Tbilisi. The Public Defender of Georgia is responding to the rallies held against the Pankisi Community Radio and its founder in the village of Duisi on August 29 and September 5, 2020. “The Public Defender emphasizes the important role of the media in covering the processes ongoing in the gorge and calls on the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia to launch an investigation into the above-mentioned facts in a timely manner, as well as to assess the risks of obstruction of professionaljournalistic activity of Gela Mtivlishvili and other employees of the Pankisi Radio and to take appropriate measures to ensure a safe working environment for them”. Read more… Source: ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. Georgian Democracy Initiative (GDI) responds to a law,adopted by the Parliament of Georgia on September 2, 2020, according to which, from January 1, 2021, the Border Police will restrictcitizens of Georgia to depart from the territory of Georgia with the intention to enterthe Schengen zone if they do not meet criteria stipulated by the law. The organization considers that the adopted law is unconstitutional and contradicts international standards. Read more… Source: gdi.ge

Tbilisi. Myth Detector publishes a blog post of Tamar Chkhartishvili: How aredrying trees, diseases and domestic violence linked to 5G? “In the August 31-September 6 edition of the “Asaval-Dasavali” newspaper, there was published an interview with Lali Moroshkina, who talked about 5G antennas. According to Moroshkina, the coniferous trees dry out as a result of a radiation and beginning of the drying process is linked with activation of 5G antennas in a test mode. Besides, Moroshkina links headaches, high blood pressure, mental disorders and even domestic violenceto 5G. The statement of Lali Moroshkina in regard to connection between 5G antennas and various diseases, domestic violence and drying trees is an anecdotal evidence and is not supported by scientific studies or arguments. Besides, information,as if Belgium, France and Germany have rejected 5G technology, is false”, - is stated in the blog post. Read more… Source:www.mythdetector.ge

Tbilisi. The Public Defender’s Office has resumed electronic course “For the prevention of sexual harassment”. The course aims to raise awareness of sexual harassment in the workplace and public space. Read more… Source: ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. Human Rights Center prepared the interim reports of the court proceedings of the cases with alleged political motives, and the protest assemblies. “During the court monitoring it was identified that on the cases under the monitoring of HRC the right to a fair trial was not ensured by the system of criminal justice of Georgia. Despite the fact that the deficiencies identified during the court hearings do not expressly violate the right to fair trial per se, the combination of some individual cases, particular legislative defects and generally problematic court practice, further, the existence of selective justice and alleged political motives threatens the protection of the right to a fair trial in accordance with international standards and human right laws”. Read more… Source: www.humanrights.ge

Tbilisi. Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center (EMC) responds to an unfortunate incident that occurred at a mine in Shukruti, Chiatura, and resulted in death of a 46-year-old miner. EMC calls on the state to ensure safe work. “The accident took place on August 24 of the current yearat a VakeTkeOtkhi (plain forest four) mine. According to reports, a tractor ran over the miner during the working process. Working conditions of people employed atChiatura mines remain tough for years. Along with low remuneration, labor rights of those employed are systematically violated. Employees risk their life and health on a daily basis due to non-compliance with labor safety rules”. Read more… Source:emc.org.ge

Tbilisi. Public Defender Nino Lomjaria met with family members of deceased programmer Tamar Bachaliashvili and their lawyer. According to the Public Defender, she is ready to be involved in the examination of the case and to explore the criminal case materials together with the lawyer of the family. The Public Defender also plans to meet with Prosecutor General Irakli Shotadze and hear answers to questions around the case personally from him. Read more… Source: ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. Transparency International - Georgia considers that supporting a new legislative initiative on anti-corruption reform will significantly increase effectiveness of fight against corruption. “International practice proves that independent anti-corruption service is an effective mechanism of fight against systemic corruption. This model has been successfully implemented in many European countries. The proposed reform implies qualitative improvement of theanti-corruption policyof the country; it is especially important that it will enable real investigation of cases of so called “elite corruption” and their prevention”, - is stated on the website of the organization. Read more… Source:transparency.ge

