundation of Electoral Systems. The CEC Chair has informed the participants about pending activities of the Commission. Tamar Zhvania has provided the participants with important information on the statistical data. Workshops with media and CSOs are organized periodically. Source: page of the Election Environment Development Center in the social network.

Shida Kartli. Members of the Gori Youth Center functioning with the Association "Club of the Disabled” have organized the event on May 14 aimed at developing the infrastructure of the April 9 Square. The event aimed to increase participation of the population and the self-government members in the solution of common problems. As part of the event, decorative flowers were planted and the territory was cleaned. Source: the organization's page in the social network.

Tbilisi. The Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center has released Eka Aghdgomelashvili’s video-lecture. "Sexuality and Power” – was recorded as part of the Civil Activism Platform. Source: the organization's page in the social network.

Tbilisi. The Georgian Red Cross Society has organized on May 14 a blood donation event together with the Iashvili Blood Bank and the Ministry of Justice of Georgia.The event aimed to assist children suffering from leukemia in the Iashvili Clinic with blood. Staff members of the LEPL Crime Prevention Center and the Public Service Hall of the Ministry of Justice have participated in the blood donation event. Source: the organization's page in the social network.