Tbilisi. On the basis of an application of the Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center (EMC), the Ombudsman has defined a fact of associative discrimination against the administration of a vegan cafe ''Kiwi'', committed by the owner of the premise via direct discrimination due to outlook and signs of sexual orientation. Reade more... Source: emc.org.ge

Tbilisi. On May 2, 2017, the Public Defender of Georgia held a conference, the topic of which was: ''3 years from the enactment of the anti-discrimination law: achievements, challenges and future prospects''. ''At the opening of the conference, the Public Defender said that the adoption of the anti-discrimination law was an effective step forward in protecting human rights, namely the right to equality. According to him, a significant achievement is that the law applies to both public and private individuals and prohibits discrimination on all grounds in all fields of public life'', is noted in the statement. In full… Source: www.ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. ''Coalition for Equality'' responds to the information, spread in the media, regarding kidnapping of a juvenile girl for the purpose of marriage in Kvemo Kartli and to allegedly ineffective response of police to the fact. ''The Coalition considers that existence of such cases of violence is a result of discriminatory policy of the state in relation to those crimes, victims of which happen to become women and girls. Ineffectiveness of the state in relation to prevention, investigation and punishment of violence against women breaches the principle of equality before the law and discriminates women'' – is noted in the joint statement. Read more… Source: phrgeorgia.wordpress.com

Tbilisi. The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia has been charged to compensate moral damage to a participant of the rally of May 26, 2011. ''The decision was taken by the Tbilisi City Court, which defined that rights of the participant of the rally, held on May 26, 2011 on the Rustaveli Avenue in the Tbilisi City, were violated'' – is stated on the website of the Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association. Reade more… Source: gyla.ge

Tbilisi. On April 27, 2017, the Public Defender of Georgia was informed that a 17-year-old girl was abducted for the purpose of marriage from the school area in the village of Takala, Marneuli municipality. ''Despite the fact that the girl denies violence, the Public Defender is concerned about the incident. In general, early marriage, especially ''abductions'', may potentially impact on the children’s healthy development and their rights to live in a free environment and get education'', is noted in the statement. In full… Source: www.ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. The action ''Protect our work'' was held at the Chancellery of the Government of Georgia. The action was organized in relation with the International Workers' Day to protect labor rights of women. Read more… Source: The website of the organization in a social network

Tbilisi. The Coalition for an Independent and Transparent Judiciary responds to an "Initiative to restrict freedom of expression in order to protect credibility of court”. "On this background, initiatives, presented in the name of protecting independence of court, which, in fact, aim at restricting this possibility, carry a tangible and real threat of keeping a critical part of the society in a forced silence, thus not resolving, but further deepening existing problems” – is noted in the statement. Read more... Source: The website of the organization in a social network

Tbilisi. ''Coalition for Equality'' publishes a report: ''Implementation of the right to protection against discrimination for various groups in Georgia''. ''The document describes situation in terms of rights of different discriminated, marginalized and vulnerable social groups separately and evaluates main trends and shortcomings of a policy pursued in this regard by the state in 2016'' – is noted in the statement. Reade more... Source:emc.org.ge

Tbilisi. Member organizations of ''No to Phobia!'' make a statement regarding attempt of the State Agency for Religious Affairs to obtain personal information of clergymen from religious confessions. ''We consider that collecting this information, for the purpose of processing it, is illegal and violates requirements of the law of Georgia ''On Personal Data Protection'' – is noted in the statement. Reade more... Source:gdi.ge

Tbilisi. Five-day Training of Trainers in Advocacy for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights has started today. „Training aims to raise participants’ awareness regarding interconnection of sexual and reproductive health and rights with the issues of strengthening women. Invited trainers Irina Costache, Ph.D. In Gender Studies and Adriana, Radu Master of Public Health will lead the training for the women and girls who already have specific experience in direction of SRHR", is noted in the statement. In full… Source: The organization’s web-page in a social page

Tbilisi. On April 21, a conference on "Equality Policy and Main Challenges in Georgia” was held. "The conference was focused on reviewing activities, carried out by non-governmental organizations, members of "Coalition for Equality”, in 2015 and 2016 years in order to eliminate discrimination in various fields”. Full version of the above presentation can be seen here... Source: sapari.ge

