Tbilisi. The Office of the Ombudsman developed a special report within the framework of the femicide monitoring mechanism. The document contains an analysis of crimes committed in 2018. “The purpose of the monitoring is to analyze each case of gender based murder, murder attempt and leading to suicide of women in order to identify shortcomings of the mechanism for protection of victims of violence and those affected so as to further improve and develop these mechanisms. Despite the fact that cases of femicide and femicide attempt, occurred in 2018, were analyzed within the framework of the 5-year monitoring report, and taking into account recent trends, we considered it necessary to issue a special report separately”, - is stated on the website of the Public Defender.  Read more… Source: ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. Within the framework of a joint platform of the Economic Policy Research Center (EPRC) and the USAID/Georgia Good Governance Initiative (GGI Georgia), a working group of experts releases an address in regard to the COVID-19 pandemic. “It is clear that anti-epidemic measures, taken by the state today, are already insufficient to hamper the spread of the pandemic and they require significant changes. Otherwise, the country is going to face a dramatically difficult period, which will not only make it impossible to manage the coronavirus epidemic but will also severely restrict access to other emergency and planned medical services”, - is noted in the statement. Read more…  Source: The website of the organization in a social network

Tbilisi. The Public Defender's Office organized a pre-session hearing within the third cycle of the UN Universal Periodic Review. On November 25, 2020, the Public Defender's Office of Georgia, non-governmental organization UPR-info and Open Society Georgia Foundation held an online pre-session hearing, during which representatives of non-governmental organizations and the Public Defender updated the diplomatic corps accredited in Georgia of the human rights situation in the country.  “In addition, representatives of the diplomatic corps listened to the specific recommendations that their countries should desirably give to Georgia within the framework of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) on January 26, 2021 in order to improve the protection of human rights in Georgia”. Read more… Source: ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. Within the framework of a 16-day campaign against gender-based violence, the Public Defender of Georgia, with the support of UN Women, held an online conference on femicide prevention and monitoring. The purpose of the online conference was to discuss local and international monitoring practices aimed at preventing gender-based killings (femicide) of women. Read more… Source: ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. The Public Defender of Georgia acknowledges the state importance of the development of energy potential and natural resources. However, it is unfortunate that the State has not yet planned a long-term energy policy for the rational use and sustainable development of energy resources, which should be created and implemented in practice as a result of extensive public discussions and on the basis of the principle of transparency, something actively demanded by the Public Defender in recent years. At the same time, the activities that have already been carried out, the investments that are to be made or the cost-effectiveness of the projects have not been studied or analyzed. And the problems with individual hydropower projects are systemic and continuous. The multi-year oversight by the Public Defender's Office showed that the decisions made by the state agencies over the years have failed to answer the legitimate questions of the society.[11] Distrust towards the quality of examinations conducted and the environmental impact assessment documents, shortcomings in terms of public involvement, neglect of socio-economic interests of the local population, lack of transparency of information and data, and reasonable doubts about the usefulness of the projects remain important challenges. These very problems, despite the fundamentally improved national legislation, have manifested themselves collectively and particularly acutely in relation to the above-mentioned project. Read more… Source: ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. Within the Tolerance Week marked by the #USAID’s PITA Program, we continue sharing series of videos “Tolerance is…” What does tolerance mean? On Tolerance’s week, listen to an actor and TV presenter, Baia Dvalishvili.  Read more… Source: The organizations page in the social network

Tbilisi. Within the Tolerance Week marked by the #USAID’s PITA Program, we are presenting series of videos “Tolerance Is…” What does tolerance mean? Why tolerance and diversity are important for country’s democratic and inclusive development? On Tolerance’s Day, listen to Bishop of Evangelical Baptist Church, Rusudan Gotsiridze. Read more… Source: The organization’s page in the social network

