Tbilisi. According to the Institute for Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI), the number of people receiving subsistence allowance in Georgia has increased by 44.12% since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. “Elections affect determining the number of socially vulnerable people in a certain way for years. For example, in the run up to the 2021 local elections, in the month of June alone, the number of people receiving subsistence allowance increased by about 70 thousands”. Read more... Source: idfi.ge

Tbilisi. GCSD has launched a new project - "Talk, Research and Discover NATO". “The project aims to introduce students, and different groups of society, NATO-related actual topics and foster discussion on them”. Read more… Source: The organization’s page on the social network

Tbilisi. On January 2, 2015, there took place an accident near the village of Marani in Abasha Municipality - a passenger train collided with a minibus crossing an unprotected railway junction. The accident claimed 3 people, while the others received various injuries. “Tbilisi City Court basically considered arguments of plaintiffs and, by its decision of October 7, 2021, ordered defendants JSC Georgian Railway, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Abasha Municipality City Hall to pay reimbursement of material (compensation, medical expenses, funeral expenses) and moral damages in favor of plaintiffs". In the court, interests of those affected were defended by The Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association. Read more… Source: gyla.ge

Tbilisi. The Human Rights Center has published an interim report: “Monitoring of trials of allegedly politically motivated cases”. “The interim report reflects results of monitoring of trials of allegedly politically motivated criminal and administrative cases that took place from February 1 to August 10, 2021. The report also incorporates results of monitoring of court hearings on the fact of attack on a media representative due to his professional activities (allegedly on political grounds)". Read more… Source:www.hrc.ge

Mtskheta-Mtianeti. On October 9 at Château Mukhrani the Rondeli Foundation organized a training session on negotiations for the public servants enrolled in the Program Capacity-Building of the Georgian Leadership Community for Improved Decision-making and Negotiation Skillls (CBGL). Read more… Source: The organization’s page on the social network

Tbilisi. On October 11, the Office of the Public Defender of Georgia, with the support of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), organized an online conference dedicated to the World Mental Health Day. The subject of the conference was – “Provision of mental health services during the COVID-19 pandemic”. “There was discussed at the conference the quality of provision of psychiatric inpatient and community outpatient services during the pandemic. Besides, participants of the conference also talked about mental health and impact of COVID-19 on people with mental health problems”. Read more… Source: ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. The British Embassy Tbilisi and UNDP are launching a new stage of their support to the public administration reform. “This fundamental transformation has been initiated by the Government of Georgia to modernise governance systems and build stronger democratic institutions”. Read more… Source: www.ge.undp.org Photo: Nino Zedginidze/UNDP

Tbilisi. Partnership for Human Rights (PHR) publishes an article about sexual and reproductive health and rights of people with intellectual disabilities. “Restriction of sexuality, sexual self-expression and reproductive rights of people with disabilities has a long history. Nowadays, there are restrictive views about sexual life of people with disabilities remaining within society. According to these views, people with disabilities, and especially people with intellectual disabilities are perceived as “permanent children” who have no sexual desire. One of the best ways to change these views is to conduct public discussion of conclusions that are part of scientific sources and touch upon sexual as well as reproductive rights of people with disabilities”. Read more… Source: phr.ge

Tbilisi. Public Defender expresses sorrow over the Batumi tragedy and offers her condolences to the families of the deceased. „The horrible incident showed the importance of civil responsibility, as well as the tightening of state regulations, elimination and supervision of illegal constructions. The causes of this great tragedy, which may be caused by seemingly insignificant negligence, are yet unknown. That is why it is the duty of every citizen to be careful and not to act only in their own interests, which may put them and others around them at risk“. Read more… Source: www.ombudsman.ge

Adjara. Social Justice Center responds to the tragedy occurred in Batumi and extends its condolences to families of those deceased and their relatives. The organization considers that at the initial stage it is important to provide legal and social support to the affected families, as well as to seek fair and decent ways necessary for compensation of material and moral damage. "Collapse of a five-story residential building in Batumi is likely to be a consequence of poor construction regulation and technical supervision. While improper fulfilment of their obligations by agencies responsible for agreement of construction permit conditions is a systemic problem”, - is noted in the statement released by the organization. Read more… Source: socialjustice.org.ge Photo: Batumelebi.ge

Tbilisi. According to information released by the Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association (GYLA), the organization demanded legal response to violations detected on the voting day and in the summary protocols in more than 350 cases. “GYLA demands recounting of data of all polling stations in the Isani district. The reason for such a demand is a circumstance, which has revealed various types of discrepancies in 4 cases at 5 recounted polling stations in the Isani district randomly selected in accordance with the obligation stipulated by law”. Read more… Source: gyla.ge

