Imereti. You can already see the video about a Regional Civil Society Forum organized by Imereti Regional HUB – Local Democracy Agency Georgia (LDA Georgia) and Education Development and Employment Center (EDEC) in Akaki Tsereteli State University  in Kutaisi.  The main purpose of the forum was to promote a culture of volunteerism, to attract potential donors and to strengthen civil society in the Imereti region. The forum was organised within the framework of the project "Civil Society STAR Initiative: CSO's as Sustainable, Transparent, and Accountable and Resilient Development Actors in Georgia", supported by the European Union (EU) and the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS). Read more… Source: The organization’s page on the social network

Tbilisi. USAID/Georgia Mission Director, Peter Wiebler, handed certificates and Biblus vouchers to the three winner students/teams of a nationwide competition organized as part of the USAID Civic Education Raising Awareness Campaign “Learn To Make A Difference”. “The competition invited young people to develop ideas for how to make civic education more interesting and fun for all, both teachers and students. Winning ideas included approaches to student self-governance, media literacy, and choosing a career. Here are the winners: Lizi Dugladze (Rustavi public school #13); Mariam Natsvlishvili (Kutaisi school “Progress”,); Nia Tavdishvili, Ekaterine Sandukhadze, and Nikoloz Iremadze (Tbilisi public school #221.)”. Read more… Source: The organization’s page on the social network

Tbilisi. Coalition for an Independent and Transparent Judiciary considers, that judicial reform is necessary to obtain EU candidate status. “According to the European Commission’s Opinions, based on which the European Council will make final decisions, Ukraine should fulfill seven conditions, Moldova ten conditions, and Georgia twelve conditions. Judicial reform is one of the main priorities among the conditions imposed on Georgia. We believe that the Venice Commission’s Opinion, critical statements made by local and international actors, and the conditions outlined in the European Commission’s opinion, indicate the need for fundamental justice sector reforms. Such changes are critical considering the ongoing highly important processes associated with European integration, because the justice sector reforms are a key prerequisite for the success of these processes. Considering all the above, we call on the Parliament of Georgia: To acknowledge the dire state of the court system and express a firm political will to comply with the European Commission’s requirements; To promptly amend the legislative framework deteriorated because of the changes of December 30, 2021; To implement all justice system-related legislative processes with the broad involvement of the public and judges, and in close cooperation with the Venice Commission”. Read more… Source: transparency.ge

Tbilisi. According to the information of the TI Georgia, during his parliamentary address on June 22, Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili spoke that Georgia is amongst champions in the fight against corruption. “The government of Georgia repeatedly misinterprets international rankings to conceal real problems in the country. This time the Prime Minister utilized the Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index (CPI) 2021. He stated that according to the CPI, Georgia ranked 51st in 2012 and 45th in 2021, disregarding that the score obtained by a country is more important than the rank. Georgia’s score has not improved significantly since 2012 when the country had 52 points out of 100; Nine years later, in 2021 Georgia had a score of 55, indicating the stagnation of anti-corruption reforms in the country. 55 points is an average result. For example, the scores of the top 10 performing countries exceed 80. He stated that Georgia is the unconditional leader in the Associated Trio, compared to Ukraine and Moldova. According to the CPI, Georgia does have a better result, which is largely due to the low level of petty bribery. However, successful anti-bribery reforms were carried out 18 years ago and cannot be recognized as the current government’s achievement. What the CPI scores actually indicate is that similar ambitious reforms have not been implemented in the last 9 years. Moreover, the CPI uses the term "state capture" only with reference to Georgia and not Moldova or Ukraine, which the Prime Minister also did not mention”. Read more… Source: The organization’s page on the social network

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Kakheti. On June 17, 2022, the Public Defender’s monitoring group[1] monitored the Tsnori Nursing Home for Older People NNLE, located in the Sighnaghi district of Kakheti. The monitoring showed that the situation in the facility is alarming and the elderly are in degrading conditions. “The monitoring conducted by the Public Defender's Office revealed that the beneficiaries are in severe unsanitary conditions. There is an unbearable smell all over the building. No attention is paid to the hygiene of the beneficiaries. Most of them wear old, torn and dirty clothes. The facility does not provide personal hygiene items or support in observing personal hygiene. The interview with beneficiaries made it clear that they do not have the opportunity to take a shower. According to one of them, she has not taken a shower at all this year”… With regard to inappropriate conditions in the Tsnori Nursing Home, the Public Defender of Georgia appealed to the Minister of Labour, Health and Social Affairs of Georgia and the Agency for State Care and Assistance for Victims of Trafficking to react to the above-mentioned violations urgently and to transfer the beneficiaries to other facilities immediately, where they will have decent conditions. Read more… Source: ombudsman.ge

Adjara. NGOs are responding to the changes in the Spatial Planning, Architectural and Construction Code of Georgia, initiated in the parliament by the Batumi Municipality. “We believe that the package of legislative changes contains the danger of further aggravation of the problem of chaotic development of the city of Batumi, creates risks of unjustified, potentially corrupt decisions by the Batumi City Hall, and avoidance of construction regulations by construction companies as a result of special privileges granted to them”. Read more… Source: socialjustice.org.ge

