Tbilisi. Transparency International - Georgia has released a statement concerning the revocation of authorization of the Agrarian University of Georgia."There is a suspicion that the decision may be linked to the involvement of representatives of former authorities in the management of the University, which is rather alarming. Such hindrance of the education process and creation of obstacles for growing education institution will damage the education system of Georgia and create the threat of political influence on the higher education institutions", says the statement. Transparency International - Georgia calls on the Ministry of Education and the National Center for the Education Quality Enhancement to ensure maximum transparency of the process so that their decisions are not comprehended as politically-driven by the University staff, students and the broad public. For the full text. Source: transparency.ge

Samegrelo. At the initiative of the Zugdidi Civic Engagement Center and the Zugdidi Office of the Civil Society Institute, on March 12 the Acting Gamgebeli of the Zugdidi Municipality has presented the first activity report following the change of authorities through elections. The Acting Gamgebeli and his deputies have talked about the local 2013 budget priorities, works foreseen under the rural aid program, infrastructural projects to be implemented, and the agricultural development and social assistance programs.

Tbilisi. The presentation of tools assisting the persons with disabilities was organized in the wheelchair manufacturing enterprise of the Coalition for Independent Life. The production manufactured as part of the US Government funded project "Wheelchair Production Network of Georgia" was presented, such as the new light electrical wheelchair and the means of sitting correction for the wheelchair users.Source: the organization's page in the social network.

Tbilisi. The human rights organization "Reporters Without Borders" calls on the Government of Georgia to undertake necessary reforms for securing the independence of radio and television of the public broadcaster."Politically-motivated dismissal of officials of the Public Broadcaster in recent weeks indicates the necessity to depoliticize the appointment of management of the Broadcaster, so that they ensure the independence of radio and television that they run", says the "Reporters Without Borders". Source: media.ge

Tbilisi. The Institute for the Development of Freedom of Information has released public information on the Emergency Response Center. The documents contain detailed information on the bonuses, budget fulfillment report, reports on issuing of public information, dismissed employees, the staff list, vehicle fleet expenses and the funded events. For the full text. Source: the organization's page in the social network.

Adjara. On March 11, the youth organization "Art Way” has held another event in the Batumi Branch of the Union of the Blind. This time the members of the Union of the Blind have listened to the play of Otar Katamadze the "Valley Story”. This activity aimed at integrating the blind into the society through art. The play was read as part of the project "Re-Animation”, which is financially supported by the "East-West Management Institute” (EWMI G-PAC).

Samtskhe-Javakheti. On March 11, representatives of the "Children and Youth Development Foundation” have met with NGO representatives in the Akhaltsikhe Civic Engagement Center. The meeting aimed at presenting the grant competition and the program priorities. "Our objective is to provide necessary information to the youngsters of the region, so that they acknowledge their importance in the process of formation of the civil society and be active in this respect. They can receive funding in the project that they themselves consider necessary”, - said the Director of the Foundation Irakli Zhorzholiani. – Our Foundation is the only Foundation in the Georgian reality, which issues funds to the youth organizations.”Similar meetings are held Georgia-wide in various municipalities.

Tbilisi. The Institute for the Development of Freedom of Information has released various pieces of information received from the Agency of Protected Areas of Georgia, including the detailed information on the bonuses, budget fulfillment reports, reports on issuing of public information, dismissed employees, the staff list and the vehicle fleet expenses. For the full text. Source: the organization’s page in the social network.

Tbilisi. On March 11, the new NGO – "Law-Enforcers’ Protection League” was presented, which unites former representatives of the law-enforcement structures. The organizations aims to protect human rights, establish justice and fairness and safeguard the reputation of the power structures.Source: the organization’s page in the social network.

Kakheti."Open Society – Georgia” Foundation has delivered the training and workshop on March 5-7 for NGOs in the social media issues. The organizations got familiar with the modern technical tools of social media and various means of their analysis as theoretically as well as in practice. The training was led by the expert Tamar Gurchiani. Special focus was made on the Google tools, which is one of the best social networking systems for working in NGOs.Source: the organization’s page in the social network.

Tbilisi. The "Caucasus Research Resources Center” (CRRC) has released the study "Caucasus Barometer 2012”. The study was conducted in November-December 2012 and approximately 2,500 respondents were interviewed Georgia-wide. The study concerns the population’s attitude towards media and television journalists, use and purpose of Internet, citizens’ trust towards religious institutes and the political parties. In addition, the questioning was carried out in Azerbaijan and Armenia also. Source: media.ge

Tbilisi. The Coalition for Independent Life has released a statement on the President’s decree. The Coalition welcomes the announcement by the President of 2013 as the year for protection of rights of persons with disabilities."Obviously, we do not have an illusion that this initiative will resolve all disability-related problems, but through our efforts it should definitely have a positive impact on the processes. This requires the civil sector to be more active so that public awareness is raised and the interests and needs of persons with disabilities are taken into maximum account at all levels in the decision-making processes”, says the statement.Source: disability.ge

