Tbilisi. On April 2nd "Gender Equality Centre” held an event attended by NGOs and international organizations, and the members of political parties. 234 women consented to take part in the 2014 municipal elections.The event was held within the framework of "Gender Equality in Political Processes” project with the help of GEN, USAID, and IFES. Source:the organization's page in the social network

Adjara.On April 2ndan information meeting about Autism was held by Batumi Centre For Democratic Development and the NGO "Changes For Equal Rights”.The aim was to provide the population with the general information about Autism.

Tbilisi. 50 CSOs appeal to the Parliament of Georgia. "In 2013, at the initiative of the Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili, the authorities have announced the launch of the new self-government reform. The reform aimed to break up the governmental vertical that the previous authorities have mounted behind the self-government facade. Unfortunately, all reform-oriented provisions included in the draft law were neutralized at the governmental and parliamentary hearings of the bill last December," says the appeal, which lists concrete issues."... The Government's decision is not based on the aspirations of the law, public attitude and the decentralization principles declared by the Government itself. It was not taken into account either that maintaining large municipalities may ruin the entire reform and overall we may lose small achievements yielded from this reform.We call on the Parliament to take into consideration the position of the Sakrebulos, single-seat MPs, and especially the positions of the Gori and Akhaltsikhe Sakrebulos and to demand from the Government additional examination of optimization of these municipalities and submission of a relevant proposal," states the appeal. For the full text Source: web page of "Time for Self-Government" in the social network.

Tbilisi. First Aid "Street Activity” was held with the initiative of Red Cross Society. The aim of the event was to raise knowledge about First Aid. Apart from this the attendees had a chance to take part in reanimation process. Source:the organization's page in the social network

Tbilisi. Organization the "Young Barristers” agrees with the Ombudsman’s report of March 31st 2014 on "Conditions of Human Rights and Freedoms in Georgia”. But organization does not share evaluations of the "Khudonhess” case regarding issuance of permits and licenses by relevant authorities mentioned in the chapter of "Right of living in a healthy environment” of the report. For the full text Source:barristers.ge

Tbilisi. Video-appeals are being disseminated as part of the civil initiative - "We Choose Europe". In the appeals the civil society representatives and prominent individuals talk about their choice of Europe and urge the public to join the rally-concert to be held on April 13. The appeals. See all video appeals. Full information on the initiative. Source: web page of ISFED in the social network.

Tbilisi.On April 1 a discussion called "Overview of Violence in Schools” was held FrontLine café. The organizers were the members of "Sapari”. Source: Web-page of the organization in the social network.

Imereti.On April 1 Kutaisi Centre For Education Development and Employment signed a memorandum with Tbilisi Z. Paliashvili Opera and Ballet State Theatre.Within the framework of partnership the Youth Centre will find out the necessities of the disabled people, and will involve them in various cultural-educational programmes.The memorandum was signed within the framework of "Strengthening of National Identity in Georgia” project implemented by UNAG with the financial help of USAID. Source: Web-page of Kutaisi Youth Centre in the social network.

Tbilisi. On March 31, Transparency International Georgia released a blog post - "The Financial Monitoring Service should not be put under Executive Control”. MP Davit Onoprishvili’s legislative initiative to amend the Georgian law, "Facilitating the Prevention of Illicit Income Legalization,” was registered in the Parliament of Georgia in early March 2014. The bill envisages transferring Georgia’s Financial Monitoring Service from under the management of the National Bank to the Ministry of Finance. "On 20th March, before the first hearing in Parliament, the draft law was amended to put the Financial Monitoring Service under the governmental management rather than under the Ministry of Finance. But this change does not alter the substance of this draft law - which is to move the FMS to under the control of the executive. We believe this proposed arrangement will not guarantee the operational independence of the FMS", says the blog post. For the full text Source:transparency.ge

