Batumi. On February 14, as part of the project "Improving the Enabling Environment of CSOs in Georgia”, the Civil Society Institute has organized a meeting in the Batumi Civic Engagement Center with the charity organizations. Main objective of this meeting was to discuss the legal issues related to the activities of charity organizations and identify the legislative gaps hindering the welfare activities.Representatives of welfare organizations and local media operating in Western Georgia have attended the meeting. Civil Society Institute has presented to the attending audience the results of analysis of the Tax Code, gaps of the law and the ways of solution. Presented study has triggered vast interest among the meeting participants who were actively involved throughout the meeting. Discussion was held after the presentation of the document, which enabled the representatives of welfare organizations to emphasize specific problems of interest to them, as well as to ask questions and receive qualified answers on various legal aspects.The project is implemented as part of the "Policy, Advocacy and Civil Society Development in Georgia” (G-PAC) Program of the East-West Management Institute (EWMI), funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

Tbilisi.Germane Salia will head the Regional Broadcasters’ Association of Georgia. Head of the Poti-based TV-company "9th Channel” was elected to the post for one year. Along with the Chairman, the association has elected at the annual assembly the new members of the Board and the new composition of the Revision Commission. The Regional Broadcasters’ Association of Georgia unites 22 regional televisions. Source: media.ge

Tbilisi.On February 13, NGOs have released the statement on securing the continued European and Euro-Atlantic political course of Georgia. "For the country’s safe development there is no alternative to the democratic course of Georgia, integration in the European and Euro-Atlantic institutions, restoration of the country’s territorial integrity, exit of the Russian occupation army from Georgia and the dignified and safe return of the IDPs”, – says the statement.Signatory organizations urge the members of the parliamentary majority and minority to use all legislative instruments at their disposal and to uphold the continued foreign political course of Georgia through all possible forms (inter-faction agreement, Law on the Foreign Policy and amendment to the Constitution of Georgia). The Statement. Source: tcpa.ge

Tbilisi.The Charter of Journalistic Ethics has held the discussion on February 13 on "Does media foster the formation of stereotype attitudes towards sexual minorities?” Discussion participants have examined the cases of homophobic attitude displayed by the media and referred for example to the material disseminated by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, which was aired by all television companies. "A broadcaster may say that it has these shots, but does not intend to air them. Its competitor will no longer be tempted to air them as well. After this the population will be able to choose which channel to watch. Media is developed by precedents. We have to act by creating the very precedents”, noted the Board member of the Charter of Journalistic Ethics Zviad Koridze. Source: media.ge

Tbilisi. The Institute for the Development of Freedom of Information has released the public information received from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, including the number of bonuses issued to the officials and employees of the agency in 2012. The Institute has published other information on the Ministry as well, including the list of vehicles purchased in 2012, the list and budget of social and cultural events carried out in 2012, and the December 10 reports of regional units and departments. For the full text. Source: the organization’s page in the social network.

Guria. At the initiative of the Civil Society Institute and the Georgia Office of Oxfam UK, the examination of the draft law on Agricultural Co-Operatives was held on February 13 in the Ozurgeti Civic Engagement Center. Members of co-operatives functioning in Guria and Imereti and of farmers’ associations, independent farmers and representatives of local authorities have attended the meeting.The experts of the EU, UNDP, Oxfam, association "Elkana” and the Civil Society Institute working on the draft law have presented the legislative bill on Agricultural Co-Operatives. This bill was also discussed in the Ministry of Agriculture, where the Ministry has expressed readiness to work on the submitted draft Law and the working group was set up. Examination of the draft Law of Georgia on Agricultural Co-Operatives has triggered huge interest among the gathered audience.Live discussion between the working group that authored the draft Law and the farmers lasted over two hours.

Samtskhe-Javakheti. Trainings were held for the employees of kindergartens in Akhaltsikhe on February 14. Topic of the trainings is how should the employees of pre-school education institutions behave during the natural calamities.Trainings are delivered to the managers and teachers of all kindergartens of the Akhaltsikhe Municipality. The personnel are learning the rules of behavior during the natural calamities.The trainings are delivered as part of the project funded by the EU Humanitarian Mission "Catastrophe Risk Reduction Inclusive Program in the Samtskhe-Javakheti Region”. The project is implemented in two regions of Georgia – Adjara and Samtskhe-Javakheti. Trainings have already been delivered in the remaining municipalities of Samtskhe-Javakheti. Various visual materials were developed within the project framework, which were gifted to the kindergartens.

