Tbilisi. Non-Governmental Organizations, members of the platform, respond to the extremist video, released through the social network. ''On September 21, on a face book page, named as Georgian Ultras, the video recording has been released, which reflects two episodes of physical assault from organized group on peaceful people in Tbilisi streets. Considering the risks, coming from the above group, it is essential that the Ministry of Internal Affairs carries out all reasonable measures for the purpose of in-time identification of the group and violence prevention in the future'' – is noted in the joint statement. In full… Source:gdi.ge

Tbilisi. Non-Governmental Organizations appeal to the embassies and international organizations requesting them to provide assistance. The request is related to provision of political asylum to the representative of the opposition party of Azerbaijan. "Human Rights Center, Article 42 of the Constitution and Public Defender express our concern due to dragging out the process of provision of the refugee status by the Ministry of Internally Displaced Persons from the Occupied Territories, Accommodation and Refugees to Dashghin Aghararli, the citizen of Azerbaijan and the representative of opposition party. We appeal to the diplomatic corps, accredited in Georgia, and international organizations to protect the rights of Dashghin Aghararli and to provide political asylum in any European country to him and his family” – is noted in the joint statement. In full… Source:The web-page of the organization in a social network

Tbilisi. On September 15, the Memorandum of Understanding has been signed between the State Fund for Protection and Assistance of (statutory) Victims of Human Trafficking and the "Women’s Information Center”. According to the Memorandum, for the purpose of assistance and protection of the victims of domestic violence/trafficking, the parties undertake the responsibility to provide support to the victims. The Women’s Information Center intends to organize analytical and informative events and to provide legal consultations. In full… Source:www.ginsc.net

Tbilisi. On September 14, in the conference hall of the National Library, the Human Rights Center has made the presentation of the report on "female and juvenile prisoners in Georgia”. The project has been implemented with the support of the Embassy of Bulgaria and in partnership with the Public Defender. The survey aimed to portray the situation of female and juvenile prisoners. Planned and unplanned visits were carried out at the Rustavi # 5 women penitentiary institution, the Tbilisi # 11 juvenile rehabilitation facility and the juvenile division of the Gldani # 8 penitentiary institution. In full… Source:humanrights.ge

Tbilisi. On September 15, 2015, the Human Rights and Civil Integration Committee of the Parliament of Georgia will consider legislative proposal related to property confiscations prepared by "Young Barrister”. New legislative proposal will extend statute of limitation for reopening court proceeding on the basis of newly discovered evidences and court decision abolishment from 5 to 15 years. New legislative changes will give real opportunity to the citizens, whose property had been confiscated to appeal to the court and factually have a chance to recover violated rights. Implementation of such an amendment would be a step forward to establishing justice and rule of law. The cases will be considered again, from the very beginning and the court will make a new judgment on the specific case, rather than appealing to the principle of common approach towards those, whose property had been confiscated. The organization believes, that 15 year statute of limitation for reopening court case is a reasonable term. In full... Source: barristers.ge

Tbilisi. Public Defender together with Deputies of the Public Defender have met with population in the villages of Omalo, Shenako and Dartlo in Tusheti region on September 10, 2015. The conversations revealed that the main problems of the mountainous region are poor road infrastructure, shaky supply of electricity and drinking water, lack of sewage and landfills. Medical service also remains a problematic issue. Locals are unable to get assistance in time even though an emergency center was opened there, since there is only one doctor in the region, while villages are dozens of kilometers away from each other. In addition, there is no ambulance and the doctor has to go to patients on horseback. In Full... Source: www.ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. In Georgia there might be a court approval needed for marriage of individuals from 16 to 18 years. The Public Defender submitted a legislative proposal to the parliament regarding prevention of early age marriage and change of rule for marriage approval for individuals less than 18 years. "With this initiative the Public Defender has shared the recommendation of the Committee on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), which calls on the State of Georgia to perform this particular type of change. In the end the Committee has supported the proposal and has started working on transforming it into a legislative initiative” – is noted in the statement of the organization. In full… Source:www.ginsc.net

Tbilisi. On September 9, at the sitting of the Health Care and Social Issues Committee of the Parliament of Georgia, the deputies have discussed a legislative proposal submitted by the organization "Article 42 of the Constitution”. The initiative considers changes to the ''Labor Code''. According to the statement of the speaker- the Coordinator of the Advocacy Group, the legislative proposal has been prepared within the frames of the project – ''Promoting Gender Equality in Employment'' and offers to the Parliament of Georgia the amendments to the labor legislation for ensuring gender equality. The members of the Committee have voted in favor of the legislative proposal. In full… Source:The web-page of the organization in a social network

Tbilisi. Public organizations, involved in "This Affects You” Campaign, release joint statement and call on the law enforcement authorities to start an investigation based on the declaration of the journalist Eka Mishveladze. "Launch immediate investigation, based on the public declaration of the journalist, and disclose perpetrators in case there have been found the facts of illegal surveillance and listening. In the opposite circumstance the government will be held politically responsible for surveillance of citizens due to their journalistic or opposition political activities in country and for putting pressure on them” – is noted in the statement. In full… Source:gyla.ge

