Tbilisi. Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center (EMC) responds to a campaign organized by leaders of the Georgian March, supporters and other interest groups in the last days in social networks.  “According to posts published by them, our organization has seemingly filed a lawsuit against Marneuli and Hujabi Dioceses, which serves to protest the fact of water blessing of streets of Marneuli carried out by priests after the quarantine regime was announced in the Marneuli municipality. This information is false, groundless and, as it seems, it is an attempt of certain interest groups to discredit our organization and to conceal actual needs existing at the Marneuli municipality”, - is stated on the website of the organization.  Read more… Source: emc.org.ge

Tbilisi. “No to Phobia!” platform is concerned about the wave of xenophobia, which is a consequence of developments occurred in Marneuli.  “We call on the media, politicians and public officials to facilitate dissemination of correct, accurate and non-discriminatory information within the public as much as possible, while at the same time, play an active role in integration of ethnic Azerbaijani citizens”, - is stated on the website of the organization.  Read more… Source: transparency.ge

Tbilisi. Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center (EMC) and the Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association respond to an unlawful decision of “Georgian Manganese” LLC in regard to unilateral reduction of salaries. “Our organizations respond to a statement, released by “Georgian Manganese” LLC on March 20, 2020, related to partial suspension of a production process of the Chiatura mining-enrichment plant, as well as reduction of salaries of those employed, due to a protest of Shukruti population, and consider that this decision grossly violates norms, stipulated by the Labor Code of Georgia, represents an obvious attempt to confront residents of Shukruti and people working at the company, and is a result of failure of the state to fulfill its obligation of a proper monitoring over terms of a license of the company”. Read more… Source: gyla.ge

Tbilisi. Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center (EMC) calls on the Government of Georgia, the Ministry of IDPs, Labor, Health and Social Affairs and local self-governments to spend special efforts in order to ensure that the population, living under quarantine at Marneuli and Bolnisi municipalities, has access to first necessity medical supplies, food, clean water and other humanitarian resources.  Read more… Source: emc.org.ge

Tbilisi. The Women’s Initiatives Supporting Group (WISG) addresses state agencies in regard to the situation on spread of the coronavirus. “The crisis, caused by the virus, most severely affects those who do not have the “luxury” of self-isolation or working remotely, as well as lonely and homeless seniors, homeless people, IDPs, single mothers, people with disabilities and more. Among them are also transgender people and, so far, the state refuses to regulate legal recognition of their gender, which is a vitally important legal tool to ensure access of transgender people to health, employment and other social protection mechanisms rather than just a legal formality”. Read more… Source: women.ge

Tbilisi. Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center (EMC) calls on the Government of Georgia and local self-governments to pay particular attention to protection of the right to have water in villages, which is critically important for prevention of the COVID-19 virus. “EMC systematically conducts assessment of needs of villages populated by ethnic minorities at municipalities of the Kvemo Kartli region and Akhmeta. Access to clean drinking and consumable water is an issue that remains the major challenge in majority of the villages”, - is noted in the statement. Read more… Source: emc.org.ge

Tbilisi. Due to COVID-19, women who work remotely are, in parallel, managing increased household and care work. This is a big responsibility and men can step in to share it equally. “Globally, women do three times more unpaid care work than men, including child care and caring for the sick. In Georgia on average - women carry out 45 hours of unpaid household and care work per week, compared to men who average about 15 hours per week (UN Women, 2018)”. Read more… Source: Social network

Tbilisi. Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center (EMC) responds to the situation in the country in regard to spread of a new coronavirus (COVID - 19) and calls on the Government of Georgia to ensure safety of the homeless and other socially vulnerable groups and consider their needs. “On the background of challenges that the state confronts, it is essential for the Government to take into account not only public health but also social protection aspects. One of the most important issues in the current circumstance is to address needs of homeless people and provide them with adequate housing, which, in the given context, is of vital importance to homeless people”, - is stated on the website of the organization. Read more… Source: emc.org.ge

