Tbilisi. Rights Georgia and Social Justice Center (formerly EMC) have learned that health of Irakli Bebua, detained in Abkhazia, is in danger. “Organizations call on state agencies to make sure that the issue of Irakli Bebua, a citizen of Georgia detained in Gali, Abkhazia, is discussed within the format of the Geneva International Discussions scheduled for June 29-30 and that all diplomatic and political measures are taken to return Bebua to the Georgian-controlled territory. Irakli Bebua was arrested in Gali district on September 30, 2020 for setting the Abkhazian flag on fire. In the video, reflecting the fact, Bebua states that he has burned the flag deliberately because he does not like celebration of September 27 - the day of fall of Sokhumi solemnly in Abkhazia and “would like Georgians and Abkhazians to be brothers”. Read more… Source: socialjustice.org.ge

Tbilisi. Coalition for an Independent and Transparent Judiciary releases the statement: A New Perspective on Judicial Reform. “Now, when the frustration with the outcomes of the judicial reforms is clear, there is a need for radically changing the reform strategy. The steps to be taken should be aimed at a consensus-based management of the judiciary. The reform should also create solid obstacles to the concentration of power”. Read more… Source: gyla.ge

Tbilisi. EU awards grants to 12 youth start-up projects to promote social entrepreneurship in Georgia within the framework of the EU4Youth initiative project "Social Entrepreneurship in Armenia and Georgia". The grants signing ceremony with the first seven winning young social entrepreneurs took place at the venue of one of the winning project, the social café “Cafune” in Rustavi. The project aims to provide creative young people from Armenia and Georgia with the necessary knowledge and skills and a unique opportunity to develop existing or establish new sustainable business with a clear social mission. Read more… Source: eeas.europa.eu

Adjara. On June 15, the young volunteers, the members of the Youth Center established at the Independent Journalists’ House (IJH) participated in arrangement and implementation of the large-scale Job Fair in Batumi. “The volunteers successfully managed the flow of the job seekers, ensured that all Covid-19 regulations were followed and informed the participants about the fair. We would like to express our appreciation toward each volunteer for their contribution and wish them success in all of their future endeavors”. Read more… Source: edec.ge

Tbilisi. Since 2017, there has been a deteriorating trend in the treatment of persons detained both for administrative offences and criminal charges. Read more: National Preventive Mechanism Report 2020... 26 June is International Day in Support of Victims of Torture. Source: ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. A civic platform “No to Phobia!”, Coalition for Equality and other civil society organizations condemn homophobic statements made by representatives of Georgian Dream. “Organizations respond to statements made by Irakli Kobakhidze, Chairman of the ruling party, and Davit Sergeenko, a member of the same party and Deputy Chairman of the Parliament of Georgia, in regard to a pride parade scheduled by “Tbilisi Pride” and partners for July 5. We, the signatory organizations, condemn statements made by Irakli Kobakhidze and Davit Sergeenko as those of a homophobic nature and encouraging discrimination on the ground of sexual orientation and gender identity, which is contrary to constitutional and international standards of human rights”, - is noted in the joint statement. Read more… Source: tdi.ge

Tbilisi. The European Court of Human Rights has started substantive review of complaints filed by the Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association and EHRAC on behalf of journalists and demonstrators affected on June 20-21, 2019. “In particular, the court addressed the Government of Georgia, as the respondent state, with relevant questions regarding cases of Bagashvili and others v. Georgia as well as Kurdovanidze and others v. Georgia. Besides asking questions about violation of rights, the European Court satisfied a request of lawyers of GYLA and ordered the Government of Georgia to submit materials of the criminal case carried out by the Prosecutor’s Office in connection with dispersal of the June 20-21, 2019 rally”, - is stated on the website of GYLA. Read more… Source: gyla.ge

