Shida Kartli. Media expert Zviad Koridze has met on March 15 in CSO "Biliki" with schoolchildren from Shida Kartli, who are on internship in the Media School and are acquiring the skills of TV, radio and newspaper journalism. Journalist of Radio "Liberty" Goga Aptsiauri, Journalist of TV company "Trialeti" Nino Bolashvili and representatives of CSO "Biliki" have also attended the meeting. Zviad Koridze has talked about the journalistic ethics, obligation of the society as the client, relations between the public and media, gaining of trust, journalistic challenges and the first media publications.

Tbilisi. The Coalition for Independent Life and Partnership for Human Rights have organized on March 17 a meeting in the office of CSO "Anika" between the judges of the Supreme Court, representative of organization Disability Rights International and the judge of the Federal Court of the United States of America.Meeting participants have discussed the experience of the United States in advocating the rights of persons with disabilities and the current challenges in Georgia, such as the rehabilitation of persons with disabilities, integration into the society, restoration of breached rights through judicial procedures and other important issues. Source: the organization's web page in the social network.

Kvemo Kartli. Volunteers of "Siqa” held a training "Gender Equality”. The training was held in a public school of Gardabani, and was attended by 24 members. The aim of the event was provide information about gender equality for the youth. Source:the organization's page in the social network

Tbilisi. The organization "Social Code” initiated monitoring of the health care programme. Within the framework of the project will be examined programme beneficiaries, medical personnel and medical buildings.The programme is held together with Fridrich Ebert Foundation. Source: Organization "Social Code”

Shida Kartli. On March 10–11 consultations were held in Shida Kartli within the framework of Sida’s project "Individual Aid to Migrants in Greece and Turkey”. The participants in the consultations were representatives of "Society for the Spread of Computer Knowledge” and "Gori Information Centre”.Identical visits are planned in other regions too. Source:the organization's page in the social network

Tbilisi. Organizations involved in the civil initiative "This Affects You Too - They Are Still Listening" thank the President of Georgia for meeting on March 14 the campaign participants. "We find it important that the country's first official got interested in the arguments of the civil sector on urgent need for amendments to secret wiretapping and surveillance rules, and expressed the desire to meet with the campaign participants. ... We are pleased to have an opportunity to inform the President about the tasks of our campaign and discuss the draft law that was initiated in the Parliament approximately one year ago," says the statement released by organizations. For the full text. Source: page of Transparency International - Georgia in the social network.

Tbilisi. Heinrich Boll Foundation released a new publication. The aim of the publication is a historical analysis (1987-2003) of "Green Movement” within the process of the development of the Georgian State. Source: Web-page in of the organization in the social network.

Tbilisi. „Social Initiatives” released a collection of projects "Schoolchildren for Change”. "Schoolchildren for Change” (geo) Source: Web-page in of the organization in the social network.

Shida Kartli. Staff members of the Tolerance Center functioning with the Public Defender have visited the Gori Youth Center on March 17. The meeting aimed to receive information on the culture of tolerance and Georgia's ethnic and religious diversity. Further, the web site www.tolerantoba.ge and the film of the Tolerance Center - "Closed Monastery of Benedictine Nuns in Georgia" were presented. Up to 20 youngsters have attended the activity. Source: the organization's page in the social network.

Kvemo Kartli. With the help of the humanitarian centre "Abkhazeti” refugees in Marneuli learn legislation of an organization, its function and aims, and management. The first part of the training has already ended. They also learn how to reveal problems related to settlement and how to form an organization. Source: Web-page in of the organization in the social network.

Tbilisi. Transparency International Georgia released a blog post - "Competition procedure for public school principals in Adjara violated the law". On 6 February 2014, the Minister of Education and Science issued an order where names of individuals who had successfully passed the competition for principals of public schools in Georgia, including public schools of the Autonomous Republic of Adjara, were listed. Transparency International (TI) Georgia "believes that the Ministry of Education and Science of Georgia has grossly violated the rules for competitions for school principals in the Autonomous Republic of Adjara and the respective legal acts should be revoked". For the full text Source:transparency.ge

Tbilisi. Youth movement "Davitianni" has released a statement on developments around the Sakdrisi mine."Unfortunately, as it turned out this problem was resolved unilaterally and irresponsibly. The Ministry of Culture allowed RMG Gold to continue works without inquiring into the lawfulness of the issue, claiming that the fact of existence of ancient gold mine in Sakdrisi-Kachaghiani is not confirmed. Only this statement is an argument. We believe the decision is made hastily and requires urgent revision and adequate reaction," says the organization's web page. For the full text. Source: davitianni.ge

Guria. The civil club of the Chibati Public School initiated the spread of the "Epidemics of Goodness” project. Schoolchildren and teachers were also involved in the project. The final destination was the Central Park of Lanchkhuti. Public lectures were held in the school where the organizers appealed to the attendees to accomplish good things.

