Tbilisi. The Institute for the Development of Freedom of Information has released the documents obtained from the Parliament. The organization has requested from the legislative body the budget fulfillment report of the Parliament of Georgia for 2012. The document (geo) Source: the organization's page in the social network.

Adjara. On May 21, as part of the USAID program "Democratic Governance in Georgia", the Civil Society Institute has presented a new project in the Batumi Civic Engagement Center. The project foresees drafting of the city's strategic plan of urban development by the invited urban planning specialists in partnership with the local colleagues and specialists of the Sakrebulo and the City Hall. Local CSO and media representatives have attended the meeting, which aimed to inform and involve the invited guests into the processes, as well as to get them familiar with the methodology and details of the strategic planning.

Guria. On May 21, the organization "Women for Regional Development" have organized a meeting in the assembly hall of the Ozurgeti Sakrebulo with the village trustees. The meeting aimed at analyzing the problems that were identified through the problems map posted on the web page of the research and the organization. Village trustees have discussed areas that the amounts allocated from the Rural Aid Program can be spent on. At the meeting the parties have agreed that in the near future they will develop the text and send it to the Ministry of Infrastructure so that the normative act is amended and the threshold of amount is imposed that could be spent for implementation of projects such as the child safety. Source: wdrguria.wordpress.com

Samtskhe-Javakheti. A seminar was held on the Karl Popper debate method in the office of NGO Union of Democrat Meskhetians in Akhaltsikhe. After the seminar the participants have debated in line with the Popper principle. The event was organized as part of the project "Advancing National Integration in Georgia", which is implemented by the United Nations Association of Georgia with financial support of the United States Agency for International Development.

On May 21, In the framework of EWMI G-PAC, Georgian Think Tanks signed an Ethical and Quality Standards Document. The document presents comprehensive standards to guide the work of Georgian think tanks and establishes principles to ensure that the think tanks meet the highest possible professional standards. EWMI G-PAC assisted Georgian think tanks in developing these standards, using similar documents from the US and Central and Eastern Europe as guidelines. 16 Georgian Think Tanks signed the document. Ethical and Quality Standards Document

Tbilisi. On May 21, the Institute for the Development of Freedom of Information has released the expenses borne by the Ministry of Culture and Monument Protection on implemented social and cultural events from January 1 to April 11, 2013 inclusive. For the full text.(geo) Source: the organization's page in the social network.

Tbilisi. On May 21, the Charter of Journalistic Ethics has released the results of May 17 news monitoring. The Charter has observed the following TV companies: – Public Broadcaster, Rustavi 2, Imedi, Maestro, 9th Channel, Kavkasia and Adjara. For the full text.(geo) Source: qartia.org.ge

Tbilisi. The Memorandum of Mutual Cooperation was executed on May 21 between the organization CiDA and the National Probation Agency. The Memorandum aims to rehabilitate and re-socialize the offender minors residing in the KvemoKartli and Samtskhe-Javakheti Regions.

Tbilisi. On May13-18, trainings were delivered to the community volunteer groups in Tsageri, Lentekhi, Oni and Ambrolauri as part of the Disaster Risk Reduction Program of the Georgian Red Cross Society. Trainings were delivered by the employees of the Emergencies Management Department of the Center for Special and Emergency Measures of the Ministry of Interior.Further, volunteer groups were given an opportunity to get familiar on the spot with specifics of the fire-rescue and the emergency situations management works. The evacuation exercises were carried out in the public schools of above-listed towns. Source: the organization's page in the social network.

Tbilisi. On May 21, the Institute for the Development of Freedom of Information has presented the strategy on transition to digital broadcasting. Presented strategy includes all key issues that are necessary for successfully implementing the process of transition to digital broadcasting: technical parameters, broadcasting licensing, state subsidizing policy, competition regulation policy, business model, information campaign, etc. The "Draft strategy on transition to the digital broadcasting of Georgia" was developed with the financial support of "Open Society - Georgia" Foundation. The strategy on transition to digital broadcasting.(geo) Source: media.geSector – media.

