Samegrelo. The NGO"My Abkhazia” implements the project "Volunteerism for Better Future”. Within the framework of the project a three-month-long project about informal education is held. The target group is the refugees from Abkhazia. Source:the organization's page in the social network

Kvemo Kartli. The youth organization "Green Fist” held a manifestation on May 1st. The manifestation began from the university and ended in Kazreti. Source:the organization's page in the social network

Samtskhe-Javakheti. A social media training was held in 1st Public School of Udi village  of Adigeni municipality. The Training was attended by the members of the school’s social clubs.The attendants were introduced to the video-portal Civics.ge, created e-mails and blogs.The aim of the programme was to help the attendants develop skills and social media knowledge. Such trainings will involve other schools too.

Tbilisi. The Human Rights Center has appealed to the General Inspection of the Ministry of Corrections and Probation and the Chief Prosecutor's Office. The Center "expresses its concern over recent facts of beating and inhuman treatment of inmates in the penitentiary institutions," says the appeal released by the Center on May 1. The organization demands timely reaction and investigation from the relevant agencies. For the full text. Source: humanrights.ge

Tbilisi. Non-governmental organizations involved in "This Affects You" campaign released a statement. "At the May 1 sitting of the Government of Georgia Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili made insulting statements towards activities of non-governmental organizations involved in This Affects You campaign. ...The remarks by the Prime Minister that non-governmental organizations are "damaging the country” are alarming, since the only goal of the bill is to protect the right to privacy as guaranteed by the European standards. Such a rhetoric by the leader of the country discredits and supports formation of negative public attitudes toward non-governmental organizations. The accusations of the Prime Minister are not in compliance with the values of a rule-of-law based state and undermine importance and role of public initiatives in a democratic state". For the full text Source:transparency.ge

Tbilisi. On May 4th-10th the NGO "Education for Everyone” holds an international week "Education for Everyone” – equal rights, equal possibilities: education and limited possibilities. Source: Web-page of the centre for consultations and trainings in the social network.

International organization "Freedom House" has released the "Freedom of Press 2014" report on May 1. According to the report data, the freedom of press situation in Georgia has improved by two points. Under the 100-point evaluation system, freedom of press in Georgia in 2013 was evaluated at 47 points. According to Media.ge, it is noteworthy that this is the best indicator since 1999. This very year the country has received 47 points, and we have not witnessed a lower point since then. For the full text. Source:media.ge The report 

Tbilisi. To commemorate the World Press Freedom Day, the EU Delegation to Georgia will officially announce the competition "EU Journalism Prize 2014" on May 6 at 17:00 (cafe Folk Garden).The EU Journalism Prize is the EU initiative in Georgia and aims to acknowledge journalism works in the Georgian press, television, radio and social media, which facilitate better understanding of the EU values, and are created at professional level and with observance of high standards of journalistic ethics. Source: media.ge

Tbilisi. Georgian Young Lawyers' Association held a press conference about Kvareli Incident. "As already known, on April 25 2014, the police detained the elected Governor (Gamgebeli) of Kvareli Municipality and Judo Federation President – Davit Qevkhishvili, along with the three Village Trustees (persons appointed by the Governor) of the Municipality, members of the "Georgian Dream” and other citizens – total of 17 persons". For the full text Source:gyla.ge

Tbilisi. The Institute for the Development of Freedom of Information has released information obtained  from  the Land Transport Agency. For the full text  Source:opendata.ge

Tbilisi. According to evaluations of organization the "Young Barristers”, Parliament must pass the law of "Elimination of All forms of Discrimination” and along with the Church, other civil groups must be actively involved in this process as well. For the full text Source:barristers.ge

Tbilisi. Media Development Fund (MDF), Georgian Democratic Initiative (GDI) and the Tolerance and Diversity Institute (TDI) have released a statement on the coverage of the criminal fact by the Public Broadcaster and "Guria News"."The organizations find that these media outlets have disseminated information on detention of the Iraqi citizen suspected of sexual violence towards a minor on April 29 in a xenophobic context," says the information portal. For the full text. Source:media.ge