Tbilisi. The Board of the Charter of Journalistic Ethics will hold meetings in the cities of Georgia with the local society representatives, NGOs and journalists. The Board members will talk about the challenges of the Charter and its action plans. The first field visit is planned in on February 18 in the three towns of Kakheti: Telavi, Gurjaani and Sagarejo.Meeting participants will also discuss the decision adopted by the Board on February 7, pursuant to which the Board will prepare and publish its opinions on special materials at its own initiative. "Our objective is to introduce professional standards and raise trust towards media, and therefore we believe that the resonance articles, TV and radio stories should not be left beyond the attention of its Charter and the Board”, said the Board member of the Charter of Journalistic Ethics Zviad Koridze. Source: media.ge

Samtskhe-Javakheti. On February 14, the youth group of the NGO Union of Democrat Meskhetians has organized the event in the Akhaltsikhe Central Park dedicated to the St. Valentine’s Day.Youngsters have gathered in the city’s central park since morning. They have decorated the city’s central park with the colorful hearts and air balloons, put up the posters on the walls and made inscriptions dedicated to love. They have presented similar accessories to the park visitors as well.

Shida Kartli. On February 13, the youth center functioning with the Gori Club of Persons with Disabilities and the youngsters with disabilities have organized the event and planted the new saplings in the yard of the Club of Persons with Disabilities.Working with the ground is a type of therapy for the children with disabilities and they took an obligation to take care of saplings planted in their yard on their own.The project is implemented as part of the "Advancing National Integration in Georgia” (ANI) project, which is implemented by the Gori Club of Persons with Disabilities and the United Nations Association of Georgia (UNAG), with the support of the US Agency for International Development (USAID).

Samtskhe-Javakheti. As part of the Civic Education and Teacher Training Program, the internal school discussion was held in the public school of village Didi Smadi of the Adigeni Municipality on the "Georgian Folklore or Contemporary Music”.Prior to the start of the discussion the schoolchildren were informed about the key principles of conducting the debates and participation in them, which the youngsters have used during the discussions. The older school pupils have participated in the debates, who expressed their opinions on the folklore and contemporary music. In addition, they discussed the extent of copyright protection of the Georgian songs and finally have summarized the discussion results.

Shida Kartli. On February 14, the Gori Office of the Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association has hosted the examination of the draft Organic Law – the Labor Code of Georgia developed by the Ministry of Justice.The draft is elaborated by the Ministry of Justice and is already sent to the Parliament, but the committee sittings have not started yet.The meeting aimed at getting familiar with the public opinion on this draft, as GYLA intends to develop certain recommendations and submit them to the Parliament.Representatives of local and international CSOs have attended the meeting.Examination was carried out by using the comparative method of already existing Code and the newly elaborated draft. Discussion was held over the amendments and the list of amendments that have to be made in the opinion of attending audience was drawn up.

Tbilisi. The Institute for the Development of Freedom of Information has released the study on the online communication strategy of state institutions. To evaluate the public relations strategy of state institutions, use of online resources and the level of communication, IDFI has prepared the study based on the analysis of public information obtained from the state institutions. "State institutions do not pay due attention to the communication tools available on the web pages, and in most of the cases the incoming letters through e-mail or the integrated writing function of web site are not registered. Often state agencies are not even interested in the number of their web site users. A majority of public institutions has not developed the strategic public relations plan”, – says the organization’s web page. The Study. Source: idfi.ge

Samegrelo. As part of the Civic Education and Teacher Training Program, the association "Atinati” has hosted the screening of the video "Safe Internet is the Ark of Useful Information”. The club members have recorded interviews with the celebrities in Zugdidi, in which they discuss the safety of the Internet. Discussion over the safety of Internet has followed after the showing of the video.The discussion and the video aimed to popularize safe Internet among the public and to disseminate information on the duties and responsibilities of Internet users. Source: civics.ge Video – Safe Internet – an ark of useful information.

