Tbilisi. Member organizations of the “Coalition for Equality” consider that current developments, related to the Ninotsminda boarding school, are alarming and require immediate, strong response from the state. “So far, none of the agencies of the state has expressed its clear position in regard to continuing cases of alleged violence committed against minors and breach of the rights of the child taking place at the boarding school. Besides, the state has not established a democratic work process that would allow the Public Defender to perform monitoring of the situation related to the rights of the child at the boarding school. Moreover, representatives of the Government fail to make any statement regarding deinstitutionalization of large boarding houses and necessary reforms till now, which are important preconditions for protection of both dignified, as well as proper living environment and rights of children residing in these institutions”. Read more… Source: www.equalitycoalition.ge

Tbilisi. On June 2nd, 2021, USAID’s Promoting Integration, Tolerance, and Awareness (PITA) program, implemented by the UN Association of Georgia has been concluded with the Closeout Event, highlighting Program’s achievements throughout its six years of lifetime. Read more… Source: The organization’s page on the social network

Tbilisi. Social Justice Center (formerly EMC) responds to announcement of expression of interests in regard to the Namakhvani HPP project by the Ministry of Justice, according to which the Ministry will have to select an international law firm to evaluate the agreement. “We consider that this decision is one of those initiatives, by which the Government avoids to acknowledge the problem and tries to cover up agreement related existing main problems with illusory and fragmentary initiatives, which fact not only fails to shift the focus to real solution of the issue, but rather leads to prolongation of the conflict”. Read more… Source: socialjustice.org.ge

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Tbilisi. Due to high public interest, the office of the Public Defender of Georgia releases a statement in regard to the current situation at the Ninotsminda Children’s Boarding School. “The office of the Ombudsman applied to the General Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia and the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia requesting information about alleged criminal facts that took place at the Boarding School. According to information received, an investigation into four criminal cases on facts of alleged violence against minors has been launched in 2016-2021. There is currently an investigation ongoing into 3 cases of alleged violence (Article 126 of the Criminal Code) and one case of alleged rape (Article 137 of the Criminal Code). So far, the office of the Ombudsman does not have detailed information about facts of alleged violence, people and circumstances involved, as well as measures taken and ongoing. The office of the Public Defender has already applied to responsible agencies to clarify the issue”. Read more… Source: ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. On May 27, 2021, Ketevan Shubashvili, Head of the Equality Department of the Public Defender's Office, participated in the Kyiv International Online Forum on Roma Inclusion, which was supported by the European Union and the Council of Europe. She spoke about the problems facing the ethnic Roma population of Georgia. At the end of the meeting, participants supported a resolution calling on the responsible institutions of the counties participating in the forum to protect the rights of the Roma people due to their difficult socio-political situation, and urging national human rights institutions and equality bodies to be involved in the relevant legislative and political processes. Read more… Source: ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. Another project - “Senior generation portal”, funded within the framework of a grant competition – “Innovative social ideas in response to COVID-19”, announced by the Center for Training and Consultancy, has been completed. “”Senior generation portal” is the first website working on elderly related issues and operated by Fund Taoba. Within the framework of the project, Fund Taoba has created a Facebook page and a web portal - www.taoba.org.ge, which cover all those important issues that elderly people are interested in. The site is going to help elderly people, caregivers and/or representatives of other generations, interested in aging related issues, to obtain information on such matters as healthcare and social services, medical services, legal rights, psychological support, as well as prevention and management of various diseases”. Read more… Source: The website of the organization on a social network

Tbilisi. On June 1, the Human Rights Center submitted a legislative proposal to the Parliament of Georgia. “The legislative proposal is concerning amendments to be made to the Code of Administrative Offenses of Georgia. According to these changes, court reviewing a case of administrative offenses will also assess legality of detention of an accused”, - is stated on the website of the organization on a social network. Read more… Source: The website of the organization on a social network

Imereti. From the very first days, the Public Defender has been monitoring the events developing in the village of Shukruti, Chiatura municipality, where locals demand fair compensation for the property damaged by the ore mining works carried out by the Georgian Manganese Ltd. The affected citizens also demand the involvement of the State in the process. Given the difficult situation, the Public Defender of Georgia calls on the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development to engage in the negotiations between the Shukruti population and the company as a mediator in order to to protect the citizens' property rights and allow them to live in a healthy environment. The Public Defender continues to study the case in the context of the right to live in a healthy environment, as well as the alleged pressure exerted on one of the protesters. Read more… Source: ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. The Institute for Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI) publishes a report: Access to public information in Georgia 2020. “The organization considers that in 2020, the most closed public institutions were the administration of the Government of Georgia and the entire system of the Ministry of Justice. Out of 6 258 requests sent to 285 public institutions in 2020, IDFI received replies on 5 000 applications (80%). The vast majority of public institutions (30%) left the request unanswered or refused to provide contracts signed with those employed in advisor, expert and consultant positions. In 2020, 19 public institutions released public information in full and complying with a deadline of 10 days. Among them were: State Inspector’s Service, Public Defender’s Office, National Statistics Office, and Department of Roads”, - is stated on the website of the organization. Read more… Source: idfi.ge

Tbilisi. Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association releases the statement related to the International Children’s Day. June 1st is International Child Protection Day. This date reminds us once again of the need for the state to take measures that are in the child's best interests and serve to protect the children's right to life, health, education, development, and dignified life. The existence of complex and effective mechanisms to ensure the protection of their rights to a high standard is important for protecting children's rights. Read more… Source: gyla.ge