Tbilisi. GCSD signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Institute for Development and Diplomacy. The Memorandum aims to implement academic programs, joint training courses, research projects as well as to exchange experts for participation in different academic events in each other’s countries. Read more… Source: The organization’s page on the social network

Tbilisi. Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies publishes Kakha Gogolashvili’s blogpost: In line for the candidate status, Georgia will get a European perspective. What are we worried about.? “It is necessary for our government to immediately recognize the conditions presented by the European Commission, and express its full readiness to meet them. If the government does not agree with them, any discussion about it makes no sense. There have been no occasions for the European Commission to negotiate easing of the conditions. Therefore, if the current administration does not agree and refuses to meet the conditions set, it must relinquish its authority due to the constitutional obligation of the country for European integration. A new administration must then be appointed to fulfill the conditions. This is a minimalist scenario that does not involve new elections and a change of government. The change, if it became necessary, must be implemented very quickly, and the new administration must start working on fulfilling the conditions of the European Commission immediately and effectively”. Read more… Source: gfsis.org.ge

Representatives of IDFI, within the scopes of the Eurasian Academic Anti-Corruption Network (EAACN) participated in the UNCHAINED podcast regarding the sustainability of the anticorruption reforms in Georgia. “Despite the fact that for the last 15 years Georgia was the leader in implementing the anticorruption reforms in Eastern Partnership countries, the anticorruption features of Georgia are getting worse. Civil society agrees that it is important to continue the implementation of anticorruption reforms and fulfill the recommendations of the international organizations.” Read more… Source: The organization’s page on the social network

Tbilisi. HRC is concerned about the numerous cases of extradition of sentenced persons to the Russian Federation in recent years, which, according to the assessment of HRC, creates the worst practice of fundamental human rights violations based on political loyalty. HRC provided legal assistance to a citizen of the Russian Federation residing in Georgia, ethnic Chechen Ramzan Akhiadov, who was handed over by the Ministry of Justice of Georgia to the Russian Federation on September 19, 2019, despite the resistance of HRC and other human rights organizations. After the extradition, information about the situation of Ramzan Akhiadov in the Russian penitentiary institution is unknown up to this date. Read more… Source: www.hrc.ge

Tbilisi. Taso Foundation and the Center for Psychoeducation and Counseling „Sivrcany” offer group and individual play and art therapy sessions to Ukrainian children. The project is open to anyone interested in participating and aims to help Ukrainian children and their families adapt to the new environment and better cope with different hardships. The project is implemented with the financial support of the Open Society Foundation. Read more… Source: The organization’s page on the social network

Tbilisi. "Step towards the Europe" responds to the European Commission's recommendations to the Council of the European Union regarding the decision on whether to grant EU candidate status to the Associated Trio. According to the document, the Commission's views on Georgia are extremely critical, and unlike Ukraine and Moldova, it does not contain a recommendation to immediately grant candidate status to Georgia. “The irresponsible attitude of the Georgian government towards the current process and the deliberate, damaging steps taken against the will of the Georgian people have undermined our country's historic opportunity to become part of the European Union. Despite the existing difficult situation, the European Union does not intend to abandon the Georgian people. This is evidenced by the list of actions outlined by the European Commission, which, upon fulfillment, will guarantee candidacy for EU membership. Before June 24, there is still a chance for the highest constitutional authorities to take swift steps to rectify the situation and thus send a strong message to the leaders of EU member states. In the opinion of the European Commission based on the existing reality in Georgia, in order to receive candidate status, the following steps are necessary: •    Reduction of political polarization in the spirit of the Charles-Michel Agreement. •    Strengthening of the independence and accountability of all state agencies to ensure their democratic oversight. •    Improvement of electoral legislation. •    Justice system reform. •    Anti-corruption reform. •    De-oligarchization of Georgia. •    Strengthening of the fight against organized crime. •    Improvement of the media environment. •    Protection of human rights, including those of vulnerable groups. •    Enhancement of gender equality and elimination of violence against women. •    Involvement of civil society in the decision-making process at all levels. •    Enforcement of rulings of the Strasbourg court. •    Selection of independent candidates in the process of electing the Public Defender. We, the representatives of civil society, once again call on the higher authorities to show readiness to resolve the above-mentioned issues. We call on them to act and ensure that concrete initiatives are adopted so that the main obstacles are removed by June 24. For our part, we are ready to provide the state agencies with the vision of reforms that we have produced over the years of our work”, is noted in the statement. Read more… Source: transparency.ge

Kvemo Kartli. On June 16, members of the Taso Foundation team held a working meeting with Bolnisi Municipality Mayor and City Hall representatives. The aim of the meeting was to select new target communities/villages in Bolnisi Municipality and to determine future plans for gender budgeting. The Project is supported by the Embassy of Switzerland in Georgia and the Austrian Development Agency. Read more… Source: The organization’s page on the social network

