Tbilisi. The public defender calls on demonstrators: If you have information regarding alleged human rights violations, please contact the Public Defender's Office of Georgia via hotline: 1481. “Representatives of the Public Defender are actively studying each incident that took place during the rally. They are also working to establish the location of the detained and missing persons. In addition, they will observe trials and visit the injured at hospitals", is noted in the statement. Read more… Source: www.ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. Women’s Initiatives Supporting Group releases a statement in regard to violence publicly encouraged during past few days against LGBTQI people living in Georgia. “We urge means of media to not facilitate promotion of hate speech language and more stigmatization of LGBTQI people; We call on the Ministry of Internal Affairs to eliminate immediately hate-motivated crimes or incidents, including threats related to such crimes”. Read... Source:The website of the organization in a social network

Tbilisi. On 19 June 2019, Public Defender held Round Table on Legal Status of Refugees and Aliens in Georgia in connection with the World Refugee Day. The efforts made by the Public Defender in the direction of studying the situation of refugees and aliens in Georgia was introduced at the event.  Since 2015, Public Defender's representatives have been actively studying the human rights situation of asylum seekers and refugees in Georgia, as well as carrying out intensive monitoring of access to asylum procedures at the state border of Georgia, as well as the center for asylum seekers and the procedure of determination of the refugee status in order to check the quality of the asylum procedure, with the support of the UNHCR Representative in South Caucasus; in addition, trainings are held within the framework of the project, both for the employees of the Office and representatives of state agencies with regard to asylum issues and legislation.  Read more Source: The web-page of the organization

Tbilisi. Nino Mchedlidze, the wife of Vepkhvia Khuchua, one of the workers deceased on a construction in Ortachala on March 16, 2019, applied to Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center (EMC) with the request to provide a legal assistance. “EMC is ready to submit a lawsuit to a civil court and claim compensation for the damage caused to the family of Kuchua once relevant evidences are obtained”, - is stated on the website of the organization. Read more… Source: emc.org.ge

Tbilisi. Non-governmental organizations release statement on the 14 and 16 June events. “The public saw clearly that the LGBT+ activists were prevented from exercising their right outside the Chancellery on 14 June. They, as well as other peaceful citizens, journalists and representatives of the Public Defender, became a target of threats and violence on the part of the groups whose leaders have links to the Russian Federation. Considering all the above, we believe that, in the situation that has taken shape, the following is necessary: The law enforcement bodies must investigate in a timely and efficient manner the violent actions committed and calls made at the rallies on 14 and 16 June; All necessary preventive measures must be carried out in order to ensure the safety of LGBT+ activists during the Tbilisi Pride Week so that they are able to freely exercise their right to public assembly and expression; The government must be particularly careful and pay special attention to the extremist forces stepping up their activities in the country, study their possible links to the Russian special services and efficiently respond to the threats and challenges that exist in this respect,” is noted in the statement. Read more… Source: isfed.ge

Tbilisi. Organizations working on human rights respond to developments occurred on June 14 and June 16. “It is obvious that the government is unable to ensure protection of freedom of assembly of LGBT people for years already and openly neglects LGBT people and their rights. ... Signatory organizations once again call on the state authorities to realize their responsibility in the occurred social crisis and take effective measures for passing the policy grounded on equality and inclusion. It is essential to have political parties and the Patriarchate realize their responsibility in this process”, - is noted in the joint statement. Read more… Source: gyla.ge

Tbilisi. The Public Defender of Georgia is responding to the events developed during the demonstration organized by the LGBT community and their supporters on 14 June, including violent incidents and statements of counter-demonstrators.  “Media reports, as well as the monitoring of the demonstration on the ground, refer to a number of offenses committed by counter-demonstrators, which require additional timely and adequate response by the investigative bodies”, - The Public Defender mentioned, - “Despite political differences, all political community should agree on that humiliation of any group and encouragement of violence against them is inadmissible. Tolerance and respect for the different is the basis of our country’s constitutional and legal order, which is threatened by strengthening of similar groups”.  Read more Source: The webpage of the Public Defender’s office

Tbilisi. On 12 June 2019, the Public Defender of Georgia addressed the Minister of Internal Affairs of Georgia and the Minister of IDPs, Labour, Health and Social Affairs of Georgia with a recommendation to evaluate a juvenile's living environment and the measures to be taken for the protection of the juvenile from repeated violence. ''The recommendation is based on the statement released by the Human Rights Center on 22 May 2019 regarding the repeated abuse of a juvenile and alleged forced marriage, as well as the results of the study carried out by the Public Defender's Office, including the monitoring visit. According to the Public Defender’s recommendation, adequate measures should be planned in order to protect and support the child victim of violence'', is noted in the statement. Read more… Source: ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. According to Partnership for Human Rights (PHR), a psychiatric hospital has been ordered to pay GEL 5000 for unlawful hospitalization of a person. ''In October 2017, while coming out of her room in her home, Mariana Manveliani unexpectedly confronted several police officers and an emergency medical doctor. They took Mariana to a psychiatric hospital on the basis of a call of her mother with the intention to provide her with an involuntary psychiatric assistance. Transfer of Mariana took place in a way that both the patrol police and emergency medical doctor did not listen to explanations of Mariana in regard to the situation occurred in the family'' – is stated on the website of the organization. Read more… Source:phrgeorgia.wordpress.com

Tbilisi. The Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association (GYLA) has presented its comments related to a new Law on "Personal Data Protection” to the Parliament. "GYLA calls on the Parliament of Georgia to consider submitted remarks while reviewing a legislative package in order to facilitate improvement of personal data regulatory norms”, - is stated on the website of the organization. Read more… Source:gyla.ge

Tbilisi. GYLA submitted critical comments to the Parliament of Georgia in regard to the legislative package prepared by the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia and initiated by the Government of Georgia. GYLA considers that norms initiated in the Law on Police do not comply with basic rights guaranteed by the second Chapter of the Constitution of Georgia, commitments undertaken through international agreements of Georgia and, besides, basic legal principles enhanced by the applicable legislation of Georgia related to protection of personal data. Read more… Source:The website of the organization