Shida Kartli. On March 31, 2022, an information meeting was held at Shida Kartli Regional Hub with the representatives of the Public Defender of Shida Kartli Office. Ana Janiashvili, the main specialist spoke about the mandate of the Public Defender of Georgia. Tamar Tskhovrebadze, Representative of the Public Defender's Office on Gender Issues, made a presentation on Early Marriage. The training was held in the framework of the project “Civil Society STAR Initiative: CSOs as Sustainable, Transparent, Accountable and Resilient Development Actors in Georgia“ (2021-2025). The project is funded by the European Union (EU) and Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS). The works of Shida Kartli Regional Hub are run by Society Biliki. Read more… Source: The organization’s page on the social network

Tbilisi. On April 1-3, IDFI conducted a two-day training on effective oversight and data extraction methods. The training was attended by journalists and civil activists from different regions of Georgia - a total of 16 participants. “Theoretical and practical training included tips and recommendations – detection of public procurement fraud, budget spending and oversight, extraction of knowledge from open government data, and more. Furthermore, participants had the opportunity to obtain comprehensive information on vital issues in the context of the transparency of Beneficial ownership, as well as familiarize themselves with international platforms for investigative/data journalists and watchdogs”. Learn more… Source: idfi.ge

Tbilisi. On April 4, 2022, the European Parliament published a critical report on Georgia's implementation of the Association Agreement. “Alongside serious setbacks by the Georgian authorities in respecting basic democratic principles and adhering to political commitments over the past two years, the report pays particular attention to the failed justice reform and its implications for Georgia's accession to the European Union. The report, among other challenges, focuses on the strengthening of power over the judiciary and law enforcement agencies by the ruling political force. Recent developments in the report are described as a complete “deterioration with respect to the rule of law””. Read more… Source: socialjustice.org.ge

The web portal CsoGeorgia.org releases a weekly newsletter of grants competition, contests, vacancies, fellowships, and tenders for civil society organizations, and for any interested person. Newsletter...

Samegrelo. According to the information of TI Georgia, Dagi LLC, a company of Dato Adamia, a former member of the Senaki City Council from the Georgian Dream, currently participates in public procurements with changed registration data. “Since June 2021, Dagi has had a new name – Menati – and during this period it has obtained contracts with a total value of GEL 1,389,507 through the procurements of the Senaki Municipality, including a contract worth GEL 416,614 that Menati obtained in March 2022, when it won a tender announced by the Senaki City Hall. TI Georgia calls on the Anti-Corruption Agency of the State Security Service to study each of the procurements of Menati LLC and Dagi LLC (until June 2021) and to establish whether or not they contain possible signs of corruption”. Read more… Source: transparency.ge

Adjara. The Supreme Council of the Ajara Autonomous Republic launched a new online platform for citizen engagement. The platform provides various digital services, including submitting a petition to the Council, commenting on draft laws, scheduling an appointment with a Council member and requesting a pass to attend the Council sessions. Fully adapted to the needs of people with disabilities, the platform is the most inclusive web resource of all public websites in Georgia. The digital platform has been created as part of the open governance agenda pursued by the Supreme Council of the Ajara Autonomous Republic. Its development was supported by the European Union in Georgia and UNDP Georgia in partnership with the Institute for Development of Freedom of Information. Read more… Source: The organization’s page on the social network

Kvemo Kartli. On 11 March the Civic Integration Foundation held an Training with local youth in Bolnisi on the topic of in Bolnisi on the topic of Leadership and Teamwork. The meetings was carried out within the framework of the EU and Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS) funded project "Civil Society STAR Initiative. Read more… Source: The organization’s page on the social network

Tbilisi. The initiative of the PMMG implying the delivery of assistance to the forcibly displaced people from Ukraine to find jobs in Georgia has received feedbacks from the interested parties, first of all from employers. According to the information provided to the organization, the following professionals are among those seeking employment opportunities in Georgia. PMMG addresses the representatives of private as well as civil society sectors in Georgia to express the will to employ qualified personnel from Ukraine in the following positions: graphic designer, illustrator, financial and social media manager, driver, agriculture specialist and economist. In case of interest, please refer to the following contact: e-mail: 4ukraine@pmmg.org.ge / phone: 296 21 25. Read more... Source: The organization's page on the social network

Imereti. According to the information of the Human Rights Center, on April 5, Kutaisi City Court terminated administrative proceedings against civil activist Giorgi Loladze because of the lack of administrative offense. On March 27, 2022, Giorgi Loladze participated in a protest rally in Kutaisi protesting the increase in petrol prices. Loladze was one of the organizers of the rally. Read more... Source: www.humanrights.ge

Shida Kartli. Ambassador Degnan visited the Gori American Shelf, where she engaged with students, teachers, and local officials to discuss the role of education and culture in the development of Gori’s citizens and youth. The U.S. Mission to Georgia is proud to support 15 American Spaces throughout Georgia. Read more… Source: The U.S. Embassy’s page on the social network

