Tbilisi. Representatives of the media and civil society, call on high-ranking decision-makers, the Prime Minister of Georgia, members of Parliament, and the Chairman of the Georgian Dream party: Stop aggressive rhetoric and incitement of hatred towards representatives of media… “The state propaganda machine labels critical media as political opponents and promotes intolerance towards them. In a politically polarized society, such an attitude towards the media encourages further attacks. Politically motivated lawsuits are being filed against media representatives. The broadcasting regulatory authority is politicized and seeks to impose censorship”. Read more… Source: gyla.ge

Imereti. On February 23, 2021, the Samtredia District Court, on the basis of a lawsuit submitted by the Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center (EMC), declared dismissal of 3 social workers from the “Social Service Agency” unlawful and ordered the new agency to reinstate them in their jobs as well as to pay full compensation. Read more… Source: emc.org.ge

Tbilisi. TI Georgia strongly condemns the violent attack against Formula TV journalist Vakho Sanaia. “We call on the authorities to effectively investigate this incident and punish those responsible to the full extent of the law. This incident is the result of the government's aggressive and hateful rhetoric against the critical media, journalists and people who hold different opinions. Accordingly, these actions encourage this kind of violence which endangers freedom of speech and expression. We call on the representatives of the ruling party to realize their role in this process, to stop their aggressive rhetoric towards critical media, to publicly condemn any form of violence against journalists, and to ensure a safe environment for media activities”, is noted in the statement. Read more… Source: transparency.ge

Tbilisi. Georgian Democracy Initiative (GDI), together with the International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy, publishes a full version of an (ISFED) survey – “Democracy and human rights during pandemic and state of emergency”, carried out through the financial support of the Open Society Georgia Foundation. Survey... The survey contains a review of a legal framework for the management of epidemics; international experience; the constitutionality of restrictions imposed by the Government of Georgia. Source: gdi.ge https://csogeorgia.org/ge/newsPost/27066

Tbilisi. Georgian Young Lawyers Association releases a statement on the assessment of the events of February 23rd. “Unfortunately, the Georgian government has failed to defuse the current political crisis and de-escalate the ongoing processes through peaceful negotiations. The authorities did not heed the multiple calls. The arrest of the leader of the opposition party through the police forces has aggravated the current situation. It is important that the Georgian government take constructive steps to bring the country out of the political crisis, while also preventing interference with the right of assembly/ demonstration and allowing demonstrators to exercise their constitutionally guaranteed rights”. Read more… Source: gyla.ge

Tbilisi. Public Defender Nino Lomjaria terms the arrest of Nika Melia, the leader of the United National Movement, at the office of the opposition party by the use of force as concerning. The Public Defender had earlier evaluated the relevant court decision, saying that the application of the measure of detention against Nika Melia was neither substantiated nor necessary. Read more… Source: ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. Civil Society Organizations release the joint statement on Nika Melia’s arrest. “We condemn this decision by the Georgian Government that will further aggravate the current political crisis in the country. We believe that the Georgian authorities could have defused the situation by legal and non-violent means. Regrettably, the authorities did not wait for the consideration of Melia’s appeal in the Court of Appeals and did not demonstrate the will to defuse the difficult situation and conduct the political process in a calm environment. In the current situation, it is important to avert further polarization in society and prevent civil confrontation. We call on the representatives of friendly countries and international organizations to react to these events appropriately. Today, as never before, Georgia needs the support of its Western partners because, if the situation escalates further, the country could lose everything it has achieved since gaining independence”, is noted in the statement. Read more… Source: transparency.ge

Tbilisi. With the assistance of Rusudan Mchedlishvili, a lawyer of “Rights Georgia”, an unlawfully dismissed employee of a pharmaceutical company will receive cash compensation in the amount of GEL 10 600. Read more… Source: rights.ge

Tbilisi. Joint statement of Georgian Non-governmental organizations regarding the renewed arrests in Belarus. "Belarusian authorities must immediately cease coordinated attacks on human rights defenders, journalists and NGOs" - the statement reads. Read more… Source: hrht.ge

Tbilisi. According to information released by “Rights Georgia”, on February 8, 2021, the European Commission started consultations aiming at attaining information on measures taken by EU member states to eliminate gender-based violence against women and domestic violence. “Via conducting meetings the Commission intends to obtain relevant information in order to be able to improve its work on issues related to coordinated prevention and protection against violence. Those willing to participate in consultation have to get registered and filled out an online questionnaire”, - is stated on the website of the organization in a social network. Read more… Source: The website of the organization in a social network

Tbilisi. “Rights Georgia” launches an important project in partnership with the Public Defender. “Rights Georgia”, together with Goga Khatiashvili, an expert, is going to monitor process of interrogation of women, victims of violence, in closed court hearings. Read more... Source: The website of the organization in a social network

Tbilisi. The Public Defender of Georgia calls on the Parliament of Georgia not to consent to the use of pre-trial detention against Nikanor Melia. We also call on the Prosecutor General's Office of Georgia to use the opportunities at its disposal and reconsider the decision on application of measures of restraint. “Considering that only three police officers were charged (non-custodial measures were used) with the use of excessive force against dozens of citizens and journalists during the June 20 events - the arrest of the leader of the opposition political party without proper justification of the procedural need, will be a big blow to the Georgian justice system, making it look like the practices common in non-democratic countries. And this type of international image will significantly slow down the process of western development of the country, which, along with many other benefits, implies the fundamental protection of human rights”, is noted in the statement. Read more… Source: ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. The Center for Strategic Research and Development of Georgia and the Aures Foundation release a statement in regard to necessity of adjustment of facemask wearing rules. Organizations describe a problem that was faced by people with special needs (disabled, hearing-impaired child/person, elderly person, person with autism spectrum disorder, etc.) during the pandemic. It is critically important for them to see facial expression and mouth movement, while wearing a non-transparent facemask has made it impossible. CSOs demand to adjust facemask wearing rules to solve the problem. Read more… Source: The website of the organization in a social network

