Samegrelo. On February 4, the representatives of the Zugdidi Office of Transparency International – Georgia have informed the media about several trends identified in the Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti Region after the elections of the Parliament of Georgia and the analysis of bonuses and salaries paid to the public servants in 2012.The analysis presented by the organization has included the emergency meeting of the Acting Gamgebeli of Zugdidi, at which he demanded from the administration’s employees and heads of the Gamgeoba’s offices to write applications on resignation. The organizations representatives explained that the Gamgeoba employees were instructed not to indicate dates in these applications. They still work in the Gamgeoba and sign the official documents."The trend and statistics of dismissal from public service is the same as in entire country. I believe such topics should be publicly discussed and each fact should be reacted to”, – said the Coordinator of the Zugdidi Office of Transparency International – Georgia Malkhaz Chkadua.

Adjara. On February 4, the Batumi Youth Center has organized a march in the streets of Batumi in relation to the International Day against Cancer. From the May 6 Park to the Press-Cafe the youngsters have handed out specially designed badges. In November 2012, the Batumi Youth Center was founded on the base of the "Independent Journalists’ House”. The event was held as part of the "Advancing National Integration in Georgia” project, which is implemented by the United Nations Association of Georgia with financial support of the US Agency for International Development (USAID).

Tbilisi. Transparency International – Georgia has released another weekly podcast of parliamentary news. Topics of the February 4 edition are the statement of the Georgian Dream” about constitutional amendments, planned speech of the President in the Parliament and other interesting topics taking place during the week.The podcast is led by Levan Natroshvili, Projects Manager at Transparency International – Georgia and Gigi Chikhladze, lawyer. Podcast of parliamentary news: 4 February. Source: transparency.ge

Tbilisi. The Caucasian Institute for Peace, Democracy and Development and the South Caucasus Office of the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung offer the course of lectures on the world religions to youngsters from 18 to 30 years of age. As part of the project "World Religions Club”, the course participants will have an opportunity during five months to get familiar with the main essence and history of the world’s leading religions (Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, etc.), to attend the lectures of leading specialists of respective field and meet with the representatives of this or that religion. The course also includes visits to the Tbilisi-based religious monuments and centers.The lectures will be delivered from February 27 every Wednesday from 4 pm to 6 pm.The course of lectures is free of charge. Youngsters from 18 to 30 years of age can apply. Deadline for filing applications is February 15.See the application form at: www.cipdd.orgSource: cipdd.org

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) launched "Human Rights Funds, Grants and Fellowships – A Practical Guide for Civil Society.” This Practical Guide – the fourth in the series of practical guides for civil society – provides a brief description of funding sources, grants and fellowships administered by or with the participation of OHCHR. The purpose of the Guide is to provide guidance to prospective applicants interested in these funds and programmes to further contribute to the promotion of human rights in their own countries and worldwide. The Practical Guide is available in Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish. Source: un-ngls.org

Tbilisi. 11 NGOs demanded response to the facts of inhumane treatment practiced in the penitentiary system in recent years and released the statement on February 4. "Ineffective investigation into the facts of torture and inhumane treatment was a factor fostering impunity for years. Yet, as the effective investigation is a key point in the fight against torture and inhumane treatment, it must be the priority task of the authorities”, says the statement. NGOs put forth their demands with respect to effective investigation of facts occurring in penitentiary institutions and call on the authorities to undertake efficient steps for rehabilitation of victims. For the full text:  Source: gyla.ge

Tbilisi. Those interested in learning more about the Boll Foundation, can resort to a very simple and fun way offered by the Foundation – travelling in the virtual space, where the interested persons can get familiar with the Foundation’s activities in various countries of the world.Those who haven’t seen it or have seen it but forgot, please visit the Boll world. Source: the organization's page in the social network.

Kakheti. "Advancing National Integration in Georgia – Telavi Center” has delivered the training in advocacy and leadership for the schoolchildren in the Telavi Center for Education, Development and Employment. Theoretic and practical exercises were focused on leadership, team-work and advocacy campaign. Schoolchildren of six Telavi-based schools have participated in the training.Source: the organization's page in the social network.