Tbilisi. The organizations, part of the public platform ''No To Phobia!'', respond to the document - ''Report of the Chairman of the Faction of ''Georgian Dream – Democratic Georgia'' of Khulo Municipality Council on the work done''. ''Mentioned document contains hate language and expressions of Armenophobic character'' – is noted in the statement. The organizations, part of the platform, address to the Public Defender to examine and comment the above fact within the frames of its competence. Besides, they call on the political union ''Georgian Dream'' to respond to mentioned xenophobic expressions using its intra-party mechanisms. In full... Source:gyla.ge

Tbilisi. Public Defender has updated the diplomatic missions of the positive trends and challenges in the field of human rights at the meeting held within the framework of the ambassadorial on 3 September 2015. The Public Defender focused on the situation and ongoing reforms in the penitentiary system, facts of improper treatment by law enforcers and investigation of the facts, legislative amendments and the efforts of the Public Defender’s Office for the eradication of all forms of discrimination.  In Full... Source: www.ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. The Council of the Charter of Journalistic Ethics responds to the incident that happened on the 1st September in Qeda, during which, "in accordance with the information, provided by the Adjara Public Broadcaster, the journalist of the TV Company has been abused both verbally and physically. … The Council expresses its concern over the incident and calls on both the Government and the Prosecutor’s office of the Autonomous Republic of Adjara to ensure timely and adequate response…” – is noted in the statement. In full… Source: media.ge

Tbilisi. The Public Defender has addressed the National Communications Commission with regard to ensuring access to information for persons with disabilities. The efforts taken by the National Communications Commission of Georgia cannot properly provide the use of sign language interpretation, subtitles, braille system, typhlo-comments and other special means of communication in mass media. Given the above-mentioned, the Public Defender has proposed the National Communications Commission... In Full... Source: www.ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. The Organization "Young Barristers” convened Round Table to discuss problems related to reinstatement process of justice, judicial shortcomings and the deprived property cases. Young Barristers introduced legislative proposal to media representatives. "Presented legislative proposal is the real solution for the cases of those, having their property deprived, who are unable to manage reinstatement of justice and return of the property due to shortcomings and controversies existing in the legislation” - says the web-page of the organization. In full... Source:barristers.ge

Tbilisi. Coalition for "Independent and Transparent Judiciary” comments on the process of selection-appointment of judges, which took place in July of current year. The process, as mentioned in the statement released by the coalition, "was characterized with particular low degree of transparency and openness. …It is considered that transparency of the selection-appointment process of judges is important in order to ensure trust of the society towards independence of judges and court system. While the closure of this process will not facilitate both the improvement of the court system and the increase of its authority among professional layers and in the view of wider society”. In full… Source: gyla.ge

Tbilisi. Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center (EMC) comments on the housing process of socially insecure families, living at the former military hospital. The center considers that "…the process, led by the state up-to date, in regard to housing of homeless families is not properly managed , which reduces the faire decision-making possibility and causes mistrust of respective individuals in regard to alternatives offered by the state”… is said in the information. In full... Source:emc.org.ge

Tbilisi. The Public Defender of Georgia has addressed the Governor of Akhmeta Municipality with a recommendation concerning the legitimacy of non-provision of information to the media. On June 1, 2015 the governance of Akhmeta municipality refused to provide information about identity and contact details of representatives of the Municipality Governor to the Kakheti Information Center. The Public Defender considers that with this fact the legitimate right of the Kakheti Information Center about freedom of receiving information was limited. In full… Source: ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. International experts and representatives of the court, prosecutor's office, parliament and non-governmental organizations presented their positions during a round table meeting held on August 7. Author of the research, Richard Vogler provided recommendations to his Georgian colleagues with regard to what measures should be taken for reforming the procedure of interrogation of witnesses in Georgia. In full... Source: www.osgf.ge

Tbilisi. The Georgian Democratic Initiative has released another human rights newsletter, which describes key developments and legislative initiatives in the field of human rights, including the US State Department report on the Human Rights in Georgia, the UN Resolution on the Status of IDPs and Refugees in Georgia, etc. Read more... Source: gdi.ge

Tbilisi. The Public Defender of Georgia, in partnership with the Tbilisi State University and with support from the EU project, has organized public debates over readiness of the state to resolve problems of eco-migrants. The Public Defender has discussed the status of eco-migrants in the country and expressed hope that debates will contribute to identification of current problems and searching ways for their solution. Source: ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. JumpStart Georgia published visualization:Why are women selling themselves short in Georgia? ''During the last 6 years, employed women in Georgia earned, on average, 318 GEL less per month than men. What's more, even though men and women both do not like their current remuneration, less women express dissatisfaction with their job''. For more information... Source: feradi.info

Tbilisi. A discussion over the meaning of a social disability model was held as part of a joint project by Frontline Club and the "Liberal" Magazine. The magazine offers a video recording of the discussion for those who were unable to attend.       Source: liberali.ge