Tbilisi. On September 2, 2016, the Public Defender of Georgia started to study the gender-based distribution of tickets and seats in transport by JSC Metro Georgia on his own initiative, as he considered that this existing practice might be encouraging segregation of men and women. "According to the regulation, the passenger has the right to buy a ticket only beside a person of the same sex. The company explained that the similar distribution of tickets was requested by passengers, as they want to travel at night with persons of the same sex. In order to eliminate the discriminatory practice, the Public Defender proposed Metro Georgia to add a parameter on its website, which would enable passengers to electronically express their position about whether or not they agree that people of different sex buy a ticket next to their seats. It should be noted that the JSC Metro Georgia expressed its readiness to carry out the abovementioned change and the company started to work on the issue, which may last several months”, is noted in the statement. In full… Source: www.ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. Lawyers of ''Partnership for Human Rights'' (PHR) provided legal consultation to disabled individuals living in a Dusheti boarding house for disabled. ''PHR is pleased that this time employees of the organization have been given the possibility to meet individuals living in the boarding house. We hope that we will have an opportunity of meeting beneficiaries freely in the future too'' – is stated on the website of the organization. In full... Source: phrgeorgia.wordpress.com

Tbilisi. On December 21, 2016, the Public Defender of Georgia held a working meeting with representatives of the civil society and governmental agencies to discuss the rights situation of women and children in the conflict-affected regions. The two sides exchanged information and summarized recommendations. ''The Public Defender's Office presented a draft special report, which includes key findings and recommendations. The problems outlined in the report concern domestic violence, low level of women's political participation, child poverty, violation of the right to health and safety, restrictions on the right to education, inconsistency or lack of the human rights policy'', is noted in the statement. In full... Source: www.ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center (EMC) publishes an information brochure: ''What to know during contact with police''. ''The brochure focuses on such issues, knowing of which is particularly important in the circumstance, when an employee of a respective body does not perform legislative obligation'' – is stated on the website of the organization. In full... Source:emc.org.ge

Tbilisi. Gender Information Portal releases information regarding new campaign of UN Women. ''New campaign to confront violence against women has started. ''We are all women'' #weareallwomen - is the name of a new video clip, the main idea of which is to raise awareness of the form of violence that often takes place in society. ...It reminds all abusers about origin of life that is specifically in a body of a woman'' – is stated on the website of the Gender Information Portal. In full... Source:ginsc.net

Tbilisi. On December 20, the European Court of Human Rights made decision on two cases: Chokheli and others against the Russian Federation and Dzidzava against the Russian Federation. ''...With the decision, made today, the European Court concluded that the Russian Federation violated Articles 3, 5, 13 and Article 4 of Protocol 4 of the Convention in regard to 8 individuals under protection of GYLA'' – is stated on the website of the Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association. In full... Source:gyla.ge

Tbilisi. The Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center (EMC) held a two-day workshop – women rights and emancipation issues. ''The purpose of the workshop is to actualize invisible issues and challenges, related to women needs and priorities in the political agenda, and to facilitate their advocacy'' – is stated on the website of the organization in a social network. In full… Source: The website of the organization in a social network

Tbilisi. The Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association summarizes activities of the Tbilisi Legal Assistance Center of GILA for 2016. ''During 2016 the Legal Assistance Center of the Tbilisi office of GILA has provided legal consultancy to more than 14 000 individuals. Besides legal consultancies, GILA assisted individuals in drafting legal documents'' – is stated on the website of the organization. In full... Source:gyla.ge

Tbilisi. On December 13-16, 2016, Public Defender Ucha Nanuashvili and representatives of the Public Defender's Office took part in the Georgian-Abkhazian meeting organized by the Council of Europe. ''The meeting, which was aimed at exchanging information and discussing the human rights situation of the conflict-affected population, was also attended by representatives of the Georgian and Abkhaz civil societies. The topics of discussion included the right to education, awareness-raising about human rights, the freedom of movement and the related right to health, women's and children's rights, and the situation in the penitentiary system'', is noted in the statement. In full… Source: www.ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. About 15% of the world's population lives with some form of disability. People with disabilities are one of the largest minority groups that remain dearth of attention alongside with discrimination by state and society. ''Nowadays, Disability State pension/allowance amounts to 70 or 100 GEL which is depending on a category of disability. Importance of employment for disabled persons’ integration is hard to underestimate. In light of this, IDFI also requested information to GeoStat on the number of employed disabled persons either in public or private sectors. As it founds out, there exists no statistical data about working disabled persons in National Statistics Office of Georgia'', is noted in the statement. In full… Source: idfi.ge

