Tbilisi. On September 19, non-governmental organizations presented final results of monitoring implementation of 2016-2017 Human Rights Protection Strategies and Action Plans. The presentation was organized by ''Partnership for Human Rights'' as well as ''Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center'' and attended by representatives of governmental agencies, non-governmental organizations and the community of persons with disabilities. ''According to monitoring results, condition of rights of children living and working in streets has failed to improve substantially. Such issues as child mortality, provision of quality general education to children with special educational needs, especially in rural and mountainous regions, identification of violence conducted against children, response and rehabilitation of children victims of violence are still relevant'', - is stated on the website of the organization in a social network. Read more… Source:The website of the organization in a social network

Tbilisi. At the Information center on NATO and EU GDI is conducting the presentation of the results of monitoring of 2016-2017 Human Rights Strategy and Action Plan. The report includes final results of monitoring of implementation of the Human Rights Strategy and Action Plan: Criminal Justice, Right to Fair Trial and Prosecutor’s Office, for 2016-2017. In full Source: The organization’s webpage

Tbilisi. The Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association calls on the Ministry of Internal Affairs to respect the right to holding a meeting via erecting a tent on a pavement. The organization releases a statement in regard to this issue. Read more (geo)...    Source: gyla.ge

Tbilisi. Part of CSOs respond to the situation around of Georgia -Latvia game at ‘Dinamo’ stadium on September 9, 2018. „Members of society had decided to thank Guram Kashia because of his support to the LGBT community by bringing supportive banners and posters at the stadium. However, most of the LGBT activists were deprived of LGBT symbols by force and were not allowed to take them inside the stadium", - is mentioned in the statement, - „Despite the censorship by the law enforcers, several activists at the stadium were able to take certain attributes inside the stadium secretly. However, as soon as the LGBT activists took out the rainbow flag, the police took it away forcefully. Employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia exaggerated their official duties, which resulted in limiting freedom of expression of LGBT activists. This was committed on the discriminatory ground, based on the support to the LGBT community. It should also be noted that according to the MIA representatives, they were guided by the instructions of the Football Federation, which had issued a notice about the prohibition of any symbols at the stadium. However, as the football federation officially explained later, they never set such restrictions”. In full Source: http://www.isfed.ge

Tbilisi. Human Rights Center made an Address about ongoing process in the Public Broadcasting. "HRC is studying facts of alleged violation of labor rights of the employees of the Georgian Public Broadcasting”, - is mentioned in the address, - "According to the Human Rights Center’s assessment, the GPB offered the labor contracts to the employees, where only the interests of the employer are considered, while the rights of the employees are not respected in accordance to the Georgian legislation and international standards”. In full  Source: The organization’s webpage

Tbilisi. Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center (EMC) has submitted the input document concerning the human rights situation of LGBT people in Georgia for the country visit of the UN Independent Expert on sexual orientation and gender identity - Victor Madrigal-Borloz.  The submission assess the effectiveness of the legislative and policy changes towards strengthening the human rights situation of LGBT persons in Georgia through three main areas: the anti-discrimination policy, fight against Hate crimes based on SOGI and challenges towards the implementation of the right to freedom of assembly and manifestation. Additionally, submission includes the information on the recent human rights violations against LGBT individuals. Document focus on the challenges of the implementation of the rights to freedom of assembly and manifestation of LGBT people and experiences of IDAHOT gatherings in Georgia from 2012 till today.  In full  Source: The organization’s webpage

Tbilisi. The Public Defender of Georgia positively evaluates the introduction of a mechanism by the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia for assessing and monitoring the risks of domestic violence and violence against women. "The Public Defender of Georgia expresses hope that the introduction of the risk assessment and monitoring mechanism will facilitate effective response to the cases of domestic violence, including elimination of systemic problems, and will have positive impact on the prevention of gender-related killings of women (femicide)”, - is mentioned in the statement. In full  Source: The Public Defender’s webpage