Guria. Foreigner volunteers have organized a rally in support of Ukraine on April1 in Ozurgeti's plane-tree garden, in the territory adjacent to the cinema theatre. Up to 20 foreigner volunteers from the US, Germany, France and Baltic states present in Ozurgeti have gathered in the city's center and called on the local population to support the rally.Volunteers have showed their support of the Ukrainian people by lit candles, Ukrainian flags and the following slogans: "Ukrainian people have proved to the whole world that they are heroes", "We love Ukraine and hope they solve their problems reasonably", etc. Rally participants have left similar slogans written in their native languages on the special banner for statements. Residents of Ozurgeti have also joined the rally.Foreigner volunteers live in Ozurgeti for 6 months under the aegis of the Ozurgeti-based CSO "Student-Youth Assembly" and carry out various activities together with the Ozurgeti youth.

Tbilisi. The organization "Identity” released a video about the meaning of gender, LGBT, homosexuality and homophobia. Source:the organization's page in the social network

Tbilisi. On March 4, the Institute of Transparent Management in partnership with "multi-ethnic Georgia for Strenghening Democratic Values” held a seminar for the schoolchildren of the Georgian American high school on the topic "What is Transparent Management”. Source:the organization's page in the social network

Tbilisi. On March 26-27 Red Cross Georgia hosted East Europe Countries Forum about climate changes, which was held in Tbilisi in Sheraton Metekhi Palace.The aim of the forum was that each country had to present its own account of climate changes in the country.  Source:the organization's page in the social network

Imereti. On March 31 a monthly information meeting was held in Kutaisi branch of Young Barristers’ Association. Participants were members of media outlets and various NGOs. Source:the organization's page in the social network

Tbilisi.On March 3 the Institute of Transparent Management in partnership with "multi-ethnic Georgia for Strenghening Democratic Values” held a seminar for the schoolchildren of the Italian school on the topic "What is Transparent Management”. Source:the organization's page in the social network

Tbilisi.On March 31 a conference called "New Vision – New Challenge in Youth Justice System” was organized by the NGO "SIDA”.The conference was dedicated to the current changes in the Youth Justice system. Participants were from relevant ministries, UN Children Fund and the EU. Source:the organization's page in the social network

Tbilisi. Transparency International Georgia released a blog post - "Introducing digital terrestrial TV in Georgia – everything you need to know about government’s switchover strategy”. For the full text Source:transparency.ge

Tbilisi. The public Defender released a statement about an act of violence. "On March, 2014, the mass media spread information about a beating case of a member of the Parliament of Georgia, Nugzar Tsiklauri. ...The Public defender of Georgia considers necessity and importance to react on such cases damaging health and jeopardizing life of the persons, who perform representative authorities and enjoy with a special protection", says the statement. For the full text  Source:ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. The Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center has released a video recording of the lecture, in which Dato Laghidze discusses the situation preceding the Arab Spring and the reception of the revolution. Source: the organization's page in the social network.

Tbilisi. The Chairman of the Georgian Bar Association has released a statement. "I am dismayed at violence exercised against me by the authorities that came to power in Georgia with democratic slogans, demonstrated by the breach of my fundamental rights. The Georgian authorities have illegally wiretapped the telephone conversation of the Bar Association Chairman and released it publically. This had nothing to do with the criminal case," says the organization's page in the social network. For the full text Source: the organization's page in the social network.

Tbilisi. The Georgian Charter of Journalistic Ethics launches monitoring of the self-government election coverage. Monitoring will start on April 1 and last until the end of June.To identify the trends, the Charter of Journalistic Ethics will observe the pre-election and post-election periods. Monitors will observe the coverage of the self-government elections in respect of seven national and five regional broadcasters. Source: media.ge

Tbilisi.Partnership memorandum was signed between Georgian Barrister Association and Tbilisi  Open University.This partnership will help to further develop law studies in partnership with Studies Centre of Barrister Association. Source:the organization's page in the social network