Adjara. As Transparency International Georgia informs, with the help of lawyers of the organization, the Batumi City Court satisfied a lawsuit of Vazha Ananidze, annulled the order regarding his dismissal and reinstated him to work. “He will be remunerated in the amount of GEL 31 000 for loss of salary, while GEL 25 200 as a compensation in exchange for his reinstatement to the position of Associate Professor at the Maritime Academy”. Read more… Source: The website of the organization on a social network

Tbilisi. To honor and promote outstanding achievements of Georgia’s investigative journalists who often work in hostile environment to unearth difficult issues, no matter who may be involved in them, Europe Foundation decided to establish a Georgia Shining Light Awards. Read more… Source: epfound.ge

Samtskhe-Javakheti. According to information released by the Social Justice Center, on October 6, snow fell in Javakheti, as well as in other mountainous regions. "Most of the residents of Ninotsminda and Akhalkalaki meet harsh winter again without gas and in difficult conditions. 8 out of 31 villages of Ninotsminda, while 22 out of 64 villages of Akhalkalaki have no gas. Families that are left without this basic infrastructure use liquid gas cylinders for heating, while more often they use so-called “Javakhian kalag” (dried cow dung cut in rectangular pieces). This experience once again demonstrates economic and social inequality between the center and peripheries, as well as hardships that are confronted by people living in high mountainous regions and do not change or improve from year to year”. Read more... Source: The website of the Social Justice Center on a social network

Tbilisi. UNICEF Georgia releases an article: Four things you can do to support your teen’s mental health. Whether you and your teen are getting along well or having challenges, it is important to show that you love and support them, that you can help them navigate tough times and that you are always there for them. Here are four things to keep in mind when having that ‘how-are-you-doing?’ conversation with your teen and to show that you are always there for them. Encourage them to share their feelings Take the time to support them Work through conflict together Care for yourself Read more… Source: www.unicef.org

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...

Tbilisi. According to the IDFI, Georgia was one of the first countries to join the Open Government Partnership in 2011 and has been particularly active since the first stages of implementing the initiative but participation of the Government of Georgia in OGP has backslidden over the past few years and at present has almost stalled. “As a result of the continued indolence for several years - Georgia's reputation, as one of the leaders of the Open Government Partnership in terms of developing an action plan and implementing commitments, has suffered irreparable harm”. Learn more… Source: idfi.ge

Tbilisi. On October 5, 2021, Public Defender Nino Lomjaria and Deputy Public Defender Ekaterine Skhiladze met with representatives of the Office of the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities - Senior Political Adviser to the High Commissioner Mark Fumagal, Project Officer Edin Elgsaeter and National Programme Coordinator Nino Gogoladze. “The situation of the rights of national minorities, including issues related to access to and implementation of the right to education, as well as access to information and low participation and activity of representatives of national minorities in the political life of the country were discussed at the meeting”. Read more… Source: ombudsman.ge

Imereti. Local Democracy Agency Georgia, in the framework of the project "Civil Society Initiative", held meeting with the public servants who are responsible for relations with civil society organizations in Khoni municipality. “The aim of the meetings is to promote the role of civil society in public policy. The similar meetings are planned in all municipalities of Imereti region. The meetings is being organized by LDA Georgia within the framework of the project "Civil Society Initiative," with the support of the European Union and the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung”. Read more… Source: The organization’s page on the social network

Tbilisi. With the assistance of "Rights Georgia", Mexican national to be granted the right to temporary stay in Georgia. „On September 5, 2021, JK, a citizen of the United States of Mexico, applied to “Rights Georgia” for legal assistance. The beneficiary wanted to apply for a Georgian residence permit. On October 1, 2021, The Public Service Development Agency granted a residence permit for a citizen of the United Mexican States“. Read more… Source: The organization’s page on the social network

Tbilisi. On October 4, 2021, the UN Association of Georgia in partnership with the World Federation of United Nations (WFUNA) commenced a five-day training course “Human Rights in Action” for the new cohort of participants. “The first stage of the program delivers training sessions in human rights and project management to 20 young participants from Azerbaijan and Georgia. Throughout the training, participants will have the opportunity to interact with key actors in the human rights field”. Read more… Source: The organization’s page on the social network

Tbilisi. According to information released by Transparency International Georgia, Shalva Tadumadze, former Prosecutor General and Judge of the Supreme Court, sues Eka Gigauri, Executive Director of the organization, for defamation in regard to his diploma. “Tadumadze considers that statements of Eka Gigauri, in which she questions qualification of Shalva Tadumadze and compliance of his diploma with current legislation, are slanderous. Transparency International Georgia reviewed a number of subject related documents, received from public agencies, and findings raised specific questions. Despite the fact that the judiciary system faces serious challenges and we do not expect an impartial, objective outcomes of justice, Transparency International Georgia will defend its interests in the courts of all instances. Read more… Source: The website of the organization on a social network