Tbilisi. The Public Defender of Georgia addressed Kvemo Kartli municipalities with a recommendation to ensure access to safe water and sanitation. The monitoring carried out by the Public Defender’s Office in several schools of Marneuli, Tsalka, Gardabani and Dmanisi municipalities in June 2018 showed that the school environment, infrastructure, access to water and sanitary situation are alarming and need to be urgently improved, which should be seen by the relevant agencies as one of the most important priorities. In full  Source: The Public Defender’s webpage

Tbilisi. Public Defender of Georgia Describes Parking Rules for Persons with Disabilities in Tbilisi as Discriminatory and addressed Tbilisi City Council with a recommendation. As a result of the amendments made in 2016, only persons with first-degree disabilities have the right to enjoy the parking lots intended for persons with disabilities. Tbilisi City Council justifies such a approach, since the legislation generally distinguishes first-degree and significant disabilities and the new regulation grants a privilege only to persons who require higher quality care based on factual situation. In full  Source: The Public Defender’s webpage

Tbilisi. Public Defender Assesses Lack of Access to Communication for Blind Persons through Braille Font or Alternate Form as Discriminatory and addressed the Government of Georgia with a recommendation. According to the statement of the Public Defender’s office, the Government of Georgia refused to accept a blind person’s application since it was made in braille. Instead, the employee offered the applicant's accompanying person to file an application of standard font. The Public Defender addressed the Government of Georgia with a recommendation to enable blind persons, as well as persons with visual impartment, to file applications by using the braille font or other alternative forms. In full  Source: The Public Defender’s webpage

Tbilisi. Partnership for Human Rights (PHR) visited 7 psychiatric institutions. In Khoni and Surami lawyers were restricted three times to meet individuals living in mentioned institutions. In regard to these facts the organization submitted an application to the Ministry of Health twice. While visiting psychiatric institutions PHR conducted 22 legal consultations. Read more… Source:phrgeorgia.wordpress.com

Tbilisi. On August 6, 2018, the Public Defender of Georgia addressed Ltd Georgian Airways with a recommendation, after the latter did not provide a person with disabilities with a wheelchair. ''According to the information posted on the company's website, they cannot provide a wheelchair unless they are notified of such a necessity 72 hours earlier. Since the citizen’s trip was planned in a shorter period due to his health condition, a representative of the company refused him to provide a wheelchair during the registration at the airport, while another employee of the company requested him to pay € 104. It should be noted that no information was posted on the website of the company about the mentioned fee. The person with disabilities had to walk, which caused bleeding from his wound'', is noted in the statement. Read more… Source: www.ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. On August 6, 2018, the Public Defender of Georgia addressed the Parliament of Georgia with a recommendation to amend the Law of Georgia on Amnesty to enable wanted persons to enjoy the right to amnesty on an equal basis with others, as well as to determine a procedure in the Criminal Code of Georgia regarding the enjoyment of the amnesty law by all categories of persons. In the recommendation, the Public Defender focused on the legal nature of the amnesty and indicated that this right arises from time to time, through the special law adopted by the state. Consequently, the right to amnesty shall be applied to all persons who objectively fall under the scope of the amnesty law. Read more… Source: www.ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. Public Defender publishes a special bulletin that refers to the tragic events of 2008. ''The war was a severe blow to Georgia's political, economic and democratic development. The conflict harmed relations between people, relatives and friends. Today the border guards of the Russian Federation illegally detain and fine people at places of intensive movement and trade 10 years ago. According to the Russian and de-facto authorities, the number of persons detained on the occupation line of Abkhazia amounted to 15 000 in 2009-2017 and the number of detainees on the occupation line of the Tskhinvali region was 1 063 in 2016-2017. Cases of deprivation of life have also occurred on the occupation lines. The conflicts in the 90s and 2008 affected more than half a million people. 278 103 out of them became internally displaced persons. 20% of the territory of Georgia is occupied. These figures indicate the challenges faced by our country and the huge responsibility of the central government'', is noted in the statement. Read more… Source: www.ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. Partnership for Human Rights (PHR) publishes a blog post of Ana Tavkhelidze, a lawyer of the organization, regarding a problem of children living and working in the street and obligations of the state in this direction. ''We work to ensure protection of rights of children and, respectively, we are often addressed by people, including parents, as well as individuals who get explained that particular children are victims of violence, work or live in the street. We provide legal assistance to these people and help them communicate with state agencies. However, just our resource is not sufficient to solve this problem'' – is stated on the website of the organization. Read more… Source: phrgeorgia.wordpress.com

