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

Tbilisi. The Public Defender of Georgia is responding to the illegal deprivation of liberty of Georgian citizen Zaza Gakheladze by the so-called court of occupied Tskhinvali. Zaza Gakheladze, a resident of the village of Kvemo Chala, Kaspi Municipality, was shot and detained by the occupation regime on July 11, 2020. “The Public Defender of Georgia emphasizes that similar illegal actions of the occupation regime grossly violate the rights and freedoms of the population living in the occupied territories, which once again proves the need for international human rights monitoring missions to be allowed to work in the occupied territories”, is noted in the statement. Read more… Source: ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. Due to the information of UN Women the pandemic of violence against women is not new. But the #COVID19 crisis has intensified it, while accessing help became harder. See how you can support survivors... Source: The organization’s page on the social network

Tbilisi. Fair Labor Platform responds to the protest of couriers of Glovo against hard working conditions, supports their fair demands and is ready to provide legal assistance to couriers in their efforts to improve working conditions.  Read more… Source:gyla.ge

Tbilisi. Signatory organizations respond to the fact of leaving the curfew in force by the Government of Georgia in parallel with easing restrictions. “Current curfew disproportionately restricts freedom of movement of people, raises reasonable doubts about its usefulness in terms of achieving the goal and is not the least restrictive means of the right. “We call on the Government of Georgia to lift the curfew and stop unjustified restriction of human rights, motivated by fight against spread of COVID-19, as well as use of unconstitutional measures”, - is stated on the website of the organization. Read more… Source: transparency.ge

Tbilisi. The Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center (EMC) responds to parliamentary review of the bill initiated in regard to determining narcotic drug quantities. The organization calls on representatives of the ruling political team to stop rhetoric that misleads society while stating as if inaction of the state over the years in regard to introduction of a humane drug policy is the fault of civil society organizations, activists and experts. “Proposed version of the bill improves current legislative order, however, its content does not completely reflect principles of a humane drug policy that meets human rights and the reason for this is again a punishment oriented Georgian drug policy and its repressiveness”. Read more… Source: emc.org.ge

Tbilisi. Georgia Fair Labor Platform responds to the fact of non-payment of a deserved labor remuneration to twelve workers, employed during construction of a hotel in Gonio, considering it as theft of their salaries committed by the company “Labau Gonio” LLC. “Workers state that despite completing work, the employer company still does not pay their deserved salaries. Current salary indebtedness in favor of employees is about GEL 27 000.  We call on the Labor Inspection Office to start systematic work to eliminate an unlawful practice of misappropriation of labor remuneration of workers (stolen wages) by employers in Georgia and, within the framework of the new mandate, while inspecting labor rights of employees at their work places, set as one of the priority areas identification and legal responsibility of those employers who have applied the practice of stolen wages as a norm”, - is noted in the joint statement. Read more… Source:gyla.ge

Imereti. EDEC in cooperation with UNDP, invites young people from Imereti, Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti, and Shida Kartli regions to participate in the project "Protecting IDP Rights during the COVID-19 Crisis in Georgia". „The project aims to support IDPs and conflict-affected youth to get involved in solving the challenges and problems created in their communities as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic“. Read more… Source: The organization’s page in the social network

Tbilisi. The Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association, Green Alternative and the Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center release a joint statement in regard to dissolution of a protest rally against the Namakhvani HPP project and resumption of construction works by “Enka”. “Demands of local population, protesting against unlawful actions of a company “Enka” and the Government in the Rioni gorge for almost 100 days, are fair and constructive. Taking into account growing nature of a conflict among the project-affected community, the company and government agencies, as well as the fact that there is still insufficient information on project implementation-related threats, we consider that: The Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia and LEPL Technical and Construction Supervision Agency have to restrict “Enka Renewables” to carry out construction works (including preparatory works) until threats, posed by implementation of the project to the environment, human lives and health, cultural heritage and material values, are studied and evaluated in accordance with requirements of law”… Read more… Source:gyla.ge

Ajara. Civil society organizations respond to the fact of termination of authority of an “Adjara Cultural Heritage Protection Agency” member. They consider that the order contains signs of alleged discrimination and aims to intimidate other members of the Agency so as to make them refrain from expressing critical views in the future. “According to the order of Director of the Agency, the status of Shota Gujabidze was terminated due to his different, critical views in regard to the policy of the Agency, which fact Director of the Agency assumed as “deliberate discrediting” of the Agency”, - is noted in the statement, - “it turned out on January 28 that Zaur Akhvlediani, Director of the Agency, the terminated authority of Shota Gujabidze as a member of the Agency due to his critical views without even listening to his justifications, which fact contains signs of alleged discrimination. It serves to punish Shota Gujabidze for being critical regarding unlawful decisions made by the Agency”. Interests of Shota Gujabidze are defended by GYLA. Read more… Source: gyla.ge

Tbilisi. In connection with the Personal Data Protection Day, the Institute for Development of Freedom of Information publishes an article, about the protection of personal data in Georgia in the conditions of e-government. “With the development of e-governance, the issue of personal data protection has become especially important. Given the modern technological progress, the widespread use of information and communication technologies poses new risks and threats to citizens”, - We read in the article, - “In Georgia issues related to the processing and protection of personal data are regulated by the Law of Georgia on Personal Data Protection. This Law is intended to ensure the protection of human rights and freedoms, including the right to privacy, in the course of personal data processing”. Read more…  Source: The web-page of the organization