Georgian Women’s Movement launches a lengthy campaign on the case of a 14-year-old dead girl #NinisGamo (DueToNini) Read more…

Tbilisi. Civil society organizations express their concern regarding a hardest case of suicide of a 14-year-old girl in Kobuleti Municipality and call on state agencies to investigate the incident in a timely manner. “Within the framework of the investigation, there should be examined responsibilities of all possible bodies/officials that had an obligation to support the victim as well as to carry out an investigation in the crime committed against her.  This case demonstrates hardest social practices of violence against women as well as signs of criminal indifference and inefficiency of police and social institutions. Despite numerous tragic cases of juvenile suicide, the state has not shown its willingness to make radical changes in existing policies, it pays insufficient attention to development and implementation of a suicide prevention strategy in general. The system remains extremely indifferent in terms of elaboration of an adolescent care policy as well as social and psychological support mechanisms”, - is noted in the joint statement. Read more… Source: gyla.ge

Tbilisi. A joint project of the Center for Strategic Research and Development of Georgia and the Aure Foundation – “Transparent screen facemask for human rights” aims to facilitate increase of degree of social integration of people with hearing impairments. “During the COVID-19 pandemic, use of anti-virus facemasks created communication barriers to millions of people with hearing impairments around the world. Facemask makes it impossible to see facial expressions and lips, which is an important reference point for people with hearing difficulties while communicating. There are more than 200 000 people with hearing impairments in Georgia”. Read more… Source: The website of the organization in a social network

Tbilisi. Media Advocacy Coalition addresses the Chairman of the Parliament of Georgia for an official explanation. “On February 9, we came to know that Mariam Geguchadze, a representative of the “Mtavari Channel”, was denied entry to the Parliament and her right to perform journalistic activities was restricted. According to our information, civic activism of Mariam Geguchadze was a reason for refusal named by representatives of the Parliament in a verbal form. We call on the Chairman of the Parliament of Georgia to make a public statement regarding possible discriminatory treatment and ensure journalists have a relevant working environment to perform their professional duties”.  Read more… Source: gdi.ge

Tbilisi. The Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center (EMC) considers that ongoing preparatory works at the Kvemo Namakhvani hydropower plant in the Rioni Valley are illegal and violate permit conditions.  The organization calls on the Technical and Construction Supervision Agency to immediately suspend preparatory type, as well as land works that are carried out without permission, and apply the respective measure of liability against “Enka Renewables” LLC. Read more… Source: emc.org.ge

Tbilisi. The Public Defender’s Office has launched an inquiry into a video showing an alleged offence. In particular, the video showing the engagement of a minor girl was spread via social networks on February 8, 2021. “Unfortunately, early and child marriages, as well as vicious engagement practices, are still common in Georgia. The cases examined by the Public Defender of Georgia show that the marriages are mostly forced and the result of illegal deprivation of liberty or an agreement between parents. The steps taken by the State, including in terms of prevention, fail to adequately respond to the challenges facing the country in this direction”. Read more… Source: ombudsman.ge

Social Innovation Platform, a new initiative developed by the Center for Training and Consultancy (CTC), offers opportunities, educational resources to help you prepare your idea for pitching. What is pitching and how to do it? Video resource... Video interview with Nino Bigvava on pitching... Source: The website of Social Innovation Platform in a social network

Tbilisi. According to information released by the Institute for Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI), the European Court of Human Rights has reaffirmed in its important decision of January 21, 2021 once again that restriction of access to information of public interest while carrying out journalistic activities breaches freedom of expression. “The case was about providing a Ukrainian journalist with information regarding purchase of state property by Viktor Yanukovych, former President of Ukraine. A subject matter of the dispute was also a refusal of the Constitutional Court to provide the applicant with a copy of a constitutional claim of Members of Parliament, which challenged the Law on Language Policy adopted in Ukraine in 2012. The court should judge whether the refusal of public institutions to provide information to the applicant constituted an unlawful interference with freedom of expression or not. The court decided unanimously that it was breach of freedom of expression. A fair balance between two conflicting interests in the case - protection of personal data and access to public information was ruled out in favor of the latter”, - is stated on the website of the organization. Read more… Source: idfi.ge

Tbilisi. An organization “Partnership for Human Rights” (PHR) appealed to the Tbilisi City Court against the Ministry of Education demanding to urge the Ministry to develop an effective plan and implement it in order to ensure that children with disabilities and special educational needs have their rights to life, health, safety, and education protected upon returning to school on February 15. “There is increased danger that students with disabilities and special educational needs may have their rights to life, health, education and safety violated due to unorganized and threatening return to schools on February 15, 2021. We consider that passivity of the Ministry of Education cannot be replaced with just recommendations of the Ministry of Health. While at this stage, current state of schools does not allow them to manage the pandemic effectively due to different financial and human resources”. Read more… Source: phr.ge