Tbilisi. On April 19, 2017, the Public Defender held the International Conference on Evolution and Challenges of Multi-mandated National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) in connection with the 20th anniversary of the Public Defender’s Office of Georgia. ''Ombudsmen of various countries, human rights defenders, representatives of the international community and civil societies, as well as MPs and representatives of the Government, discussed the current situation, challenges and advancements relating to the multi-mandated human rights institutions. Representatives of NHRIs shared experience and best practices of their countries'', is noted in the statement. In full… Source: www.ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. The Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center (EMC), within the framework of a research: ''An Assessment of the Labor Inspection Mechanism and a Study of Labor Rights Conditions in Georgia'', publishes excerpts from interviews with employees. ''It is cold during the winter period. Terribly cold, really, do you know how cold it is? There is no difference whether you sit outside or inside, it doesn't make a sense. There are some small heaters and et cetera, but when you work you do not feel cold'' - says one of the employees. Read more… Source:emc.org.ge

Tbilisi. The Constitutional Court of Georgia satisfied a constitutional claim of Giorgi Kraveishvili against the Government of Georgia. ''The court considered confidentiality of identity of independent experts, who perform evaluation of projects submitted to the state scientific grants competition, unconstitutional in relation to the freedom of information guaranteed by the Constitution of Georgia'' – is stated on the website of the organization. Read more… Source: idfi.ge

Tbilisi. The Georgian National Platform responds to the presidential election and referendum, conducted in the Tskhinvali region. ''In the circumstances, when even after nearly 9 years of completion of an active phase of the conflict tens of thousands of people are still not given the opportunity to return back to their homes and live in peace, it is impossible to consider that the so-called elections, conducted on these territories, have anything common with democratic processes. Even more alarming is an attempt to change the name of the mentioned area, in the future it may be aiming at annexing these territories by Russia'' – is noted in the joint statement. Read more... Source: gyla.ge

Tbilisi. The Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center (EMC), in cooperation with researchers of social rights and members of the State Constitutional Commission, has developed a draft law on amendments to the Constitution of Georgia. ''Proposals have been initiated at the State Constitutional Commission. The purpose of the submitted project is to consider respective guarantees in the Constitution of Georgia in order to establish social justice and equality'' – is stated on the website of the organization. Read more... Source: emc.org.ge

Samegrelo. Lela Motsonelidze, a lawyer of Transparency International - Georgia, has successfully completed one more case at court. ''This time, at the Zugdidi district court, Lela was acting on behalf of Niaz Kvaraia, our next beneficiary from Anaklia. On April 12, 2017, as a result of representation of Lela, the Zugdidi district court satisfied the administrative complaint, abolished registration of the plot of land, made on the name of the state, and ordered to the Samegrelo regional office of the National Agency of Public Registry to register boundaries and the area of the plot of land in an adjusted form'' – is stated on the website of the organization. If you also have a similar problem, contact branches of the organization in different cities. Read more… Source: The website of the organization in a social network

Samtskhe-javakheti. Women's Fund in Georgia continues training series for women within the frames of the project Organizing Grassroots Women’s Groups – Advocacy, Lobbying, and Leadership for Women's Rights In Akhaltsikhe this time. Participant of the previous training in Telavi and Marneuli elaborated group project ideas, that have been funded by the Fund. In full… Source: Organization’s web-page in a social page

Tbilisi. On April 11, 2017, the Parliament’s Human Rights and Civil Integration Committee discussed the report of the Public Defender on the situation of human rights and freedoms in 2016. ''In his speech, Public Defender Ucha Nanuashvili talked about the positive and negative trends in the field of human rights in 2016 and briefly overviewed the topics of the parliamentary report. In his recommendation to the Ministry of Defense, the Public Defender indicated the need for infrastructural repair of the base of armament and technique, as well as timely solution to the logistical issues, which significantly hampers the protection of hygienic conditions at the military bases. The quality of military shoes also needs to be improved'', is noted in the statement. In full… Source: www.ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. On November 24, the Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association, on behalf of four individuals, participants of a protest rally of May 26, 2011, submitted an appeal to the European Court of Human Rights. On March 7, 2017, the European Court delivered its judgment related to this case. ''The Government of Georgia admitted breaching Articles 3 and 11 of the Convention due to mistreatment and violation of the right of assembly, committed against applicants, and took the responsibility to pay a compensation to applicants'' – is stated on the website of the organization. Reade more... Source:gyla.ge

Kvemo kartli. On April 5-6, 2017, Women’s Information center organized training in Tsalka Public Center. ''The aim of the training was to inform the people about women’s rights and gender equality issues. The participants were local residents and the engagement was high particularly among school teachers and kindergarten employees. They received information about gender roles, stereotypes, employment market, gender segregation and gender equality as the part of the democracy, social justice and well being'', is noted in the statement. In full… Source: The organization’s web-page in a social network