Tbilisi. The organization "Radarami” sticks to the tradition and by the end of February plans to publish and present the book "Switch: How to Change Things When Change is Hard”. The book of Chip and Dan Heath will be presented at the end of February in Zugdidi. The book is dedicated to the anatomy of changes and will. The extract:"Do not believe if someone tells you that change was not possible because people are lazy and against the changes. To the contrary, often the cause of failure is a totally opposite thing: implementing changes is difficult because throughout this process people get so tired that they simply do not have enough energy left to bring the launched affairs to the end...”. Source: the organization's page in the social network.

Tbilisi. With support of the "Open Society – Georgia” Foundation, the organization "Union of Patients with B and C Hepatitis” implements the project since 2011 "Let’s Live without Pain”. The campaign aims to create the environment where all citizens will have access to the effective and modern means of alleviating the pain.Street rallies were held on February 1 as part of the project, which aimed at popularizing the project among the population and letting the society know about their right – to live without the pain. Rallies were held simultaneously in several locations in Tbilisi and the students of higher education institutions have participated.Source: osgf.ge

Shida Kartli. Center "Abkhazeti” has delivered a training in the Gori Office to the potential beneficiaries of the project "Income Generation and Business Support Initiative”. Training participants received information on issues such as the foundations of marketing and business, drawing up the business plan, effective management of loans, etc. At the end of the training the participants have processed business ideas proposed by them and developed business plans, based on which loans will be issued to them.Source: the organization's page in the social network.

Tbilisi. The civil online broadcasting "Stream” is carrying out the broadcast as part of the project funded by IREX G-MEDIA. It provides an opportunity to interested NGOs and persons to use new possibilities for searching, obtaining and disseminating the information."Stream” offers to NGOs live air through on-line TV broadcasting to unrestrictedly cover their activities, which supports the spread of their activities and promotes the introduction of new information-communication technologies. Source: livestream.com/nakadi

Tbilisi. Transparency International – Georgia released the overview of planned amendments to the Labor Code. The organization welcomes the initiative of the Ministry of Justice and believes that the adoption of amendments and supplements will substantially improve the rights of the employees. However, Transparency International – Georgia considers that there are several significant issues requiring improvement.In order for the society to be fully informed on the changes to the labor legislation, the organization publishes the detailed overview. Overview – planned amendments to the Labor Code. Source: transparency.ge

Adjara. On January 13, the "Democracy Institute” has presented in the Batumi Civic Engagement Center the primary monitoring results of the protection system of rights of the service users. The campaigning project for protection of the rights of service users was launched last November and along with the protection of users’ rights, it aims to improve the provision of services.To collect information on the provision of services available in the Adjara Region, official letters were sent to the service-provider companies to become aware of the practice of protection of the users’ rights. Yet, several companies have failed to provide information on this issue.Practice within the companies was discussed at the meeting-discussion, as well as the results of interviews conducted on the provision of services by the organizations. Working groups were set up at the meeting, which will work on the recommendations and legislative amendments in respect of these issues.

Tbilisi.The Institute for the Development of Freedom of Information has released various types of public information obtained from the Ministry of Defense. The documents concern bonuses issued within the Ministry of Defense, the list and budget of events of the Ministry, amounts spent on the official and business visits of the Minister, biography data of officials, employees appointed in the Ministry after October 20 and the vehicle fleet. For the full text. Source: the organization's page in the social network.

Samegrelo. On February 13, the Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure of Georgia Tengiz Shergelashvili has met with the municipality Gamgebelis and international and non-governmental organizations in the Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti Regional Administration. Representatives of the UN Development Program, who are actively involved in drafting the development plan for the Region, have attended the meeting. Mr. Shergelashvili has talked about the regional development strategy and the criteria for selecting to-be-funded projects. He prioritized projects involving the supply of drinking water, construction of roads, and the shore-strengthening works. Deputy Minister has called on the representatives of international and local NGOs to broader involvement in the implementation of regional projects.