Tbilisi. The "Institute for the Development of Freedom of Information” continues releasing the data on bonuses issued to the central authorities in 2012. The data released on 1 February include bonuses issued by several public institutions in 2012, including: the Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of Education and Science, the Government’s Administration. In addition, the Institute for the Development of Freedom of Information released information on bonuses issued to the Prime Ministers as well. For the full text. Source:opendatablog.wordpress.com

Tbilisi. CSOs have addressed the Chairman of the Government of the Adjara Autonomous Republic Archil Khabadze with a letter. The letter, which is signed by the three organizations – GYLA, ISFED and Transparency International – Georgia – concerns the legislative amendment adopted by the Supreme Council of Adjara, which regulates the procedure of staffing the Supreme Election Commission (SEC). These organizations have released the appeal on this issue prior to that as well, and they believe that improvement of the election system, including the reform of the SEC, should be a part of an integrated election reform. "We ask you to use the right granted to you by the Constitution of the Adjara Autonomous Republic and to return the submitted draft law for signature with motivated comments back to the Supreme Council”, – says the appeal. For the full text. Source:transparency.ge

Kakheti. NGO "Anti-Violence Network of Georgia” holds public discussions on protection from violence.2-day meeting was held in the Gurjaani office of "Media Center”. Schoolchildren from public schools, teachers and interested persons have attended the event. The project "Assisting Children Victims of Violence” is being implemented in all eight municipalities of Kakheti.According to the Chair of the Kakheti regional committee of "Anti-Violence Network of Georgia” Jilda Kharitonashvili, the organization aims at saving and protecting women from violence: "the organization’s chief activity is to deliver psycho-medical and legal consultations in the Kakheti Region. We organize trainings and discussions for interested persons on the ways of avoiding violence. It’s very important to deliver such discussions as the children’s rights are often violated as at home, as well as at school.”Nutsiko Zardiashvili, schoolchildren: "I received information on violence and how should we behave if we witness such facts. Violence against women and children is prohibited and anyone doing it should be severely punished.”

Adjara. On February 1, the Batumi Civic Engagement Center has organized a public discussion on the socio-economic state of population damaged by the natural calamity. The meeting aimed at increasing the interest and participation of the local government, self-government authorities and the civil society in the solution of problems of the population damaged by the natural calamities. Discussion participants have talked about the development of effective and central state policy in the field of eco-migration, coordination among the state structures and creation of mechanism of distribution of responsibility. Representatives of the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare of Adjara, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the Supreme Council, self-government, CSOs and students have attended the meeting.

Samtskhe-Javakheti.On February 1, the meeting was held at the initiative of the Akhaltsikhe Civic Engagement Center and the association of "Tolerant” on promoting the integration and rehabilitation of former inmates into the society in the Samtskhe-Javakheti Region.The meeting aimed at protecting the rights of former inmates living in the Samtskhe-Javakheti Region, increasing the public trust towards them, and promoting their integration and social rehabilitation into the society. Organizers of the event plan to conduct information campaign on these issues through the media outlets operating in the region and the information literature. The campaign will also cover the responsibility of local self-government authorities towards the former inmates.The meeting was attended by the NGOs and representatives of the self-government, law-enforcement agencies and media.

Samegrelo. The initiative group "IDP Union” which was founded several days ago, has presented to the society the members of the Union on February 1. According to one of the members Londer Tsaava, they have representatives in all regions of Georgia, but due to large numbers of IDPs in Zugdidi, they will have more than usual – 10 employees. Otar Berishvili, IDP from Abkhazia was appointed as the Head of the initiative group in Zugdidi. According to him, objective of the "IDP Union” is to work on the IDP problems and to include them directly in the process of their solution. One of the chief goals of the initiative group "IDP Union” is to promote the Georgian-Abkhazian relations.IDPs from Abkhazia and NGO representatives have attended the meeting of the initiative group.

Kakheti. Under the aegis of the coalition of NGOs protecting the veterans’ rights in Georgia, the assembly-conference was held in Telavi in the conference hall of the "New Life” Foundation.NGOs working on these issues and representatives of mass media and the civil sector were invited to the conference.The meeting aimed to discuss the problems of veterans and family members of killed soldiers and to seek possible ways of their solution.Alika Taliuri, co-founder of the union of veterans’ of war and military forces of the Telavi District: "At the conference we discussed the problems of veterans and family members of killed soldiers. We believe it is important to identify these problems and discuss how to solve them.”

