Imereti. According to the information of UNICEF, the organization in collaboration with the National Association of Local Authorities of Georgia (NALAG), has developed a methodology and tools for local research of the needs of children and families with children. “Within the framework of the initiative, a training for the representatives of Kutaisi City Hall and the social service staff has been held in Kutaisi City Hall on the implementation and introduction of the methodology for assessing the social needs of children and families with children. The training was attended by the UNICEF Representative in Georgia, Ghassan Khalil. After the training, a needs assessment will be launched in the pilot municipalities using the developed methodology. UNICEF and NALAG will assist municipalities in implementing a full cycle of social programs”. The project is being implemented with the support of European Union in Georgia. Read more… Source: The organization’s page on the social network

Tbilisi. Together with the management of the Agency For State Care And Assistance For the (Statutory) Victims of Human trafficking, UN Women invited representatives of Global Rights for Women to Georgia. Experts will evaluate the state funded services provided to DV/VAW victims by shelters and crisis centers, and make recommendations to improve these services. Read more… Source: The organization’s page on the social network

Tbilisi. U.S. Embassy in Georgia Congratulates to Fulbright Graduate Student Program finalists: Goga Katalandze, Giorgi Gvasalia, Giorgi Revishvili, Ana Mikadze, Tea Natelauri, Mariam Latsabidze, Ana Sarukhanov, Salome Bakhsolian, and Natia Kantaria. These nine students will travel to the United States this summer to pursue their studies on a full scholarship. Read more…  Source: The U.S. Embassy’s page on the social network

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. TI Georgia believes that the draft amendments to the Election Code and the Local Self-Government Code of Georgia, which were initiated by members of the parliamentary majority on May 10 and regulate the issue of powers of city council members elected in by-elections a new manner, have only been tailored to the interests of the ruling party. “The Georgian Dream has decided to overcome the crisis in the Batumi City Council to their advantage by means of this initiative. We call on the Parliament of Georgia not to tailor the legislative amendments only to the interests of the ruling party in the Batumi City Council and to put an emphasis on the development and introduction of a unified standard of staffing of local self-government bodies”. Read more… Source: transparency.ge

Tbilisi. Transparency International Georgia publishes the blogpost: Who is the Presiding Judge on the Nika Gvaramia Case? “Lasha Chkhikvadze has been a judge for 15 years. Lasha Chkhikvadze was involved in a car accident that took place on January 22, 2015. Six cars collided in the accident, several people were injured and one died. The prosecutor's office denied that “any manipulation is taking place in the terminated case, as well as influencing someone, specifically Judge Lasha Chkhikvadze”. Zaza Gvelesiani, a witness in Nika Gvaramia’s case, was a close friend of a judge. Zaza Gvelesiani is the director of the media holding that manages Rustavi 2. Although Judge Chkhikvadze did not deny his close friendship with Zaza Gvelesiani, he did not grant the motion to dismiss himself from the case.  The criminal cases of Gigi Ugulava, Bacho Akhalaia, and Irakli Okruashvili are linked to the name of Judge Chkhikvadze”. Read more… Source: transparency.ge

Tbilisi. The LEPL Agency for state care and assistance for the (Statutory) Victims of Human trafficking has shelters and crisis centers that provide support services to people (With children) who have experienced: Domestic violence Violence against women Sexual violence Human trafficking. Hotline 116 006 operates in 9 languages, including Ukrainian. Read more… Source: The organization’s page on the social network

Tbilisi. Non-governmental organizations express solidarity with Nika Gvaramia and Mtavari Arkhi team. “The decision of the Tbilisi City Court of May 16, 2022, and the imprisonment of Nika Gvaramia is perceived as a warning and threat to other independent media outlets to stop critical coverage of the government’s performance, to cease watchdog activities and to refrain from the disclosure of facts that are undesirable to the government. The imprisonment of the General Director of a critical media outlet, including on the basis of managerial decisions, is yet another example of selective investigation, prosecution and conviction. We think that these kind of developments may have a negative impact on Georgia's European integration process”. Read more… Source: transparency.ge

Shida Kartli. On May 13, IDFI representatives met with local students in Gori. “Celebration of May 9 has a significant meaning for Gori and for several groups, this day is associated with Stalin and his personal victory. However, it is noteworthy that youth is interested in asking new questions and conducting a discussion of the symbolic meaning of May 9”. Read more… Source: idfi.ge

Tbilisi. May 17 is International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia, which aims to condemn violence and express solidarity with LGBT+ people. However, LGBT+ people and their supporters have not been able to celebrate this day publicly for years due to the risks of violence and lack of state guarantees of protection. Although the visibility of the LGBT+ community has increased over the years and the discriminatory attitudes in the society have decreased, this process is not accompanied by a consistent or thoughtful state policy. Moreover, the legal inaction of the State encourages inequality towards LGBT+ people in almost all areas of public life, fails to improve their quality of life and leaves them vulnerable to violence and discrimination”. Read more… Source: ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. The EU and CENN brought together local, national and international organisations today to discuss youth challenges and opportunities in Georgia. Read more… Source: www.eeas.europa.eu