Tbilisi. Nino Lomjaria, the Public Defender of Georgia, releases a statement in response to June 1, the International Day for Protection of the Rights of the Child. “On this important day, I would like to assure all children living in Georgia that the Public Defender will always be by their side and protect their rights. Today, when many children live in poverty and experience violence, health, education and development related needs are neglected as never before, it is important to make sure that celebration of this day goes beyond the symbolic burden, while the state takes effective steps to protect their rights. In Georgia, we have been facing the most serious cases of violation of the rights of the child over the years, which fact is mostly related to inefficiency of support services, delayed response of the state, and shortcomings in social and child care programs. Public attitude towards facts of violation of the rights of the child is still uneven, and children are often exposed to violence. So far, responsible agencies do not provide prompt identification of facts of violation of the rights of the child, proper response and support to minors in accordance with their needs”. Read more… Source: ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. In March-April 2021, the German Embassy, the Georgian Young Lawyers' Association (‘GYLA’) and the Council of Europe Office in Georgia co-organized an online conference entitled “Georgia - The Future of Democracy”. In the framework of the conference, four sessions were held: 1. “What is democracy? How can we measure it and evaluate its progress?” (April 29); 2. “Thirty Years of Democratic Development in Georgia - Achievements and Challenges” (May 6); 3. “Where does Georgia stand now? What needs to be done in the future?” (May 13); 4. “Responsive Government” (May 20).  Read more… Source: gyla.ge

Tbilisi. Social Justice Center (formerly EMC) releases a statement in response to the professional day of policeman. “It is pity that regardless passage of more than 30 years since obtaining independence, the state has failed to establish a depoliticized, community-oriented and highly trusted law enforcement system that would provide an important basis for protection of human rights, building a peaceful and inclusive social environment, and supporting democratic processes. Reforms, introduced within the police system at different times, were mostly distinguished with their fragmentary and superficial nature. Institutional changes, made in the system, were often peripheral and illusory, rather than fundamental reforms and formation of a democratic and effective police system. As a result, despite numerous reforms carried out within law enforcement agencies, police is not still an essentially politically neutral institution having high accountability and public confidence”, - is noted in the statement of the organization. Read more… Source: socialjustice.org.ge

Tbilisi. On May 29, in the scope of the "Youth for Regional Development" project, schoolchildren of Zarzma Children’s Academy attended the lecture on "History of the Western Road of Georgia". The discussion was conducted by Irakli Chkhaidze, Assistant Professor at Tbilisi State University. The aim of the project is to enhance civic consciousness and increase civic activism among schoolchildren from Adigeni and Akhaltsikhe municipalities. Read more… Source: The organization’s page on the social network

Tbilisi. Social Justice Center (formerly EMC) responds to an incident occurred between police and protesters during a rally held by guards of the Rioni valley at the police checkpoint in the village of Gumati, which resulted in detention of 8 participants of the rally. The organization calls on the Government to start a dialogue with organizers of the protest rally in a timely manner and lift unjustified police restrictions that are still in force in the valley. Read more… Source: socialjustice.org.ge

Tbilisi. Non-governmental organizations release a joint statement in regard to the Conference of Judges conducted on May 26. “On May 26, the Conference of Judges elected four judge members of the High Council of Justice for a four-year term, thus completely ignoring the call of international partners and non-governmental organizations, and further strengthening positions of the clan that is predominant in the judicial system”. We, the signatory organizations call on: - the Parliament of Georgia to start working on a fundamental reform of the justice system in a timely manner and ensure an inclusive, political, and public consent-based discussion process for this purpose; - the international community to actively engage in the judicial reform process and take specific actions against all those groups, which hinder the establishment of an independent justice system in Georgia”. Read more… Source: gyla.ge

Samtskhe-Javakheti. CENN, with the Support of the EU and in partnership with Ninotsminda Youth Center, launched an Innovative Knowledge Hub in Ninotsminda Municipality. „The goal of the Innovative Knowledge Hub is to empower young people at the local level and promote their social and green entrepreneurship development. The Innovative Knowledge Hub is a youth workspace that will be accessible to young people living in Ninotsminda Municipality. The Hub will periodically host environmental and youth campaigns, and beneficiaries will also have the opportunity to meet with representatives from various fields and hold public discussions“. Read more… Source: The organization’s page in the social network

Adjara. UNICEF in partnership with the National Centre for Disease Control and the Ministries of Health and Education of Adjara organized the informational session in Adjara region for the local teachers and medical personnel. The meeting was led by prominent health experts and representatives from the National Center for Disease Control and Public Health, and aimed to inform about COVID-19 vaccination. Read more… Source: The organization’s page on the social network

Tbilisi. On April 22, 2021, the citizen of the Islamic Republic of Iran contacted “Rights Georgia” and asked for legal support in application process for the work residence permit. On April 23, 2021, with “Rights Georgia’s” legal assistance the beneficiary submitted the application for the work residence permit to the Public Service Development Agency (PSDA). On May 21, 2021, as a result of the” Rights Georgia’s” legal assistance the PSDA satisfied the application and issued the work residence permit for the Citizen of the Islamic Republic of Iran H.S. Read more… Source: The organization’s page on the social network

Tbilisi. As Myth Detector informs, on May 26, Facebook activated new mechanisms against those sharing disinformation repeatedly to notify users of its platform about disinformation content.  “Whether it is fake or misleading information about COVID-19 and vaccines, climate change, elections or other topics, Facebook will spend more efforts from now on to make sure comparatively less users find similar disinformation in their application”. Read more… Source: mythdetector.ge

Tbilisi. The Georgian National Communications Commission (GNCC), based on the appeal of the Public Defender's Office, examined the programme aired by Alt Info Ltd and found that the programme seriously harmed both juvenile and adult viewers. According to the decision of the Commission, administrative responsibility was imposed on Alt Info Ltd for violating the Law of Georgia on Broadcasting. Read more… Source: ombudsman.ge