Samtskhe-Javakheti. On February 2, the representatives of the NGO sector, self-government and media have discussed the problems of the region in Akhaltsikhe in the office of the organization "Union of Democrat Meskhetians”, as part of the project "Regional Network for Civic Development”.The "Regional Network for Civic Development” was created on December 21, 2012. Four out of 40 NGOs affiliated in it function in Samtskhe-Javakheti: "Union of Democrat Meskhetians”, association "Tolerant”, "Akhaltsikhe Youth Center” and the "Customers’ Union of Samtskhe-Javakheti”.The project aims to probe into the problems of regions, as well as to unite the local non-governmental and the civil sectors for the effective solution of problems and monitoring of the authorities’ activities.Samtskhe-Javakheti is the tenth region where the similar meeting was held. According to the representative of the Civic Development Agency, the first stage of the project was completed with this meeting in Akhaltsikhe.The project "Regional Network for Civic Development” is implemented by the Civic Development Agency CiDA with the support of the Policy, Advocacy and the Civil Society Development Program of the East-West Management Institute.

Tbilisi.As part of partnership between the "Transparency International – Great Britain” Defense and Security Program (TI-DSP) and national bureaus of "Transparency International”, the results of the Government Defense Anti-Corruption Index for 82 countries was published for the first time on 29 January 2013. According to the information posted on the web page of Transparency International – Georgia, pursuant to the 2013 Defense Anti-Corruption Index, Georgia is placed in Group ‘D’ (high corruption risk), i.e. in the fourth category out of six categories. Placing Georgia in this category was triggered by the results of analysis of its defense policy, management of financial resources and personnel and operational and procurement policies throughout 2012.For the full text.Source: transparency.ge

Tbilisi. NGO "New Generation – New Initiative” has released an open letter concerning the changes to the procedure for staffing the Supreme Election Commission. According to the organization, the Law adopted by the Supreme Council of the Adjara Autonomous Republic on January 29 substantially changes the procedure for staffing the Supreme Election Commission and term of office. "The Law was adopted hastily, without involvement of the election administration and other interested parties including the authoritative local and international observer organizations”, - says the letter. For the full text. Source: the organization's page in the social network.

Tbilisi.The Georgian Association of Social Workers invites the students of the Tbilisi State University specializing in social work to the meeting, at which the practice-related issues and solution of existing problems will be discussed. The meeting will be held on February 4 at 4 pm, in the office of the Georgian Association of Social Workers.Address: 44 Al. Kazbegi Ave. Source: the organization's page in the social network.

Imereti. The Kutaisi Youth Center has organized for its members the screening of the documentary "Sisters”. The film tells the life story of persons under palliative care in the hospice functioning with the Transfiguration Mother’s Monastery. After the film was shown the members of the Youth Center expressed their opinions on the palliate care and importance of hospices.The screening of the film was organized as part of the "Advancing National Integration in Georgia” (ANI) project, which is implemented by the United Nations Association of Georgia (UNAG), with the support of the US Agency for International Development (USAID).Source: the organization's page in the social network.

The human rights organization "Human Rights Watch” has released the 665-page report depicting the existing situation in over 90 countries worldwide, including the current and 2012 situation in Georgia. The report covers the elections held in 2012 and the election environment, as well as human rights. The report provides certain recommendations as well. The Report – World Report 2013 – Georgia. Source: hrw.org

Guria. A mobile library was presented in the conference hall of the Union of Young Teachers. The library includes up to 120 books of the Georgian and foreign writers of the 20th Century. Works of prose and poetry are available.The books are intended for the schoolchildren of 8-11 grades. Each public school of the Ozurgeti Municipality has an opportunity to host the library for a certain period of time, which will enable the schoolchildren to get familiar with newly translated and published books of various authors.A mobile library was created as part of the youth center functioning with the "Union of Young Teachers”. It functions since 2012 within the framework of the "Advancing National Integration in Georgia” Program.