Tbilisi. In connection with the March of Dignity scheduled for July 5, 2021, the Public Defender of Georgia considers it important for the State to ensure the freedom of assembly and expression of citizens by preventing risks and taking appropriate protection measures. In addition, the statements made by far-right and violent groups, containing threats against the LGBT+ community and their supporters, need special attention and appropriate legal response.  Read more… Source: ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. In an informational video, prepared by Social Justice Center, the organization responds to inaccurate, false and manipulative arguments in regard to the Namakhvani HPP project that have been disseminated by its supporters. Source:socialjustice.org.ge

Tbilisi. SOS Children’s Villages Georgia releases an official statement in response to information broadcasted through mass media about two alleged cases of violence that took place in the service of a small family house of the organization in the past. “We, at the organization, are deeply concerned about the fact that living in a small family house turned to be traumatic for our two former beneficiaries and it is very difficult for us to hear their stories. The Association expresses its maximum readiness and openness to facilitate any kind of investigation process within the framework of law; moreover, provide psycho-emotional and legal assistance to both the alleged victim of violence and former foster children through the established practice of the organization. All revealed facts, regardless of the age of the case, always create a precondition for reviewing current systems of monitoring, existing within the organization, in order to ensure upbringing and development of each foster child in a safe and secure environment”, - is noted in the statement. Read more… Source: The website of the organization on a social network

Tbilisi. The whistleblowers protection day is being celebrated on June 23th. “The whistleblowers' institute is of key importance in the fight against corruption, especially the high-level corruption.  Unfortunately the level of awareness about the mechanism of whistleblowing in Georgia is very low and its use is virtually non-existent. Read more about the identified challenges and recommendations issued by IDFI on the issue" … Source: idfi.ge

Tbilisi. Civil society organizations call on the Government of Georgia to enhance its political and diplomatic efforts so as to set Zaza Gakheladze, detained in Tskhinvali, free and develop a more effective policy for the protection of human rights within occupied territories. “Unfortunately, human rights policy in conflict regions is not properly institutionalized and prescribed in our country. Besides, despite a long-standing experience in conflicts, we still do not have international mechanisms enacted in conflict regions that would serve as an effective tool for monitoring a human rights-related situation, as well as for response and prevention. The resource of communication and negotiation with de facto governments is not properly envisaged in the policy for the protection of human rights, whereas it would be a format for regular dialogue and work on issues related to human rights, security, and humanitarian assistance”, - is noted in the joint statement. Read more… Source: gyla.ge

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. 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

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. 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. 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 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

Tbilisi. The present document is a special report of the Public Defender of Georgia developed under the Femicide Monitoring Mechanism and the crimes analyzed in the report are committed in 2019. „Problems related to the complex fight on violence against women and domestic violence and lack of coordination between state agencies is an obstacle for prevention of marginal manifestation of gender violence, femicide. We should underline separately that specific measures in relation to social work in fight on violence against women and domestic violence have not took place and social service is still formally involved in proceeding of cases related to violence against women and domestic violence. Taking mandatory courses focused on violent attitudes and behavior change by abuser is still problematic“. Read more… Source: ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. On June 14 - the day of protection of the rights of persons with disabilities in Georgia, organizations and activists with disabilities respond to the delayed implementation process of the Law of Georgia on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and call on the Government to fulfill its overdue commitments under the law immediately. “The Law on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which was adopted by the Parliament in July last year, at the first stage of its enactment - in 2020-2021 years, defined development of important tools for policy planning and implementation as the main obligation of the executive authority. However, despite long-standing expectations of the disabled community, even imposition of relevant obligations by law did not appear to be sufficient to develop a policy framework in a timely manner. We consider it alarming that a significant part of those obligations, the deadline for execution of which was set for January 1 of this year, has not been fulfilled at all”, - is stated on the website of the organization. Read more… Source: socialjustice.org.ge

Tbilisi. Georgia marks the Day of Persons with Disabilities on June 14. The purpose of this day is to raise public awareness of people with disabilities and to remind state agencies once again of their responsibilities to improve the rights situation of these people. We offer a photo collage where representatives of the community and disability rights activists themselves talk about the main systemic challenges, the most pressing problems they face and the importance of solving these problems. Read more… Source: ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. According to a statement released by Social Justice Center, “Georgian Manganese”, which was avoiding questions about harm caused by extraction for years, had to become a party to negotiations as a result of the protest of residents of Shukruti and thus acknowledge its responsibility. “Unfortunately, the rule and conditions for compensation of harm caused by extraction of minerals to affected local population are still not defined at the legislative level. Respectively, population of Shukruti had to carry out private negotiations and reach civil agreement on the procedure and amount of compensation for suffered harm directly with the company. Besides, released information about the agreement, as well as an uneven and non-transparent nature of the negotiation process are essentially problematic, as fairness and credibility of the agreed mechanism of compensation remain questionable, while facts of the ongoing criminal persecution against protesters raise additional questions about the subject of the agreement”, - is noted in the statement of the organization.  Read more… Source: socialjustice.org.ge

Tbilisi. The Public Defender of Georgia has learned that a former beneficiary of the Ninotsminda Orphanage has allegedly been forced to leave the dormitory of the St. Tbel Abuseridze Teaching University of the Georgian Patriarchate after the letter informed the law enforcement agency about alleged violence that occurred in the orphanage. The Public Defender has already started examining the alleged discrimination against the former beneficiary of the orphanage. In addition, she appealed to the law enforcement agency to respond to the allegations of coercion, pressure and psychological violence. As result of communication between the Public Defender and relevant agencies, the young beneficiary has been temporarily placed in a safe environment, as the person had no other place to live in. The Public Defender will monitor the provision of long-term housing to the person. Read more… Source: ombudsman.ge