Tbilisi. As it is known to the public, GYLA represents and protects the victims' rights of the violent events of July 5-6, 2021. At this stage, organization is involved in the case of 19 people. “On April 4, Tbilisi City Court announced sentences in the case of Lekso Lashkarava, Miranda Baghaturia, Vakhtang Kareli, Ilia Tvaliashvili, Rati Tsverava, and Dea Mamiseishvili. To thoroughly examine the matter, GYLA's lawyers apply to the Tbilisi City Court with a request to hand over a reasoned/substantiated sentence following the law”. Read more… Source: gyla.ge

Adjara. At the invitation of IDFI, and the Diocese of Batumi and Lazeti, specialists from the Wroclaw Medical University began a thorough anthropological study of the remains found in the mass grave of the victims of the Great Terror of 1937-1938 in Khelvachauri near Batumi. Read more… Source: idfi.ge

Tbilisi. A new e-book "Women in Medicine" by Ana Bakanidze aspires to compile Georgian printed periodical publications of the second half of the XIX century and to collect archival materials on women's contribution to the healthcare affairs. Read more… Source: feminism-boell.org

Tbilisi. On March 31, 2021, the Public Defender of Georgia presented the 2021 report on the situation of human rights and freedoms in Georgia to the Parliament of Georgia. According to the main findings, in 2021, the human rights situation did not improve significantly. Moreover, there was even a significant deterioration in a number of areas. Read more… Source: ombudsman.ge

Adjara. Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association, within the framework of the Short-term Observation Mission 2022, informs the public about the results of the observation of Election Day. “According to GYLA`s observers, regulations concerning the control over the will of voters, in particular, rules on the gathering, physical obstruction, and counting of voters, were violated numerous times throughout the day. Influential figures, such as MPs and members of Tbilisi and municipality Sakrebulos from the Georgian Dream, UNM, and other political parties were also present. Their presence near the polling stations increased the risk of influencing the will of voters. In addition, several cases of agitation were observed. Those violations were related to both of the running parties”. Read more… Source: gyla.ge

Tbilisi. Institute for the Development of Freedom of Information publishes the blogpost: Tendencies of Russian Disinformation in Georgia Along with the War in Ukraine. “The scope, as well as the tone of Russian disinformation, has increased and strengthened after the aggressive invasion of Russia in Ukrainian territory. We could observe locally, in the Georgian language, disinformation narratives being spread in different directions. The disinformation narratives are adding up to the bigger informational weapon of Russia about its greatness and invincibility that has been used in the region for years now”. Read more… Source: idfi.ge

Tbilisi. Human Rights House Tbilisi is collecting donations to provide individual support for Ukrainian human rights defenders, activists, and journalists. “Many human rights defenders, activists, and journalists have been forced to flee their homes as a result of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Nevertheless, they actively pursue human rights activities, work as volunteers, document war crimes, etc. Support needs are evident for these individuals both in Ukraine and those who have left the country”.  If you wish, you can contribute with a donation and the money will be fully used to support these individuals. Account Numbers: GEL: #GE41TB7249036080100001 USD/EUR: #GE85TB7249036180100001 Recipient: THE HUMAN RIGHTS HOUSE TBILISI Description: Donation For Ukraine Read more… Source: The organization’s page on the social network

Samtskhe-Javakheti and Kvemo Kartli. GCSD, in the framework of the project - Improving Access of Underserved Groups to Grants Opportunities, held meetings in Samtskhe-Javakheti and Kvemo Kartli regions on March 23-25, 2022. The meetings were aimed at identifying the needs and challenges of micro and small businesses and assessing the local business environment in the noted regions. The project is implemented with the support of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), in the framework of the “Rural SMEs Development Programme”. Read more… Source: The organization’s page on the social network

Imereti. Education Development and Employment Center (EDEC) in cooperation with Speech Development and Correction Center “Logomedi” conducted the primary diagnosis of speech disorder for free. Find out more… Source: The organization’s page on the social network

Tbilisi. On 1-3 April, 2022, the Women's Information Center and the Ministry of Labor, Health and Social Affairs organized a training session "Gender and Gender Relations" organized by the Ministry of Internally Displaced Persons from the Occupied Territories of Georgia. Read more… Source: The organization’s page on the social network

Tbilisi. Civil Society Organizations and professional circles express concerns about the upcoming massive construction process on Elbakidze uphill, near to Mikheil Javakhishvili house, on Sakanela street. Read more… Source: socialjustice.org.ge

Tbilisi. According to the information of Transparency International Georgia in 2017-2021, Georgian state agencies have signed 96 large contracts worth GEL 135 million mainly with foreign companies for the procurement of legal services related to international arbitration disputes. Read more… Source: transparency.ge