Tbilisi. Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center (EMC) contests tightening of house arrest rules for Mikhailo. “We consider that the decision, which was made by the Probation Bureau and failed to acknowledge absence of Mikhailo from the residential territory at night hours on October 13 and 17 excusable, is unjustified and unfair. Respectively, the decision, made by the Tbilisi City Court on November 11 to tighten house arrest rules for Mikhailo, is also unjustified. EMC contests both of the above mentioned decisions in accordance with procedures stipulated by law”, - is stated on the website of the organization. Read more… Source: emc.org.ge

Tbilisi. The Coalition for Equality responds to the fact of murder of M.M. on November 14, 2020, on Temka and calls on law enforcement agencies to identify the alleged homophobic hate motive, while the media to refrain from encouraging discrimination.  Read more… Source: gyla.ge

Tbilisi. The Human Rights Center monitored administrative proceeding of three activists of the Shame Civil Movement - Aleksi Machavariani, Nodar Rukhadze and Giorgi Mzhavanadze (founders and organizers of the rally) in the Tbilisi City Court. “According to the assessment of the Human Rights Center, the fact of violation of law by detainees could not be revealed through the evidences provided in the case. The decision of the court was not based on evidences collectively. The judge relied on testimonies of patrol inspectors, which were not supported by video evidences reflecting the fact of violation”, - is stated on the website of the organization. Read more… Source: humanrights.ge

Tbilisi. Part of civil society organizations of Georgia responds to dispersal of a rally of Namakhvani HPP construction opponents that was performed using police force. “While local population, society and field specialists have a number of critical conclusions and questions related to legality of construction of the HPP, as well as its extremely high impact and risks, construction of a large-scale energy project is carried out opaquely and without obstruction, neglecting these questions and opinions. The Government applies repressive methods in response to concerns and peaceful protests of local population and attempts to suppress protests of locals via police force, thus grossly violating fundamental rights of project-affected population”, - is stated on the website of the organization in a social network. Read more… Source:gyla.ge

Tbilisi. Today, on November 16th, the world celebrates International Day for Tolerance. Initiated by the UNESCO, this day is observed since 1995 as a reminder of the importance to promote tolerance, and the need for respect, dialogue, and cooperation between cultures and civilizations. “#USAID’s #PITA program intends to implement diverse activities within the Tolerance Week, including youth micro grants and exchange programs dedicated to the tolerance and diversity, a video campaign “Tolerance IS…” and awareness raising campaigns by the PITA’s youth network across 13 municipalities of Georgia”. Read more… Source: The organization’s page in the social network

Tbilisi. Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center (EMC) responds to a protest of the disaster affected local community of the Tsablana village and calls on the Government of Adjara to ensure realization of the right of disaster-affected families to adequate housing immediately. “Currently, population of the Tsablana village, like a large part of Adjara eco-migrants, live in “bifurcated” circumstances. Due to the fact that population do not possess sufficient funds to bring their apartments, received in Batumi, to suitable for living condition, they continue to live in their old houses in villages, which are actually located in a life-threatening area. As a result of construction works of the “Adjaristskali” HPP, a part of the village springs have dried up, which fact further complicated the already less useful for the village agriculture. Thus, the local community is forced to live in a life-threatening zone, difficult social conditions and poverty”, - is stated on the website of the organization. Read more… Source: emc.org.ge

Tbilisi. Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center (EMC) responds to the fact of fining Mamuka Diakonidze, a homeless man, by the patrol police on November 10, during curfew. The organization calls on the Ministry to stop applying repressive measures against homeless groups living on the streets and instead take all measures to engage social and municipal services in order to provide them with shelter. Read more… Source: emc.org.ge

Tbilisi. Europe Foundation supports the right to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression. The Foundation calls upon the authorities to refrain from restricting these rights and to prevent further escalation of the situation. The organization joins public demand to conduct negotiations between the ruling party and other political subjects, participating in the elections, thus seeking a constructive way to defuse current political situation and ensure further stable, democratic development of the country. Read more… Source: www.epfound.ge