Samtskhe-Javakheti. According to the information of the Transparency International Georgia Four persons convicted for violations in the state procurements and unlawful misappropriation of budget funds received GEL 7 442 197 from 80 state procurements.  Recommendations: “Receiving millions of GEL from public procurement by people convicted of corruption contradicts both the best international practice in the field of procurement and the recommendations of Georgia's partner international organizations. The Anti-Corruption Network of Eastern Europe and Central Asia and the Council of Europe advise Georgia to limit the participation of persons involved in corruption in government procurements and to extend these restrictions to both the company and the owners of the company. Amendments to Georgia's public procurement legislation should be introduced as soon as possible, restricting companies and their owners convicted of corruption participating in public procurement for at least a period of time until their convictions are disclaimed. In Public procurement, contractors should be prohibited to use the companies as subcontractors, whose owners have been convicted of corruption or fraud”. Read more… Source: transparency.ge

Tbilisi. A civic platform “No to Phobia!” condemns a statement made by Tea Darchia, considering it as Islamophobic and encouraging discrimination on the ground of religion. “The statement of Tea Darchia stirs up stereotypical perceptions related to the point that a Georgian can only be Orthodox (“there is nothing Georgian in them anymore”). Those particular attitudes contribute to discrimination on the ground of religion and religious conflicts in society. In such circumstances though, journalists have a special responsibility not to become facilitators of dissemination of stereotypical perceptions”, - is noted in the statement. Read more… Source: www.gdi.ge

Tbilisi. The USAID Independent Living Program in Georgia is pleased to inform you that six Independent Living Centers have begun operations in Lagodekhi, Telavi, Kutaisi, Zugdidi, Ozurgeti, and Batumi. “The centers will assist persons with disabilities to achieve and maintain independent living by helping them to access information, resources, and services, overcome social, psychological and physical barriers, and by linking them and local municipalities with service providers”. Read more… Source: The organization’s page on the social network

Tbilisi. UNICEF Representative in Georgia, Ghassan Khalil met with the Public Defender of Georgia, Nino Lomjaria. “The participants discussed the following issues: ▪️ Ongoing events related to the Ninotsminda Institution, UNICEF position and plans to end the institutional care for children in Georgia; ▪️ Monitoring of sexual violence against children by Public Defender with support of UNICEF and the relevant report; ▪️ Ongoing Child Rights Impact Assessment of COVID-19; ▪️ ongoing cooperation and joint initiatives”. Read more… Source: The organization’s page on the social network

Tbilisi. Part of civil society organizations releases a statement: The High Council of Justice continues to take damaging steps for the judiciary. “On June 17, there takes place a sitting of the High Council of Justice, where a decision on up to 100 vacancies of judges is going to be made. Out of them, 9 candidates for judges of the Supreme Court will be presented to the Parliament today. Taking HR related decisions of such importance at an accelerated pace without implementation of in-depth judicial reforms is extremely detrimental to interests of the judiciary. We consider that actions of the Council may raise the issue of legitimacy of judges, appointed under these conditions, in the future”, - is noted in the statement. Read more… Source: transparency.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...

Tbilisi. Social Justice Center (formerly EMC) publishes an analysis of possibility to export electricity generated by Namakhvani HPP. “While talking about benefits of Namakhvani HPP, representatives of state agencies, along with other issues, often underline importance of the project in strengthening energy independence of the country. This assertion of energy independence is another of loud statements, which is often voiced by government officials and is not backed up by the text of the agreement - the content of the agreement signed between the investor and the Government”. Read more… Source: socialjustice.org.ge

Guria. In October 2020, a 36-month project called “Skills development and innovative employment opportunities for regional development of Georgia” was launched with the support of the European Union. "Within the framework of the project, there was opened a Training and Employment Support Center at the base of the Young Pedagogues Union in Ozurgeti and Chokhatauri of the Guria region. The Center provides beneficiaries with a unique opportunity to meet the best trainers and field specialists, obtain skills and necessary knowledge required for employment. Services of the Training and Employment Support Center can be enjoyed by anyone above the age of 16 who would like to develop skills, study and get a job”, - is stated on the website of the Young Pedagogues Union on a social network. Read more… Source: The website of the organization on a social network