Tbilisi. On June 16, 2022, the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) published a report on its ad hoc visit to Georgia, which along with a number of pressing issues, focuses on signs of informal criminal governance in prisons. “It should be noted that the ad hoc visit report of the Committee is in full compliance with the findings of the Public Defender's report regarding the informal governance in the penitentiary system. In the Committee's view, all three semi-open prisons (Nos. 14, 15 and 17) are large and the number of staff fails to ensure full control over the establishments. Inter-prisoner violence is frequent. Recidivists and first-time offenders are placed together. Under such circumstances first-time offenders risk much more being “enrolled”, willingly or not, to the informal “crime academy”. The delegation was concerned to observe obvious signs of the presence of informal prisoner hierarchy, such as typical symbols visibly placed above cell doors and on cell walls. Further, in all prisons there was a clear disparity in conditions between the cells: whilst most of the prisoners had to live in cramped and rather dilapidated accommodation, some of the inmates enjoyed relatively comfortable conditions, refurbished cells (with parquet or tiled floors) and a lot of non-standard equipment. A number of inmates confirmed to the delegation the existence of the hierarchy and the collection or rather extortion of money for the illegal prisoners’ fund (“obshchak”). It is also noteworthy that many prisoners appeared clearly afraid to speak with the delegation. The Public Defender’s Office will continue to monitor the penitentiary system for the purpose of the implementation of the recommendations and findings of both the Public Defender and the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture”. Read more…  Source: ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. On June 15, 2022, Public Defender Nino Lomjaria met with the chancellor, administration and students of the Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University, who have been holding protests for a month now. Students have several demands, including the right to take exams remotely and the availability of dormitories. Nino Lomjaria stressed that students do not ask for benefits in exams. They ask for assistance due to their social status, so that the studies and examinations could be adapted to their difficult socio-economic conditions, especially since thousands of them have their status suspended just because they failed to pay their tuition. At the meeting with the university chancellor, the Public Defender spoke about the importance of dialogue with students, stressed the need to adapt university policy to the student's needs and expressed readiness for mediation between the opposing parties. Read more… Source: ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. The member organizations of the Media Advocacy Coalition appeal to th President of Georgia to consider and positively resolve the issue of pardoning Nika Gvaramia, General Director of Mtavari Arkhi, as the arrest of the Founder and General Director of Mtavari Arkhi, a broadcasting channel which expresses critical attitudes towards the government, poses a real threat to our country. Fair Criticism with regards to Nika Gvaramia's Detention has also been incorporated in The European Parliament resolution of 8 June 2022 “on the Freedom of the Media and the Violation of the Safety of Journalists” calling on the Georgian authorities to adhere to the highest standards of democracy, including the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary, air and legitimate judicial process and other fundamental freedoms, including in the area of media freedom. “We appeal to you, as the Head of State of Georgia, to pardon Nika Gvaramia and by doing so fulfill your crucial role in easing the current political crisis in the country as well as in the process of Georgia's integration into the European Union”. Read more… Source: The organization’s page on the social network

Tbilisi. On June 15, IDFI held panel discussions on "Enhancing Legislative Framework and practices for access to public information in Georgia." The event addressed the main obstacles and needs regarding Georgia's access to public information legislation and practice. In the course of the event, two-panel discussions gathered the international and Georgian experts and representatives of the civil, public, and private sectors. Learn more… Source: idfi.ge

The web portal CsoGeorgia.org releases a weekly newsletter of grants competition, contests, vacancies, fellowships, and tenders for civil society organizations', and for any interested person. Newsletter...

Tbilisi. On June 21, 2022, 14:00 (CET) International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD), in the framework of the EU-funded “Strengthening Development Impact of Migration in Georgia” (STREAMinG) Project, invites Civil Society Organisations interested in the call for proposals  to participate in the information session. During the session, ICMPD will provide details on the technical and administrative aspects of the Call for Proposals. The meeting will include a Questions & Answers session for prospective applicants. The Online meeting will be held in English with simultaneous translation to Georgian. All interested candidates please follow the link… The Call for Proposals is released with direct support from the European Union and co-financed by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC). The Call for Proposals Guidelines are available in English on the following Link... Source: The organization’s page on the social network

Tbilisi. According to the information of the UNICEF, See Every Colour campaign addressing the stigma around children with special education needs summarizes results. “Up to 600 schoolchildren, parents, and teachers participated in informational meetings and more than 280,000 social network users were reached as part of the campaign initiated by UNICEF. The campaign aimed at making formal and informal education continuously and equally accessible to all children despite their needs by reducing the stigma related to children with special educational needs. The project is supported by the Government of Norway. The concluding event of the campaign was organized on 14 June – the Day of People with Disabilities in Georgia. The campaign is being implemented with the financial support of the Government of Norway”. Read more… Source: www.unicef.org