Tbilisi. Representatives of the Council of Religions functioning with the Public Defender and the CSOs have released a joint statement on the State Agency for Religious Issues. The signatory parties believe that the mandate of a newly created Agency is problematic in several directions. In particular, "the Agency was established and its mandate was defined so that the Government has not consulted about creating such an institute either with the Council of Religions functioning with the Public Defender or the CSOs working on the freedom of religion issues, which, by itself, would have facilitated better apprehension of the Agency's goals and powers." For the full text. Source: emc.org.ge

Tbilisi. Georgian Young Lawyers' Association released a statement about the International Workers’ Day. "The International Workers’ Day is celebrated on May 1. The right to work is the essential component of the social rights and relates to the essence of the socially oriented state, the main goal of which is ensuring proper existence of humans. The constitution of Georgia protects the rights of workers, which includes the possibility for individuals to be employed based on their will and according to their capabilities; therefore, not to be subject to coercive, humiliating or degrading work environment". For the full text Source:gyla.ge

Tbilisi. The Institute for the Development of Freedom of Information has released information obtained  from  the Data Exchange Agency. For the full text Source:opendata.ge

Tbilisi. Media.ge reports that CSO "Citizen" has launched the media environment study, preliminary results of which will be made public in three months. As the organization's Executive Director Nikoloz Chkhetiani has told the media portal, the study will be carried out by organization TNS opinion at the commission of "Citizen". For the full text. Source: media.ge

Shida Kartli. International JazzDay was celebrated by Gori Youth centre. UNESCO established in 2011 an International Jazz Day (celebrated on April 30th).The activities were held within the framework of Strengthening of National Integration implemented by UN Association and USAID. Source: Web-page of the Youth network of civil activism in the social network.

Tbilisi. Jumpstart Georgia published a new visualization - "Why does Georgia need recycling?". "Because there is an obvious need in Georgia to recycle materials that will otherwise be harmful to the environment and take centuries to decompose, a new social enterprise coop.ge is working to develop waste-recycling in Georgia. To learn how to recycle, please take a look at their website". For the full text Source:feradi.info

Tbilisi.On April 30th the international association "Civitas Georgica” held a final meeting about the exhibition "Photographers without borders”. In the Caucasian House there were presented works of Georgian and Azeri photographers, showing the life of ethnic minorities living in Georgia and Azerbaijan.The event was organized by Uluchay and Civitas Georgica, and financed by Black Sea Trust and Robert Bosch Stifung.The aim of the project was to widen the spectrum of Georgian-Azeri cultural relations.

Tbilisi. On April, 30, 2014, the Public Defender of Georgia held a presentation of the Report on Human Rights’ Situation of Internally Displaced and Conflict Affected Individuals in Georgia.The report overviews the new law of Georgia of "Internally displaces persons from the occupied territories, accommodation and refugees of Georgia", which is closer to the international standards than its predecessor. For the full text Source:ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. The Institute for the Development of Freedom of Information has released information obtained  from  the National Agency of State Property. For the full text Source:opendata.ge

On May 1-2 and 6-7-8 NGO "CiDA” organizes a regional media tour for the interested journalists. The tour was planned with the involvement of the R-CSN member NGOs all over Georgia. For participation approximately 17 journalists were selected who during the event on May 1-2 the journalists will visit eastern Georgia (Kakheti, Kvemo-Kartli), on May 6-7-8 they will go to western Georgia (Adjara, Imereti, Mtskheta-Mtianeti). The journalists will have opportunity to contact with R-CSN member NGOs representatives and identify problems existing in various Georgian regions. The materials prepared by the journalists will be evaluated by professional jury and the results will be unveiled by the end of May 2014. Source:cso.ge