Tbilisi. The Public Defender of Georgia addressed Irene Khan, newly appointed UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, as well asHarlem Désir, OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, in regard to developments ongoing atAdjara TV. In the sent letters, the Public Defender of Georgia provides people, having the mentioned mandate,with information regarding violations revealed as a result of investigation of developments ongoing at the TV Company, which violations pose threat to the media pluralism,existing in the country, and have negative impact on freedom of expression. Read more… Source: ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. The Public Defender applied to the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport of Georgia with a proposal in regard to taking into consideration religious needs while organizing the Unified National Examinations. The Office of the Public Defender studied the issue in the context of the right to freedom of religion as well as equality and found that the legislation, regulating the Unified National Examinations, does not provide applicants with an opportunity to express their religious needs during the registration process. Furthermore, there is no mechanism to take aforementioned into consideration while in the process of organizing examinations. According to the appraisal of the Public Defender, applicants, who were forced to refuse to take an exam on a particular day due to their own religious belief, were in an unequal position with respect to those applicants, whose religion is of different views on similar issues. Read more… Source: The website of the organization

Tbilisi. The Public Defender addressed a general proposal to the Parliament of Georgia urging it to prepare legislative amendments related to introduction of paid internships at public institutions and provision of broader employment opportunities to interns.  The Public Defender underlines importance of an internship for development of professional skills of young people and points out that the current system in Georgia promotes social exclusion of those who, from a financial point of view, are unable to apply for an unpaid internship and, respectively, to start their professional development from early stages.  Read more…  Source: The website of the organization

Tbilisi. A Svaneti branch of the Office of the Public Defender shifts to an emergency mode of work due to the epidemiological situation occurred in Daba Mestia, Lenjeri and Ushguli. Information about this is released by the Office of the Public Defender of Georgia. Taking into consideration restrictions of the quarantine, the Office of the Public Defender will provide assistance to everyone who considers that their rights have been violated. In case of necessity please call the following phone numbers: Hotline - 1481; Madona Basiladze, Head of the Western Georgia Regional Division - +995 577 553 381; Irina Gurchiani, Representative of the Svaneti Branch of the Office of the Public Defender - +995 591 508 262. Read more… Source: The website of the organization

Tbilisi. Civil society organizations release a statement in regard to coverage of the case of Tamar Bachaliashvili in the media. “We, civil society organizations, respond to the process of problematic coverage of the case of Tamar Bachaliashvili in the media, especially to an interview that took place in the “Main Accents” program of “Mtavari Channel” on August 9, 2020 at 23:00, and consider that it is essential to have the media realize importance of inviolability of private life and its responsibility in the process of building a legal and democratic society that is based on ideals of respect for human rights and dignity. Questions asked by a host at “Mtavari Channel”, as well as a material prepared by some other means of media, were related to details of personal intimate relations of the deceased Tamar Bachaliashvili, which fact is a rough interference with the right to private life of the deceased, on the one hand, and her friends, on the other hand. Although we perfectly understand existing high public interest in the case and a special role of the media to control public authorities, besides, despite the fact that we observe defectiveness of the ongoing investigation and challenges in its openness and transparency, we consider it essential to have a public hearing on the case with strict protection of and respect for human rights. Such an approach is crucial in terms of protection of dignity, private life and moral safety of members of the family of Bachaliashvili, as well as her friends”, - is noted in the statement. Read more… Source: emc.org.ge

Tbilisi. The Public Defender of Georgia has released a statement in regard to the 12th anniversary of the August war. “On the 12th anniversary of the August 2008 war, Georgian, as well as both Ossetian and Abkhazian population, living in the conflict zone, still severely suffer from devastating consequences of the war. Facts of unlawful deprivation of the right to life are especially alarming. Following cases of violation of the right to life of Davit Basharuli in 2014, Giga Otkhozoria in 2016, Archil Tatunashvili in 2018 and Irakli Kvaratskhelia, a citizen of Georgia, at the Russian military base in the village of Nabakevi of Gali district of occupied Abkhazia in 2019 serve as evidences. It has to be emphasized that those directly involved in all killings are representatives of occupational regimes.  Freedom of movement turns to be the most serious problem. Facts of decease of people at the occupied territories due to improper healthcare assistance entailed by arbitrary closure of a so-called checkpoint have clearly demonstrated a deplorable human rights related situation and a humanitarian crisis, existing on the territory of the occupied Akhalgori district. Over the years, one of the most problematic issues on the occupied territories remains to be facts of detention of citizens and unlawful deprivation of liberty at the occupation line, beating of detainees, ill-treatment and torture at temporary isolators or prisons.  12 years have passed since the 2008 war. In spite of this, the occupation regime still continues unlawful borderization”, - is noted in the statement. Read more… Source:The website of the organization

Human Rights House Tbilisi and Human Rights House Foundation jointly presented a report within the framework of the third cycle of the United Nations Human Rights Council Universal Periodic Review (UPR)...  The document contains an evaluation of the situation in terms of rights of human rights defenders and activists in Georgia during the last reporting period (2015-2020) as well as various problematic aspects that hinder their free activities in Georgia. It also contains a review of cases of discrimination of human rights defenders and restriction of their right to freedom of expression, problems related to freedom of assembly, slanderous as well as discrediting campaigns, and etc.  Read more…   Source: hrht.ge