Tbilisi. According to the Social Justice Center, the security and rights of LGBT(Q)I persons remain susceptible to vulnerability. “Despite the long history of fighting for the recognition of LGBT(Q)I persons, the real protection of the security and rights of LGBT(Q)I persons and the high level of social homophobia, which has a serious impact on the daily, public and private lives of LGBT(Q)I persons, remains a significant challenge in Georgia. The dramatic events surrounding the recognition and realization of political rights over the past 10 years show the state's demonstrative indifference, political homophobia, and its dire experience of tolerating violence. This policy has severely damaged and continues to impair the opportunities for the development of a democratic, peaceful, and pluralistic society, and has created numerous social crises. For years, the government, political parties, the church, and other actors have been trying to politically instrumentalize LBGTQI people and LGBT(Q)I issues, and this dominant policy has often led to the deprivation of LGBQI people of their lives, dignity, and future”. Read more… Source: socialjustice.org.ge

Tbilisi. According to the Transparency International Georgia the Court Fullfiled a Political Order by Punishing Nika Gvaramia - the Head of the Critical Media. “Based on the study of the case materials and observation of the court process, we can conclude that the case is politically motivated. It aims to punish Nika Gvaramia and disrupt the activities of a critical media outlet. The use of the justice system for media censorship and intimidation sends a clear message to other critical media outlets as well. This verdict is a continuation of the political persecution that has been waged against Government’s opponents for years”, is noted in the statement. Read more… Source: transparency.ge

Tbilisi. The film “Europe and Me” and all other resources are now available on the European Union’s webpage. The film has been created by the Delegation of the European Union to Georgia in close cooperation with the film director Giorgi Kvelidze for Europe Day 2022. Read more… Source: eu4georgia.eu

Tbilisi. United Nations Development Programme - UNDP and SAWA Global Cinema Advertising Association launched an eight-week campaign aimed at raising awareness of the climate emergency… The campaign is shaped around UNDP’s #DontChooseExtinction initiative and the Frankie the Dino ad which has already reached an audience of 1.5 billion and garnered 3,000 media mentions. Read more… Source: The organization’s page on the social network

Samegrelo. Transparency International Georgia publishes the blogpost: Companies of uncle and cousin of the Mayor of Senaki win local tenders. “Five tenders announced by the Senaki City Hall in March 2022, whose total value amounts to GEL 2 614 550 were won without competition by JSC Arkeopolisi, a company owned by Demur Gadelia, the uncle of the Mayor of Senaki Vakhtang Gadelia, and Indiko LLC, a company of Ioseb Gadelia, the Mayor’s cousin. The Head of the Administration Service of the Senaki City Hall, Nana Zarandia, is also connected with Arkeopolisi JSC. She is also the Deputy Chairperson of the Tendering Commission of the Senaki City Hall and has signed documents stating that she does not have a conflict of interest in relation to JSC Arkeopolisi and Indiko LLC. TI Georgia calls on the Anti-Corruption Agency of the State Security Service to study the process of participation of JSC Arkeopolisi and Indiko LLC in the tenders of the Senaki City Hall and to establish whether or not it contains possible signs of corruption”. Read more… Source: transparency.ge

Kakheti. Debates clubs opened up in 20 village schools of Kakheti Region within the project of UNICEF and Georgian Institute for Debate and Education. The project is being implemented with the financial support from Norway. Read more… Source: The organization’s page on the social network

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...

Samegrelo. Transparency International Georgia publishes the report on the outcomes of 2021 advocacy efforts of TI Georgia’s Committees of Concerned Citizens in Samegrelo. “As a result of advocacy efforts undertaken by TI Georgia’s Zugdidi Office and CCC members, 10 projects were implemented in Khobi, Zugdidi and Tsalenjikha municipalities in 2021; implementation of another 11 projects has begun and will be completed in 2022; five projects advocated in previous years have been planned under the 2022 budget”. Read more about the outcomes of the work and advocacy of our CCCs in Samegrelo in 2021 in the report… Source: jobs.ge

Tbilisi. On May 11, 2022, the Public Defender of Georgia and Prevention for Progress, a non-governmental organization, presented a joint report “Impact of Covid 19 on the Health and Other Rights of Prisoners and Staff of the Penitentiary System”. The study assesses the impact of special measures taken by the Special Penitentiary Service from March 2020 through 2021 on the rights situation of prisoners. “The results of the study show that restrictions were overused during the pandemic period and no appropriate efforts were made to find possible alternative solutions. No appropriate steps were taken by the state institution to reduce the number of prisoners”. Read more… Source: ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. Do you want to be more involved in the activities of the Georgian parliament, read draft laws, make comments or have online communication with any member of the parliament? Download and install the application GEO PARLIAMENT created with EU support on your phone and enjoy all these opportunities.  To install the app please visit  Play Store… App Store… Source: The EU’s page on the social network