Adjara. On March 27, the "Civil Advisory Council" and the City Hall of the Self-governing City Batumi has organized an open door day in the Batumi Civic Engagement Center, where they have presented the 2014-2017 priorities of the self-governing city Batumi. 5 major priority areas were discussed at the meeting, namely: the city's economic development; construction, rehabilitation and exploitation of the city's infrastructure; education; culture, religion, youth support and sports; public health protection and social protection. This meeting aimed at preparing the information for the Ministry of Finance and Economy of Adjara. In addition, the document will be submitted to the Sakrebulo of the self-governing city Batumi.

Tbilisi. The Media Development Fund (MDF) and the ALPE Foundation call on the TV-company "Rustavi 2" to observe professional standards. The organizations have released a statement on this subject on March 27. The statement says that "Rustavi 2" has violated the standards of journalistic ethics and behavior, as well as the Broadcaster's Code of Behavior. The organizations became concerned about the story aired in the 3pm, 6pm and 9pm news programs of "Currier" on March 26, concerning the lady killed because of jealousy by her spouse on March 20. The Media Development Fund and ALPE Foundation call on the TV-company to respect a person's reputation, refrain from making assessments based on rumors and emotional background, and to observe the Broadcaster's Code of Behavior and professional standards. Source: media.ge

Tbilisi. The "Coalition for Independent Life" has organized three trainings for the CSOs of persons with disabilities on March 14-20 aimed at enhancing the disability organizations. The training covered project drafting, fund raising, as well as monitoring of rights of persons with disabilities and the advocacy of their rights. Source: disability.ge

Tbilisi. The G-PAC Program of the East-West Management Institute and the Ilia State University, in partnership with the Columbia University, have organized a conference, at which the Georgian officials, representatives of the academy and the civil society and the American experts have discussed the challenges of the Georgian public policy, including the problems in the healthcare, agriculture, education and the corrections sectors. The Director of the USAID Georgian Mission has focused on the importance of cooperation between the sectors and noted that such interconnection is a precondition of development of the public policy and democracy. Source: ewmi-gpac.org

Tbilisi. The Civil Society Institute has held a round table on "Improvement of legal regulation of volunteering in Georgia". As part of the event, the draft Law on Volunteering developed by the Civil Society Institute was presented. The draft Law was developed based on the information and initiatives provided by local partners, as well as international experience. It aims to regulate all legal problems that CSOs face when hosting the volunteers in Georgia. Discussion was held at the meeting attended by the representatives of Georgia-based NGOs, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Ministry of Justice, during which the participants have discussed a legislative bill and expressed their views. In addition, the tax obstacles that prevent the development of volunteering in Georgia were discussed. At the end of the meeting the participants have expressed readiness to undertake following steps and cooperate with the Civil Society Institute.The project is organized as part of the Policy, Advocacy and Civil Society Development in Georgia program (G-PAC), which is implemented by the East-West Management Institute (EWMI).

Tbilisi.The Institute for the Development of Freedom of Information has released the information obtained from the National Security Council. Documents include information on the budget balance, bonuses issued since 1 January 2012, vehicle fleet expenses, funded events, staff list and salaries, employees dismissed at their own will and by the management, and the 10 December reports. For the full text. Source: opendata.ge

Tbilisi.Transparency International – Georgia has released a statement on the order of the Minister of Finance. The organization believes that the Order N30 of the Minister puts the "Georgian Post" in a favorable position. Transparency International – Georgia explains the meaning of the Order of the Minister of Finance and the problems that the new norms contain, as well as the favorable position of the "Georgian Post". The statement includes the organization's recommendations towards the Government. For the full text. Source:transparency.ge

The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media DunjaMijatovic has positively evaluated hte amendments to the Law on Broadcasting. Yet, she offers certain recommendations to the Georgian side and refers to vague provisions as well.DunjaMijatovic has submitted the OSCE analysis to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia on March 25. The document provides legal analysis and focuses on the necessity of securing proper work of the Public Broadcaster during the transition period. For the full text. Source: media.ge

Tbilisi. As part of the "Learning Climbing" program of the Ministry of Sports and Youth of Georgia, the Climbers Association of Georgia plans to launch a new project aimed at teaching climbing to persons with various disabilities. Persons with visual impairments will be actively involved in the project.Source: page of the organization "Let's Make Friends with the Blind" in the social network.

Tbilisi. ISFED has examined the staff changes taking place in local self-governments in the aftermath of the parliamentary elections. "Pursuant to the obtained public information that the organization has requested from all municipalities of Georgia, 1790 employees were dismissed from 1 October 2012 until 28 February 2013. Staff changes have affected 54 Gamgeobas and 25 Sakrebulos out of 69 municipalities", – says the information released by the organization.For the full text –Source: the organization's page in the social network.