Due to importance of addressing gender issues in the circumstances of pandemic, the Public Defender of Georgia, with the support of UN Women, translated a policy research document prepared by the UN – “Impact of COVID-19 on women”. The pandemic caused by the new coronavirus (COVID-19) has a negative impact on gender equality. International practice shows that risks of gender-based violence have increased, access to women health services, incomes and livelihoods, education, clean water and food has become more complicated. The UN policy research document contains a review of impact of the pandemic in terms of the economy, health, unremunerated work, gender-based violence and humanitarian missions. Read more… Source: ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. Civil society organizations respond to general and blanket restrictions imposed by security services on access of representatives of media, civil society and political parties to villages neighboring an occupied Tskhinvali region/South Ossetia and call on the Government to change a regime of movement that is against human rights. “It is almost a year since August 30, 2019 that there has been restricted movement and work of civil society representatives, media, as well as political parties in the villages surrounding an occupied Tskhinvali region/South Ossetia. Access related restrictions apply also those villages where our state has full control”, - is noted in the released statement, - “We call on the Government of Georgia to lift the blanket restriction on access of media, civil society and politicians to the occupation line and villages around it; develop approaches based on objective criteria, which do not go beyond legitimate frames of restriction on freedom of movement and expression”. Read more… Source: https://www.gyla.ge

Tbilisi. “Rights Georgia”, with the support of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), has launched a new project that serves to ensure legal protection and empowerment of foreign migrants living in Georgia. Within the framework of the project, “Rights Georgia” is going to study gaps, existing in foreign migrants rights related legislation and services, and prepare recommendations to eliminate them; provide free legal consultancy to migrants and represent them at court, as well as take care of raising their legal awareness. Read more… Source: The website of the organization

The European Court of Human Rights has received and assigned a case number to the application prepared by the Human Rights Center.  The Human Rights Center applied to the ECtHR regarding the violations of Article 6.3 and Article 13 of the Convention. A principle was violated vis-a-vis the applicant according to which with a purpose of safety of a person, the person shall be notified about the reasons and status he/she is summoned to the investigation bodies in order he/she could envisage the legal consequences of non-appearance.  Read more  Source: The web-page of the organization

Tbilisi. Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center (EMC) publishes a viewpoint of Ekaterine Skhiladze – “Father and mother fight with daggers: Impact of the pandemic on violence against women and domestic violence”. “In Georgia, in the circumstances of the new coronavirus pandemic, challenges of systemic character, existing in the field of prevention of violence against women and domestic violence, as well as protection and assistance of victims, have further aggravated. Complicated economic situation, loss of jobs, closure of child care facilities, restriction of traffic have hit women the most of all. The caregiving burden of women in families has increased, their economic situation has deteriorated, and risks of domestic violence due to longer stays with abusers have increased”, - is stated in the publication. Read more… Source:The website of the organization

Tbilisi. The Public Defender of Georgia responded to the rights situation of internally displaced persons and addressed LEPL Agency ofIDPs,Eco-migrants and LivelihoodProvision with a proposal relating to the restoration of IDPs’ rights violated by the restrictions imposed against the spread of novel coronavirus in the country. The document refers to the infrastructure malfunction of IDPs’ former compact settlement facilities and socio-economic problems of internally displaced persons, which have been exacerbated by the pandemic. Read more  Source: The web-page of the organization

Tbilisi. Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center (EMC) responds to a conclusion on a thematic research of the Parliament in regard to issues related to fight against homelessness and calls on the Government to pursue recommendations, set out in the document, as soon as possible. “Taking into consideration difficult situation existing in the country in the field of homelessness, we address the Government of Georgia and municipalities: to pursue recommendations, given within the framework of the thematic survey, as soon as possible and ensure planning and implementation of a housing policy that corresponds to international standards; to take steps, in parallel with implementation of the above recommendations, in order to address the fundamental problems that are essential in terms of guaranteeing the right to housing. This includes improvement of legislation and practice that regulate all stages of eviction and bringing them into compliance with international standards. Besides, effective reflection of interests and challenges of various vulnerable groups in the housing policy. The Parliament of Georgia: to exercise effective supervision over recommendations of the thematic research group to be implemented by the Executive Government”, - is noted in the statement released by EMC. Read more… Source: The website of the organization