Tbilisi. As the pandemic pushes education, healthcare, and other public services online, putting huge amounts of personal data in the digital domain, the protection of citizens’ privacy assumes even greater importance. This was the main message of a public information campaign launched by Georgia’s State Inspector’s Service (SIS) to mark Data Protection Day, which culminated in an online conference on 28 January dedicated to the introduction of data protection into the higher education curriculum in Georgia.  Supported by the European Union (EU), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), the week-long campaign engaged state agencies, civil society, schools, and citizens and covered a wide array of topics, from processing health-related information and using social media to launching new educational programs in data protection.  Read more…   Source: eeas.europa.eu

Tbilisi. In 2019, following the initiative of the members of the Gender Equality Council of the Parliament of Georgia, and with the support of USAID-PROLoG, the Government passed legislative amendments to regulate sexual harassment in the workplace and public spaces.  According to the amendments, the employer became obliged to take measures for equal treatment of all employees, as well as to include provisions on the prohibition of discrimination in internal regulations, and to ensure their fulfillment.  Read more…   Source: The web-page of the organization

Tbilisi. The Public Defender makes a statement on the judgment of the European Court of Human Rights for Georgia in the case of Georgia v. Russia (II).  “The above ruling of the European Court of Human Rights is of great legal and historic importance for Georgia. By this decision, the Court confirmed that the Russian Federation had exercised “effective control” over the territories of Abkhazia, South Ossetia, and the buffer zone from 12 August to 10 October 2008. After this period, Russia's strong presence on the territories of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, as well as the South Ossetian and Abkhazian de facto authorities’ dependence on and subordination to the Russian Federation, confirms that the Russian Federation continues to have "effective control" over these territories. At the same time, based on the court ruling, the Russian Federation has a legal obligation to ensure the safe return of internally displaced persons to their homes”, - Is mentioned in the statement.  Read more…   Source: The web-page of the organization

Tbilisi. “Rights Georgia” addresses the Government of Georgia and demands to stop the extradition of a citizen of Georgia from Italy to Russia. “Rights Georgia” appeals to relevant authorities of Georgia to take effective steps in order to stop the extradition of Boris Tsiklauri, a citizen of Georgia detained in Italy, to the Russian Federation and return him to his homeland”, - is noted in the statement, - “Rights Georgia” calls on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia to take effective and timely steps to stop the extradition of Tsiklauri; the Embassy of Georgia in Italy - to provide support to the Tsiklauri family in the process of obtaining available legal assistance. “Rights Georgia” expresses its readiness to represent interests of Tsiklauri before the European Court of Human Rights once domestic legal mechanisms in Italy are exhausted”. Read more… Source: The website of the organization

Tbilisi. The Center for Strategic Research and Development of Georgia developed a petition demanding product safety control.  "Safety requirements for the absolute majority of consumer products in Georgia are not defined and state control does not apply. The life and health of citizens of Georgia, including those of future generations, are not protected. We consider that the Parliament of Georgia has to ensure safety requirements for all types of consumer products are defined in the shortest possible time and set state control over security in place, similar to the EU model”, - is stated by the authors of the petition.  Read more… Source: The website of the organization in a social network

The EU Spokesperson makes a statement on the judgement of the European Court of Human Rights. “The ruling clearly concludes that after 12 August 2008 the Russian Federation, exercising effective control over South Ossetia and Abkhazia, violated several provisions of the European Convention of Human Rights”, - is mentioned in the statement, - “Achieving justice and accountability is an important part of conflict resolution and the EU calls upon the Russian Federation to ensure the proper follow-up of the ruling. The European Union is fully committed to supporting conflict resolution, which also requires efforts to address the legacy of past conflicts”. Read more…  Source: eeas.europa.eu

Tbilisi. U.S. Embassy in Georgia published a statement on Judgement of the European Court of Human Rights. “In the state-to-state case of Georgia v. Russia on the 2008 Russia-Georgia War, the Court ruled clearly in favor of Georgia and found Russia responsible for violating multiple articles of the European Convention of Human Rights, including by detaining and torturing individuals, and denying Georgian citizens the right to return to their homes“, - is mentioned in the statement, - “The Court’s ruling adds further weight to the international community’s demand that Russia cease its blatant violations of Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. Russia's attempts to control and exploit the Georgian regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia through borderization, arbitrary detentions, restrictions of movement across the administrative boundary lines, and establishment of socio-economic and military "agreements” between Russia and the two Georgian regions are particularly concerning and unacceptable”. Read more…  Source: The page in the social network

Tbilisi. Female Experts to be Employed in Regional Departments of Samkharauli National Forensics Bureau following Public Defender’s Recommendation.  “The Public Defender welcomes the readiness of Samkharauli National Forensics Bureau to comply with the Public Defender's recommendation and employ female experts in the regional departments of the Bureau in order to create an equal and dignified environment for female victims of sexual violence, as well as to conduct training for the staff of Tbilisi and regional offices on the psychological aspects of proper communication with victims of sexual violence”, - is mentioned in the information the Public Defender’s office spared.  Read more…   Source: The web-page of the organization

Tbilisi. The Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center publish an overview of the January 21 decision of the European Court of Human Rights related to the August 2008 war. “On January 21, the European Court of Human Rights published a historic decision on the case of Georgia v. The Russian Federation, which contains an appraisal of issues related to the responsibility of the Russian Federation for practices of breach of human rights during and after the August 2008 war. In regard to this case, the European Court of Human Rights discussed the legal liability of the Russian Federation within the occupied territories for the first time and assumed that Russia has an actual control there due to the deployment of Russian military troops in these territories, political, military, humanitarian support to de facto authorities and agreements signed with them as well as other assistance practices. Therefore, the responsibility for facts of violation of rights in these regions falls within the jurisdiction of the Russian Federation. In this case, the European Court found that the Russian Federation breached a number of rights, including those to the prohibition of torture and ill-treatment, life, the prohibition of unlawful detention, privacy, movement, and property”. Read more… Source: The website of the organization