Tbilisi. The Open Society Georgia Foundation (OSGF) releases a statement in regard to a free legal consultation for citizens whose labor rights have been violated.  “We are aware that a number of those employed have lost their jobs or have their labor rights been otherwise violated. In some cases, employers sent their employees on forced and unpaid leave. There are also instances when employees got their salary or part of it deducted without respective legal basis and justification or they were forced to violate the rule of self-isolation and go to work. This is just a small list of possible violations of labor rights. To receive free legal consultation, you can apply to our partner organizations – the Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association, Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center and Solidarity Network. Lawyers will provide you with information regarding your rights and legal remedies as far as it is possible. If necessary, they will assist you in preparing a claim or other legal documentation”, - is noted in the statement.  Read more… Source: osgf.ge

Tbilisi. “Civil Society Sustainability Initiative” implementer organizations closely follow recent developments occurring around a new pandemic, #COVID-19, both in Georgia and worldwide. “We have been strictly adhering to the recommendations provided by the World Health Organization, the Government of Georgia and the National Center for Disease Control and Public Health of Georgia since the very beginning of spread of the virus. The health and well-being of employees, beneficiaries and partners is of prime importance for the members of our consortium. Once the risk of transmission of the virus increased, all consortium member organizations took respective measures to reduce likelihood of further spreading of the virus, more specifically: postponed international and domestic business trips of staff and experts; switched meetings and events to online mode; introduced special measures of hygiene at their offices”, - is noted in the statement. Read more…  Source: The website of the Project in a social network

Tbilisi. The Public Defender of Georgia is closely monitoring the implementation of measures aimed at preventing and eliminating the spread of coronavirus. “The Public Defender’s Office has not yet been applied with regard to any alleged violation of rights. However, people have questions about various legal issues. That is why we want to provide the public with information about the most frequently asked questions regarding human rights standards in the current situation”. Read more… Source: ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi.UNICEF publishes a blog post on a social stigma that appears in a period of pandemic. “In a period of pandemic, among other dangers there is a social stigma, that often means people are labelled, stereotyped, discriminated because of a perceived link with a disease. It's important to fight against the stigma, as it can: Drive people to hide the illness to avoid discriminati; Prevent people from seeking health care immediate; Discourage them from adopting healthy behaviours Always watch what you share.  Misconceptions, rumours and misinformation are contributing to stigma and discrimination which hamper response efforts. Read more… Source: The organization’s page in a social network

Tbilisi. According to information of the Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association (GYLA), the Russian Federation paid compensation to those of citizens affected as a result of a collective deportation from Russia in 2006 who had filed individual complaints in the European Court of Human Rights. “At this stage, the Russian Federation has transferred compensations to 7 persons under defense of GYLA that were assigned to them on the basis of the March 26, 2019 decision of the European Court, while in relation to one applicant, GYLA continues to communicate with the Russian Federation”, - is stated on the website of the organization. Read more…  Source: gyla.ge

Tbilisi. As Gender Information Network informs, according to data of Geostat, in the IV quarter of 2019, the average monthly nominal salary of men in Georgia is GEL 575 higher than that of women.  Based on a report of the “National Statistics Office”, in the IV quarter of 2019, the average salary of women constituted GEL 1018.5, while that of men – GEL 1593.2 and the annual increase of salary reached GEL 112.5 and 124.7 respectively. By types of activity, salaries of men exceeded those of women in almost all sectors”, - is stated on the website of the Platform. Read more…  Source: ginsc.net

Tbilisi. According to information of the Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association, on January 27, Public Defender of Georgia found that Batumi Shota Rustaveli State University and Akaki Tsereteli Batumi Public Library committed direct discrimination against “Identoba” on grounds of sexual orientation and field of activity. Interests of “Identoba” were defended by GYLA. “Ombudsman called on Batumi Shota Rustaveli State University and Akaki Tsereteli Batumi Public Library to elaborate an internal policy document on prohibition and prevention of discrimination and to carry out future activities via adhering to the principle of equality”. The University of Batumi has already planned activities to implement the recommendations, while the library has taken the suggestions of Ombudsman as a note and will consider them in the future. Read more… Source: gyla.ge