Adjara. A training-seminar was held for the members of the Batumi Youth Centre about group work and group management. They discussed such issues as advocacy campaign and its stages. The next training will be held by members of the Georgian patrol police. Also were organized presentations of women histories. These events are held within the framework of "Strengthening of National Integration” project implemented by the UN Association with the financial help of USAID. Source: Web-page in of the organization in the social network.

Tbilisi. „Tbilisi Hamqar” renewed educational excurses in Tbilisi. First tour was held on March 16. Participants walked in the Old Tbilisi. Information regarding future tours will be posted on the web-page of the organization. Source: Web-page in of the organization in the social network.

Tbilisi. Appeal of Civil Society Representatives to the Government of Georgia on the Statement made by the Government Commission on Regional Development on March 13. "...he Government Commission on Regional Development released a statement according to which the Commission expresses its readiness "to overview the opportunity about creation of each local community with each administrative centre". Organizations consider that the local self- governance system established through this model: 1. Cannot improve the communication between the local authorities and the population and cannot give the latter the opportunity to participate in local decision-making process; 2. Cannot create the necessary conditions for establishing local interest-oriented self- governance system;   3. Cannot create a new cultural, economic and social centers on geographically related areas; 4. Cannot create the necessary conditions for rural development and professional growth of local leaders and qualified public servants. For the full text Source:osgf.ge

Tbilisi. "This Affects You Too – They Are Still Listening" campaign participants released a statement concerning MP Levan Bezhashvili’s initiative from March 13th. "We would like to once again explain to the public as well as the lawmakers that the resumption of ‘This Affects You Too’ campaign was preconditioned by the refusal of the current government’s executive branch to dispose of the surveillance and eavesdropping system set up by the previous government. It is public knowledge that, as a result of the above vicious practices, numerous footages depicting scenes from private life have been unveiled in the Ministry of Internal Affairs.At the same time, we would also like to comment that the launch of the campaign is by no means related to any singular instance (including Tbilisi Mayor’s private conversation with his daughter). The problem is much wider and concerns the public at large. Protecting human rights is important for all organizations involved in the campaign since the current legislation and the existing malicious practice do not allow for an effective monitoring and proper regulation of the activities of the investigative bodies. Consequently, the risks that any person can become a victim of illegal tapping or surveillance still linger", says the statement. For the full text Source:transparency.ge

Tbilisi. Student movement "Green Fist" has organized a rally in front of the second building of the Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University. The rally - "Let's Save Sakdrisi! No to Khudonhesi! Solidarity to Workers! Protect Vake Park!" - aimed to allow students to protest against the state policy of maximum utilization of natural resources. Source: freea.ge

Shida Kartli. CSO "Georgian Democratic Initiative" has organized a discussion on March 16 in Gori for journalists on prohibition of discrimination and tolerance. Discussion was led by the human rights law specialist, member of the Board of the Georgian Democratic Initiative Giorgi Mshvenieradze, theologian Beka Mindiashvili and the civic education specialist Nino Eremashvili. Journalists from the Gori District have attended the training.Major part of discussion was devoted to the current situation in the country in terms of tolerance and problems prevailing in this respect in the region. Regional journalists have underlined problems oc concern to them. Considerable attention was paid to the use of hate language by the media. Source: gdi.ge

Adjara. On March 15, in Batumi Press Café a student discussion was held. Student talked about the events in the Ghurta village and what situation is currently there. The speakers were the members of the youth movement "Alternative”. The discussion was prepared within the framework of the project "Popularization of Democratic Ideas in the Youth”. The project is supported by NED.

Tbilisi. Non-Governmental Organization "Young Barristers" released a statement about mothers employed in the private sector. Organization published a research and recommendations on: "Legal status of mothers employed in private sector”, which has been sent to the executive and legislative authorities of Georgia for further introduction and implementation. For the full text Source:barristers.ge

Tbilisi. The President of Georgia has met today with representatives of CSO and media organizations involved in the "This Affects You Too" campaign. They have briefed GiorgiMargvelashvili in detail about the launched initiative. As the President of Georgia has noted, those problematic issues and flawed aspects that still prevail as in legislation as well as in practice should definitely be remedied. According to him, human rights protection is the top priority of the authorities and all parties are obligated to warrant such protection. The meeting was held in the President's Palace at the initiative of the country's first official. For the full text Source: the campaign's web page in the social network.