Tbilisi. The Georgian Young Lawyers' Association, "Transparency International - Georgia" and "Georgian Lawyers for Independent Profession" have released a statement on the judicial reform. The organizations welcome the opinions of the Venice Commission on the draft law developed by the Ministry of Justice, which aims to reform the judicial system in Georgia. "We believe that in light of positions of the Venice Commission and the local NGO sector, there should be a resource for adopting this important draft law through maximum approximation and consensus of positions of the judicial authorities, the government, and parliamentary majority and minority, and not through the regime of harsh confrontation. It is to be hailed that there are certain positive tendencies in this respect and we on our part express readiness to support this process to the extent possible", says the statement. For the full text. Source: the organization's page in the social network.

Tbilisi. The conference on "Transitional period justice in Georgia" was held on March 9 with the support of the "Open Society - Georgia" Foundation, attended by the members of the Parliament and Government of Georgia and representatives of diplomatic corps, international and local organizations.The honorary president of the Open Society Foundations, the founder of Human Rights Watch and numerous influential international human rights organizations, AryehNeier and the former CoE Commissioner for Human Rights and currently the EU Special Adviser in Legal and Constitutional Affairs, Thomas Hammarberg have appeared as guests of the conference.During the conference, issues related to transitional justice, challenges of Georgia and international experience were discussed. For the full text. Source: www.osgf.ge

Tbilisi.The South Caucasus Regional Bureau of Heinrich Boll Foundation has released the web-dossier, which describes a different picture of the situation and trends in the South Caucasus countries - the state of LGBT persons. The research of journalist Silvia Shtober demonstrates that following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, all three countries have underwent various difficult stages of development against the background of political, cultural or religious events. As the examples brought in the research illustrate, the sexual minorities living in the former Soviet Union republics encounter number of difficulties until now. In English. In Georgian.

Tbilisi. An independent group of feminists has organized a peaceful rally-march on March 8 from the Pushkin Square to the Philharmonic building. Slogan of the rally was "Join us if you fight for genuine equality". Up to 100 participants of the rally have supported the women's labor rights and their emancipation in the society. Source: ginsc.net

Adjara. On March 9, the LEPL Children and Youth Development Fund has informed the NGOs operating in the Adjara Region about the Foundation's activities in the Batumi Civic Engagement Center. In addition, focus at the meeting was made on the novelties of the first grant competition of 2013 and the program priorities.

Tbilisi. The Institute for the Development of Freedom of Information has released various pieces of public information obtained from the Parliament of Georgia. Web page of the Institute hosts detailed information on the apartment rent fees in Kutaisi, bonuses, business trip and vehicle fleet expenses, state procurements and tenders.Chairman of the Parliament has responded to the information released by the Institute for the Development of Freedom of Information by a statement. Davit Usupashvili welcomed the interest of NGOs in the expediency and legality of spending of budgetary funds by the state institutions. Information of the Institute for the Development of Freedom of Information in full. Response of the Chairman of the Parliament. Sources: a page of the Institute for the Development of Freedom of Information in the social network / web page of the Parliament of Georgia.

Tbilisi. The Coalition "For Independent and Transparent Justice" has echoed the meeting between the Prime Minister of Georgia and the Chairman of the Supreme Court of Georgia KoteKublashvili. "We find this meeting to be positive and think this is a step forward towards the formation of an independent and effective justice system in Georgia", says the statement. The Coalition believes that the judicial system reforms should not be unveiling in the conflicting environment and without the participation of interested parties, as the utmost interest of the public is to form the very impartial and effective court system. For the full text. Source: transparency.ge

Adjara. On March9, the youth organization "Art Way" has held another event as part of the project "Re-Animation" in the Batumi Haven for Hope. The actors of the Batumi Drama Theatre have read the play of Otar Katamadze "The Valley Story" for the persons with disabilities, which tells the details of a young couple's life. The event aimed at involving the persons with disabilities living in the Haven for Hope in the cultural processes and integrating them into the society through art.

Kakheti. The Civil Society Institute has presented in the Telavi Civic Engagement Center the web portal of CSOs - www.csogeorgia.org.The event aimed at informing the Kakheti-based CSOs, media, students and interested persons about the resources and opportunities that the portal integrates.CSO and media representatives and students have attended the meeting in Telavi. Next week the Civil Society Institute launches presentations in western Georgia.CSO portal was created through partnership of the Civil Society Institute and the "Open Society - Georgia" Foundation, as well as with the support of the EED Foundation and the EU.Sector – civil society.

Kakheti. The "Georgian Children's and Youth Development Fund" has held a workshop in the Telavi Civic Engagement Center with the NGOs. The first grant competition of 2013 and the program priorities were presented at the meeting. Organizations were fully briefed about the stages of competition, rules for drawing up grant proposals and all other additional procedures that will assist them in participation in the Fund's current grant competition.