Tbilisi. On December 15, the Union ''Saphari'' has published a study conducted with the support of the ''Open Society Georgia Foundation''. The aim of the study is to raise awareness about femicide and obligations of the state… ''To stop gender-based killings there is a need of comprehensive approach, which includes legal, administrative, political and other measures... states need to acknowledge that femicide is crime…'' – is stated on the website of the Open Society Georgia Foundation. In full… Source: www.osgf.ge

Tbilisi. On December 1, at metro Rustaveli, an initiative group ''Women for Georgia'' organized an exhibition. ''Photographer Goga Chanadiri took photos which was against domestic violence. The initiative group presented visitors with the 2017 calendars. ''Women’s information center'' is within the 16-day campaign which is called violence against women. ''Women’s information center'' has awarded small grants for various projects'', is noted in the statement. In full… Source: The organization’s web-page in a social network

Tbilisi. On December 9, 2016, Public Defender awarded the winners of the competition Me - Ombudsman 2016. ''Me-Ombudsman is a competition organized by the Public Defender for students aged 13-18. Ombudsman is a person who acts as an intermediary, representative and human rights defender between the citizens and the state. In some countries Ombudsman is called Public defender'', is noted in the statement. In full… Source: www.ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. South Caucasus Regional Office of the Heinrich Boell Foundation invites you to participate in a contest for discovering lost her stories. By the initiative of Foundation, project "50 women of Georgia" was implemented in 2012. As a continuation of this initiative, we want to again promote rethinking of women's her stories, who were fighting for changes, but were not dully acknowledged. Her stories from the regions will be prioritized. On the first stage of the contest, by December 30, 2016, you are invited to send the name of a woman and a justification from 200 to 300 words, explaining why you consider activity of a proposed woman as important”, is noted in the statement. In full… Source: www.feminism-boell.org

Tbilisi. The Public Defender of Georgia has started to check the quality of water at public schools of Georgia following the appeal of the Young Teachers’ Union and the Management System Development Center. ''According to the reply received from the National Food Agency, they examined 129 samples of public school water in 2015-2016, 45 out of which failed to meet the requirements of the Decree No 58 on the Drinking Water Technical Regulations adopted by the Government of Georgia on January 15, 2014, which is caused by ineffective disinfestation of water and refers to the epidemic unsafety'', is noted in the statement. In full… Source: www.ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. The Public Defender of Georgia is echoing the promo video of a new program Men’s Time circulated on the Public Broadcaster and the Internet. ''In the mentioned promo video, women are used only for the background, while two men stand as the central figures. The degrading role of the women in the video emphasizes the central role of the men in the society. The Public Defender considers that the video promotes gender oppressive practice and strengthens negative gender stereotypes concerning women’s professional capabilities and their development. The Public Defender calls on the Public Broadcaster to pay special attention to the protection of human dignity and equality during preparation of programs and promo videos'', is noted in the statement. In full… Source: www.ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. On December 4, ''Women’s Information Center'' conducted an event named as ''100 women against violence''. Besides, a discussion was also held on ''Gender and gender based violence''. The organization is involved in a 16-day campaign, contesting violence against women, in the framework of which it has released small grants for various projects. In full... Source: The website of the organization in a social network

Tbilisi. On 3 December 2016, International Day of Persons with Disabilities, the Government of Georgia presented its first report to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The event was organised with assistance from the European Union in Georgia and UNDP Georgia. In full… Source: Social Page

Tbilisi. The law, which tightens responsibility for violent crime, will come into force through the third reading in the Parliament. ''The liability limitation period will not apply to such criminal offenses as torture, threat of torture, humiliating and inhuman treatment, and the definition of the law will be specified respectively. The article on violence will be defined in a new way'' – is stated on the website of Gender Information Portal. In full… Source: ginsc.net

Tbilisi. What do you feel if you are a person with disability? What does inclusive environment really mean? Who is responsible for protecting the rights of people with disabilities? How to report about people with disabilities in the media? All that and more at a background briefing for lead Georgian journalists organized by UNDP Georgia and European Union in Georgia Union. In full… Source: The organization’s web-page in a social network

Tbilisi. Partnership for Human Rights (PHR) publishes a video clip within the framework of a project – ''Inclusion of different groups of persons with disabilities in Georgia''. The project is implemented by the organizations ''Partnership for Human Rights'' and Disability Rights International (DRI), with the USAID financial support. Source:The website of the organization in a social network

Tbilisi. The Kato Mikeladze Award has been received by Eka Skhiladze, the Deputy Public Defender. ''The primary goal of establishment of the Kato Mikeladze Award is to build a safe environment in which work of Women Human Rights Defenders is acknowledged and recognized, where the public is made aware of the important work that Women Human Rights Defenders do in Georgia and where Women Human Rights Defenders can become role models for a younger generation of women'' – is stated on the website of the organization. In full… Source: The website of the organization in a social network