Tbilisi. The Institute for Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI) publishes an article ''Sexual and reproductive health and rights of women with disabilities''. The author refers on analysis of information and data obtained within the framework of a desk research. The purpose of the work is to evaluate a state policy in connection with sexual and reproductive health and rights of women with disabilities and reveal those main challenges that exist in this direction. Read more… Source:The website of the organization

Tbilisi. On July 26, local residents of Chuberi and Khaishi protested against the measures taken by the Investigation Service of the Ministry of Finance in the villages of Mestia municipality - Chuberi, Khaishi and Idliani. Protesters blocked the Zugdidi-Mestia road.  Representatives of the Public Defender's Office in Samegrelo and Zemo-Svaneti are monitoring the ongoing developments on the ground. ''The Public Defender says it is important the law enforcers not to restrict the freedom of assembly and demonstration of the protesters. She also calls on the protesters to peacefully express their protest'', is noted in the statement. Read more… Source: ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. Non-governmental organizations once again respond to both carried out and ongoing processes of investigation of murder of two juveniles that took place on Khorava Street. ''In regard to this case, efforts spent by the Public Defender are important. In the statement, made after a detailed study of the case, the Public Defender has indicated very likely criminal character of actions carried out by investigators. In spite of all this, there still are case related questions, on which we consider that comprehensive answers should be provided by investigative bodies'' – is stated on the website of the organization. Read more... Source: www.transparency.ge

Tbilisi. Institute for Development of Freedom of Information publishes an Open Parliament Action Plan for 2018-2019. It includes: Promoting and Monitoring the Implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals by the Parliament of Georgia. Increasing Citizen Involvement in the Elaboration and Approval of the Budget. Strengthen Effectiveness and Transparency of the Parliament by Implementing Innovative Technologies. Creation of a Citizen Engagement Center in the Parliament of Georgia. Raising Awareness about Parliamentary Democracy. Read more… Source: idfi.ge

Tbilisi. UNICEF presented a new study regarding children living and working on the streets of Georgia. ''The research reveals that some groups of children live and move together in order to protect each other, to find places to sleep, to create spaces for leisure and entertainment, to cultivate friendship, and to cooperate in economic activities like petty trading, street begging, and petty crime. Other groups of children have internal structures that divide them into seniors/superiors and subordinates. Older children sometimes use younger children below age 14 (subordinate children) as ‘shields’ to avoid criminal prosecution, pushing them to carry out criminal activities and hand over the profits'', is noted in the study. Read more… Source: unicef.ge

Tbilisi. Transparency International - Georgia publishes an evaluation of intended changes to the Criminal Code. ''The legislative initiative has been presented as so-called ''Girgvliani amendments'' and implies tightening of responsibility on civil offenses committed by state political officials'' – is stated on the website of the organization. Read more... Source:www.transparency.ge

Organizations, members of the Georgian National Platform of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum, express sorrow regarding another tragedy that took place in the Mindeli mineshaft and offer their condolences to families of those deceased. Organizations call on the State to take steps towards putting in place a security policy and its enforcement mechanism, fulfilling EU obligations, establishing labor inspection and studying incidents that occurred in the Mindeli mineshaft. Read more… Source: The website of the Platform in a social network