Tbilisi. According to information released by Social Justice Center, the Supreme Court of Georgia did not satisfy a complaint of Biblus in regard to defamation and left decisions of a lower court unchanged. The court concluded that one part of information spread by employees represented correct facts, while the other part - their personal opinions, which is protected by the right to freedom of expression. Social Justice Center got involved as a defender of workers employed at Biblus immediately after 2017. As it is known to public, in 2017, some of those employed at “Biblus Gallery” talked about labor exploitation, low remuneration, unregulated work schedule and unfair, unjustified system of fining. Following to these statements, the company discharged 2 employees. With the legal assistance of Social Justice Center, the court found dismissal of employees unlawful, however, the dispute is still ongoing in higher instances. Read more... Source: The website of the organization on a social network

Tbilisi. Transparency International Georgia (TI Georgia) has prepared the report on the implementation of parliamentary control within the framework of the project, Parliamentary Control Assessment in Georgia, with the assistance from the Good Governance Initiative (GGI) of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). “The study provides the assessment of the parliamentary control carried out during the period between 1 January 2019 and 1 October 2020. The new Rules of Procedure of the Parliament of Georgia was a step forward towards the enhancement of parliamentary control, which manifested in improved statistics on the use of specific parliamentary oversight mechanisms. Nevertheless, parliamentary control is weak while challenges with the accountability of the parliament and government members in the process of parliamentary control as well as the lack of legislative guarantees for improving the rights of the political opposition remain serious”. Read more… Source: transparency.ge

Tbilisi. As a result of legal assistance provided by Partnership for Human Rights (PHR), court found separation of children from their family due to poverty unlawful. “The Tbilisi City Court made an unprecedented decision. It found transfer of children to foster care and separation from the family due to poverty unlawful and ruled out to pay GEL 35 000 to three affected children as a compensation for moral damage. 2 years ago children were unlawfully taken out of the house and separated from their mother by the social service, without strengthening the family. For two years, children lived under the stress caused by separation from the parent. The court found this circumstance unlawful and satisfied the lawsuit of PHR”. Read more... Source: The website of the organization on a social network

Tbilisi. June 15 is World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, which aims to promote the rights of older people in all areas of society. One of the main challenges in Georgia is the lack of visibility of violence against older people. The Public Defender has been talking about unchanging and systemic problems in this area for years, which are related to important issues such as identification of risk factors provoking violence and ill-treatment, inhuman and degrading treatment or other forms of violence, and production of comprehensive statistics, as well as adequate responses to the cases of abuse and effective oversight system. Read more… Source: ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. The imbalance caused by the large number of prisoners and the small number of penitentiary staff fails to provide a safe, secure or orderly environment that is necessary for the rehabilitation and re-socialization of prisoners.  Read more: National Preventive Mechanism Report 2020 June is International Day in Support of Victims of Torture. Source: ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. On June 11, 2021, the Institute for Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI), in its capacity as the regional hub for the Global Data Barometer (GDB), held a training session for national researchers.  "IDFI joined the Global Data Barometer project and its regional hubs in the fall of 2020. IDFI became the regional hub for Eastern Europe and Central Asia and is responsible for coordinating the assessments of 12 countries: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Moldova, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan. The goal of the training was to introduce national researchers to the GDB methodology. In the coming months, they will assess the accessibility of open data in their respective countries based on this methodology. Specifically, the data collection stage will begin in mid-June and last until the end of August". Read more... Source: idfi.ge

Tbilisi. On June 14, 2021, on the initiative of the Public Defender of Georgia and with the support of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), an online meeting was held to discuss the participation of people with disabilities in the decision-making process. “It was noted at the meeting that ensuring the participation of persons with disabilities in the decision-making process is one of the main requirements of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The Convention requires the involvement of persons with disabilities not only in the decision-making processes that specifically address them and matters involving them, but also any mainstream processes that in any way affect persons with disabilities”. Read more… Source: ombudsman.ge