Tbilisi. On March 17, representatives of EMC and miners from Dzidziguri Shaft, located in Tkibuli, conducted a joint press conference. “Miners have been refusing to work in the shaft for several days due to hazardous work environment that exists there. EMC supports miners from the Dzidziguri shaft and calls on the state to take into account recommendations, provided through the report of audit carried out on its own request, urging to suspend coal mining activities in shafts and protect labor rights of miners until the safe working environment is provided”, - is stated on the website of the organization. Read more… Source: emc.org.ge

Tbilisi. Organizations and activists that work to protect the rights of persons with disabilities demand effective engagement in the process of revision of the bill on “Rights of Persons with Disabilities. “As you are aware, due to significance and relevance of the issue, it is vitally important to involve representatives of the community of people with disabilities, parents and organizations, working to protect the rights of people with disabilities, in the process of revision of the subject bill in order to ensure any improper decision is not made. At the same time, we note that the World Health Organization and the National Center for Disease Control of Georgia directly recommend to protect the community of disabled people due to the threat of a coronavirus infection since they are the ones who represent one of the risk groups. Respectively, on the one hand, their engagement into the process of revision of the bill is a serious threat to their health, while on the other hand, working on a bill, related to the community of disabled people, without involving them in the process is completely pointless, which also contradicts the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities”, - is noted in the joint statement. Read more… Source: emc.org.ge

Tbilisi. The Coalition publishes the statement on nominating Nino Kadagidze as the chair. “Significantly, the HCOJ made the decision of nominating her upon consultations with Supreme Court judges only, behind closed doors. Judges from the first and second instance courts, as well as civil society representatives and other interested parties, were not involved in these discussions. Given the above questions towards the selection process and the history of judge Kadagidze’s appointment to the supreme court, the Coalition considers the nomination of Nino Kadagidze’s candidacy for the high post of Chair of the Supreme Court of Georgia unjustifiable and calls on members of Parliament not to support her candidacy”, is noted in the statement. Read more… Source: transparency.ge

Tbilisi. Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center reviews a report released by the State Department in regard to legal status of workers. “According to the report, in Georgia, improper working conditions are reflected in various components. Among them is an issue of minimum salary, which is lower than an official level of income for living for those employed in a private or public sector”, - is stated on the website of the organization. Read more… Source: emc.org.ge

U.S embassies around the world contribute to the Human Rights Report. “Our diplomats collect, analyze, and synthesize info from a variety of sources, including government agencies, NGOs, media, and others. You can review the 2019 report on this link... Source: US Embassy’s page in a social network

Tbilisi. The Public Defender of Georgia published a special report on the protection of procedural rights of juvenile defendants, witnesses and victims in the area of criminal justice.  The project was carried out on the basis of the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the Public Defender’s Office of Georgia and the Initiative for the Rehabilitation of Vulnerable Groups (non-commercial legal entity), with the financial support of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.  The purpose of the project was to evaluate, by observing trials, the quality of protection of the rights of children in conflict with the law and juvenile witnesses/victims during court hearings. Trials were monitored from July to December 2019 in three major cities, namely in the City Courts of Tbilisi, Kutaisi and Rustavi.  Read more…   Source: http://ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. On March 10, the Institute for Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI), with the support of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), conducted presentation of a report on the first systemic study, which reflects work environment, career development and professional advancement in terms of gender equality in civil sector. “Data of the quantitative and qualitative study confirm that ways passed by women and men managers in civil service are different, and these differences are reflected through various cultural practices that reveal gender inequality in civil service”, - is stated on the website of the organization.  Read more… Source: idfi.ge