Tbilisi. Transparency International - Georgia has released another edition of the weekly audio podcast. Main topics of the May 20 edition of parliamentary news are: second hearing of the Labor Code, May 17 developments. Podcast of parliamentary news - 20 May.(geo) Source: transparency.ge

Tbilisi. The EU Delegation to Georgia has released the statement on developments during the International Day against Homophobia. "The EU Delegation was dismayed by the scenes of brutal intolerance and violence  committed by some demonstrators on 17 May with a declared desire to prevent other  demonstrators from expressing themselves peacefully. The EU considers the freedom of expression of every human being to be of paramount  importance as stated on numerous occasions.. The EU believes in the need to fight discrimination on any grounds, including sexual orientation, and to encourage tolerance as a basis for a democratic and peaceful society”. The EU calls on the government of Georgia to uphold the international and European standards of freedom and equality in dignity and rights to which it has committed itself. For the full text. Source: eeas.europa.eu

Tbilisi. The Civil Coalition for Migration Issues and the Adjara Coordination Group for Eco-Migration have released the joint statement. They focus on the problems of Eco-Migrants and "support the eco-migrant families evicted from the villages of the Tsalka Municipality and assess the state reaction to existing situation as inadequate." They are ready "to provide recommendations to the responsible state agencies and assist in introducing the effective regulations in the field of eco-migration." For the full text.(geo) Source: ecomigration.ge

Tbilisi. "The statement of Georgian citizens on the May 17 events" was released online. The applicants address the President of Georgia, the Prime Minister and the Chairman of the Parliament. The statement is still open for signature. The Statement (geo)

Tbilisi. The Charter of Journalistic Ethics has met with the journalists of information service of TV Company "Imedi". Representatives of the Charter have briefed the journalists about the principles of the Charter's work. TV Company "Imedi" is the third consecutive television within the framework of information campaign that the Charter of Ethics implements. The campaign aims at actively involving the journalists in the Charter's activities. Source: media.ge

Tbilisi. The Institute for the Development of Freedom of Information has released the construction expenses of the freeway and elevated roads on the Heroes' Square. According to the information posted online, 111,864,750 GEL were spent on the construction works. For the full text (geo) Source: opendatablog.wordpress.com

Kvemo Kartli. On May 19, the experimental exams in general skills were delivered for the Azerbaijani school-leavers, organized by the Marneuli Youth Center and supported by the National Exams Center. Exams for the ethnic minorities were conducted in the region for the first time and 200 Azerbaijani school-leavers have participated in them. Source: the organization's page in the social network.

Samegrelo. On May 20, the newly established NGO "Law-Enforcers' Protection League met in Zugdidi with the police officers dismissed after the October 1 parliamentary elections and offered them free of charge attorney services. The NGO working on the law-enforcers' rights was founded by the former high officials of the Ministry of Interior. It is headed by the former Deputy Minister of Interior Levan Gvazava.

Tbilisi. CSO members together with volunteers have organized the welfare event - "Daisies for charity". On May 18, the event participants have sold the daisies gathered in Kojori in the Tbilisi streets and have distributed booklets about the village Anaga day center. The event "Daisies for charity" aimed at assisting the village Anaga day center. 382 GEL were raised during the event. The charity event initiated by the "Civil Initiative" was joined by the representatives of other NGOs and the society. Source: the page of Civil Initiative in the social network.

Adjara. On May18, the branch of the Civil Society Institute and the association "Independent Journalists' House" have organized the performance, by which the Adjara-based CSOs have responded to the May 17 events. NGO and public representatives have read out the articles of the Constitution of Georgia, which emphasize the equality of all humans.

Shida Kartli. The Gori Youth Center functioning with the Gori Club of the Disabled has celebrated the World Remembrance Day of AIDS Victims. Together with 30 volunteers, the Center members have lit candles in the street, by which they have expressed solidarity with persons affected by AIDS and their relatives. Source: the organization's page in the social network.

Tbilisi. On May 18, the Community Development Center (CDC) has organized in the exhibition hall of the Caucasian House the exhibition-sale of items created in the Nukriani and Napareuli workshops - social enterprises. The Nukriani and Napareuli workshops are the social enterprises. Currently up to 15 women work in the workshop. CDC aims to support the strengthening and development of workshops as social enterprises, which is a precondition of activation of the women's community and their greater participation in the rural development. Source: the organization's page in the social network.