Tbilisi. Public Defender releases the special statement on freedom of expression and quarantine measures. "In a democratic society, members of society should have the opportunity to express their views on any restrictions, including to argue, through assembly and demonstration, about the lawfulness, effectiveness and appropriateness of the restrictions imposed for the purpose of protecting public health. It is exactly this type of opportunity that distinguishes a democratic state from an undemocratic one. In view of the above, the Public Defender calls on the state authorities to respect the freedom of expression of demonstrators and to refrain from sanctioning them for violating the regulations that prohibit movement in cities from 22:00 to 05:00". Read more… Source: ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. During the COVID-19 pandemic, European governments urged their citizens to stay at home by reviewing material prepared under the Women’s Information Center project. European governments urged their citizens to stay home during the COVID-19 pandemic. “Isolation was a necessity to prevent the spread of the virus. It is important to know what this decision meant for many women and children. People experiencing domestic violence paid the highest fees for public health care. European countries responded differently while fighting against the virus, however, most of them decided to impose isolation in March 2020. From that moment on, there have started talks not only about the COVID-19 pandemic but also about the domestic violence pandemic”... Read more…  Source: ginsc.net

Tbilisi. “Rights Georgia” conducted an individual survey of journalists and cameramen affected by the November 8 rally. The survey gives an impression that in some cases water cannons have been applied by law enforcers to target specifically media representatives. The organization considers that there are signs of a crime defined by the Criminal Code of Georgia, which entails the responsibility for unlawful interference in professional activities of a journalist.  Read more… Source: The website of the organization in a social network

Tbilisi. Georgian Democracy Initiative (GDI), International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy (ISFED), Human Rights Center (HRC) and Transparency International Georgia (TI) respond to measures imposed by the Government of Georgia in regard to restriction on freedom of movement and consider that introduction of a curfew by the resolution of the Government of Georgia is unconstitutional as the Government of Georgia does not have a legislative authority to restrict freedom of movement. “Furthermore, this step is perceived as an attempt to suppress the ongoing wave of protests, while the restriction itself is not an effective, important and proportionate mean to achieve a legitimate goal”. Read more… Source: transparency.ge

Tbilisi. The Open Society Georgia Foundation responds to the October 31, 2020 parliamentary elections and subsequent developments. “We remind public that constitutional changes, made this year, and introduction of an almost proportional electoral system have entailed a real perspective to turn the legislative body into more pluralistic one and to take active steps to form a coalition government. However, we agree with appraisals of international and local partner organizations and consider that both the pre-election period and the Election Day, as well as the vote counting process went along with numerous violations. There were critically concerning tendencies like removal of the line between the ruling political party and the state, use of administrative resources, attempts to intimidate and bribe voters as well as to control their free will, which may challenge results of the elections and the issue of legitimacy of the legislative body elected as a result of these elections. With this in mind, on November 8, 2020, citizens of Georgia expressed their peaceful protest in front of buildings of initially the Parliament of Georgia, and later - the Central Election Commission of Georgia. During the rally, law enforcers applied special means for dispersal of meetings-demonstrations violating procedures stipulated by law, which fact contributed to escalation of tensions and resulted in harming participants of the rally”. Read more… Source:osgf.ge

Tbilisi. The Georgian Center for Psychosocial and Medical Rehabilitation of Torture Victims - GCRT will provide free services to those citizens who have been affected during the November 8-9 rally. Read more… Source: The website of the organization in a social network

Tbilisi. The Institute for Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI) calls on the Government of Georgia to not impose those COVID-19 related restrictions that would intentionally affect freedom of assembly and expression. “On November 6, 2020, Prime Minister stated that restrictions would not apply to freedom of expression, although the next day, the Government of Georgia announced imposition of a curfew on seven major cities of Georgia starting on November 9. We hereby would like to respond to the clarification made by the Government of Georgia stating that the imposed restriction is not a curfew. In general, a curfew is nothing else than an intense restriction on freedom of movement. A blanket/general restriction on unauthorized movement, imposed on about 50% of population of the country in 7 major cities of the state, is not a point ban measure. It is the curfew - a large-scale measure of restriction of the right stipulated by the “Law of Georgia on State of Emergency”, which applies during a state of emergency or war in the state”, - is stated on the website of the organization. Read more… Source: idfi.ge