Tbilisi. The Georgian Democratic Initiative has released a statement on the conclusion of the Venice Commission. "Having taken into account the contribution of the Venice Commission that this authoritative body makes for number of years in improvement of the Georgian legislation, the "Georgian Democratic Initiative" considers that in the decision-making process the Parliament of Georgia should definitely take into consideration the important comments and recommendations provided in the conclusion in order to promote the compliance of the planned reform of the Georgian judicial system with the democratic standards and strengthen the legitimacy of this initiative", says the statement. For the full text. Source: gdi.ge

Guria.On March 21, a mobile library was presented as part of the Ozurgeti Youth Center in the Public School #4 of the Ozurgeti Municipality. Coordinator of the Center, members of the Youth Center, the School Director, teachers and schoolchildren have participated in the presentation. Youngsters have informed the audience about their impressions from the library-held books. The library will stay in the Public School #4 until April 11.Source: the organization's page in the social network.

Tbilisi. On March 23, the Alliance of Unions of Schoolchildren of Georgia, together with the Academician Ilia Vekua Physics-Mathematics Public School #42 and with educational support of the UNITED for Intercultural Action, has organized an information meeting on the hate speech. Schoolchildren from 40 schools have participated in the meeting. Schoolchildren have elaborated the action plan and activities that the Alliance of Unions of Schoolchildren of Georgia will implement in 2013-2014.Source: the organization's page in the social network.

Kakheti. The Minister of Environment KhatunaGogaladze has met with the Kakheti-based NGO representatives in the Telavi Civic Engagement Center.At the meeting the Minister has informed the audience about novelties planned within the Ministry.NGO representatives have briefed the Minister in detail about the current environmental protection problems in the Kakheti Region.

Tbilisi. The Caucasian Institute for Peace, Democracy and Development has released the results of competition held for the "support of the civil society and free media". The organization's web page indicates that total of 88 projects were submitted, out of which 12 organizations have received funding based on the decision of an independent competition commission.Second stage of the competition will be announced since 1st of April.We would like to remind users that the Institute has organized the competition as part of the project for "Promotion of the Civil Sector and Free Media Development". This project was developed based on the decision ofPresident MikheilSaakashvili, funds for which were allocated from the President's reserve fund. Results of the competition.

Adjara. On March 21, the Batumi Civic Engagement Center has organized the discussion on the "Liberalization of the Criminal Code". Meeting participants have discussed the key objective and areas of the Georgian criminal justice reform, as well as its compliance with the liberal criminal policies. Chairman of the Batumi City Court Davit Mamiseishvili, Deputy Prosecutor of Adjara Irakli Imerlishvili, Chairman of the Adjara Branch of the Georgian Young Lawyers' Association GiaKartsivadze and the lecturer of the Batumi University Maia Katamadze have participated in the discussion. Representatives of the civil society and media have attended the discussion as well.

Tbilisi.The International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy and the Georgian Young Lawyers' Association have presented the monitoring report of staffing of the election administration. During the period of 2012 parliamentary elections, the organizations have monitored the staffing of district election commissions, observance of the Code of Ethics by the servants of election administration, and the imposition of relevant responsibility on the servants in cases of breach of legislation as part of the joint project. The project aimed at developing recommendations for the election administration to introduce a better practice of staffing of the election commissions and build trust towards them. For the full text. Source: the organization's page in the social network.

Tbilisi. The web portal of CSOs offers to users the subscription to on-line newsletter. Those interested in the information on grant competitions, vacancies or education programs, have an opportunity to subscribe to an online newsletter, which they will receive every Thursday by e-mail, or to get familiar with information on the portal or respective page in the social network on an everyday basis. 

Tbilisi. On March 22, the UN Development Program has presented the study on "Social and Economic Vulnerability in Georgia". The study aimed at analyzing the scales, structure and factors of economic and social vulnerability. The study was carried out in 4 target groups: IDPs, persons with disabilities, high mountainous population and the poor families.International and local NGOs and representatives of the authorities have attended the meeting.

Tbilisi. The Institute for the Development of Freedom of Information has published the article: "Has the income of ministers in Georgia decreased or increased?""Based on the Order N53 of the Prime Minister of Georgia it could be said that from now on the monthly gross salary of a minister in Georgia is set at 7,875 GEL (3,540 GEL salary and 4,335 GEL bonus). Accordingly, without bonuses, an annual income of a member of the Government of Georgia (minister) equals 94,500 GEL (75,600 GEL net), while the salary fund for 19 ministers is 1,795,500 GEL" – says the organization's page. For the full text. Source: idfi.ge

Imereti. On March 21, the Kutaisi Youth Center has celebrated the World Down Syndrome Day with an information campaign. Sepcially for this day the Youth Center has prepared the video and brochures and organized a march in the city's central districts. The event aimed to express solidarity to the persons affected by the Down Syndrome and to inform the general public. Source: the organization's page in the social network.

Tbilisi. The Young Financiers' and Businessmen's Association – "AFBA" criticizes the legislative amendments related to organization of gambling and lottery games. "We, the young financiers support the position of the "Gambling Business Association" and believe that full prohibition of advertising of gambling business is unacceptable. Strict limitation of the gambling business will result in its transition in illegal form, which will aggravate the existing reality further", – says the organization's page.Source: the organization's page in the social network.