Tbilisi. The Chairman of the Georgian Bar Association has released a statement. "I am dismayed at violence exercised against me by the authorities that came to power in Georgia with democratic slogans, demonstrated by the breach of my fundamental rights. The Georgian authorities have illegally wiretapped the telephone conversation of the Bar Association Chairman and released it publically. This had nothing to do with the criminal case," says the organization's page in the social network. For the full text Source: the organization's page in the social network.

Tbilisi. The Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center (EMC) has presented the study "Religion in Public Schools".The study "Religion in Public Schools" examines effective legislative framework in terms of freedom of religion. In addition, the study examines the discourse of textbooks on various religious denominations in light of balanced presentation of information. The document analyses the attitude of teachers of several Tbilisi-based schools towards religious minorities and the practice of expression of their attitudes. For the full text Source: emc.org.ge

Adjara. Based on the Memorandum of Cooperation executed between the Adjara Government and CSOs in 2013, the union of CSOs working on persons with disabilities has met with the Government representatives, where they have discussed factors preventing integration of persons with disabilities into the society in Adjara. Meeting participants have decided to set up the Consultation Council, which will protect and take into consideration the rights and interests of persons with disabilities.

Samtskhe-Javakheti. On March 28 in Akhaltsikhe Georgian Democratic Initiative held a discussion for journalists in the Democratic Council of Mekhetians about discrimination, and the problems related to tolerance.Discussion was held by Giorgi Mshvenieridze and Beqa Mindiashvili with the participation of the members of Akhaltsikhe media outlets.  Source:gdi.ge

Tbilisi. The President of the Pen-Center of Georgia RatiAmaghlobeli has approached the Georgian Charter of Journalistic Ethics with an application against journalists of newspaper "Asaval-Dasavali" Giorgi Gigauri and EterChelidze due to the articles published in the newspaper's current March 13-23 and 24-30 editions about writer Zurab Karumidze. For the full text. Source: media.ge

Samtskhe-Javakheti.  NGO "Georgia’s Democratic Initiative” held a training for the members of Akhaltsikhe Youth Centre about banning the discrimination, and private life rights. During the training various mechanisms for the protection of private life were discussed. Source: gdi.ge

Adjara. A meeting of CSOs working on the solution of problems of persons with disabilities was organized on March 27 in the Batumi Civic Engagement Center, which aimed at discussing the issues of persons with disabilities and identifying the ways of their solution at the local governmental level. Meeting participants have agreed it is necessary to set up the Consultation Council functioning with the Adjara Government, which will protect the rights and interests of persons with disabilities and will directly involve the persons with disabilities in the drafting and planning of governmental programs and the Adjara budget. Negotiations with the Government Chairman on the approval of Council are already underway.

Guria. In the conference hall of the "Union of Young Teachers” a performance was held by the Interactive theatre. Source:the organization's page in the social network

Adjara. The Young Lawyers’ Association has organized a meeting on March 27 in the Batumi Civic Engagement Center over domestic violence, where focus was made on the causes of violence and the current statistics in Georgia. Further, discussion concerned also the problems in terms of protection of women’s rights and widespread stereotypes that prevent the reduction of facts of domestic violence. Law students, lawyers and representatives of media and CSOs have attended the meeting.

Tbilisi. On March, 27, 2013, the presentation of the research, by the support of the Public Defender of Georgia on Human Rights of Convicts upon Early Conditional Release took place and was attended by the Deputy Minister of Penitentiary, Corrections and Legal Assistance of Georgia Mr. Giga Giorgadze, representatives of International Organizations and NGOs’. For the full text Source:ombudsman.ge

Imereti. Discussion was organized on March 26 for the members of the Kutaisi Youth Center over "Hate Speech in the University", led by the representative of the student multimedia group "Reactor". The meeting aimed at informing youngsters about problems associated with hate speech.Meeting participants have watched a documentary produced based on facts of discrimination reported in the universities of Batumi, Kutaisi and Tbilisi. Discussion has followed after the documentary over legal regulations and raising of public awareness on this issue.The discussion was organized as part of the Advancing National Integration in Georgia project (ANI), implemented by the UN Association of Georgia (UNAG) with support of the US Agency for International Development (USAID). Source: the organization's page in the social network.

Tbilisi. A discussion was held on March 26 in the Ilia State University over the "Fight against xenophobia and discrimination in the Georgian politics and media".Representatives of the Media Development Fund (MDF) and the Georgian Democratic Initiative (GDI) have informed students about the activities planned as part of the "No Phobia" campaign, as well as presented the results and key trends of media monitoring carried out by MDF in 2013.Discussion has followed at the end of the meeting, where the students have expressed opinions on the ways of conducting the "No Phobia" campaign effectively. Source: web page of the Media Development Fund in the social network.

Tbilisi. The Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center has published as part of the US Embassy project the manual on the protection of freedom of religion in Georgia.The manual aims to promote the protection of freedom of religion for religious minorities by raising awareness on the rights and legal mechanisms. The manual. Source: emc.org.ge

Imereti. A public lecture on "Introducing culture of tolerance and the state of ethnic minorities in the Georgian society" was delivered on March 20 for the members of the Kutaisi Youth Center, led by the MP of the Parliament of Georgia Levan Berdzenishvili.Public lecture aimed to inform youngsters about ethnic diversity and civil integration, introduction of culture of tolerance, problems experienced by ethnic minorities and the policies pursued by the state.Public lecture was organized as part of the "Advancing National Integration in Georgia" project (ANI), implemented by the UN Association of Georgia (UNAG) with support of the US Agency for International Development (USAID). Source: web page of the Kutaisi Youth Center in the social network.

Tbilisi. Participants of the campaign "This Affects You Too! They Are Still Listening!" have gathered in the office of the "Open Society - Georgia" Foundation on March 21 and switched off their mobiles for one hour (from 13:00 to 14:00) in the sign of protest."The initiative titled "One hour without listening" aims to inform citizens about the possibility of investigative agencies to carry out illegal surveillance. We urge everyone to switch their mobiles off every Friday for one hour, from 13:00 to 14:00, until the Parliament adopts the law that will end the practice of illegal wiretapping of citizens' phones by law-enforcers. This Affects You Too, let's demand changes together," says the web page of Transparency International - Georgia in the social network. Source: web page of Transparency International - Georgia in the social network.

Adjara. On March 17-19 the disabled people held information meetings in Batumi’s three schools. The aim of the meeting is raise knowledge among schoolchildren about the disabled people. The information meeting will continue to be held till the end of April. The project was held with the financial support of the department of the Adjara Ministry of Sports and Youth. 

Tbilisi. The Public Defender of Georgia has proposed to the Chief Prosecutor of Georgia to commence an investigation about the alleged criminal acts of police officers against an accused B.K. "The Public Defender of Georgia considers that the actions of the law enforcement officials may contain the signs of criminal offenses envisaged by the Criminal Code of Georgia and therefore, addresses the Chief Prosecutor of Georgia to commence an immediate investigation regarding to these facts". For the full text Source:umbudsman.ge

Tbilisi. The Association of Social Workers appeals to the Government of Georgia. The organization's representatives believe it is crucial that the Government of Georgia puts primary focus on the social protection rights in the process of human rights protection."The right to social protection is a basic right, realization of which will help us in realization of other rights. Otherwise, efforts aimed at improving the human rights situation in the country will not be effective," says the organization's web page in the social network. For the full text. Source: the organization's web page in the social network.

Tbilisi. The Coalition for Independent Life and Partnership for Human Rights have organized on March 17 a meeting in the office of CSO "Anika" between the judges of the Supreme Court, representative of organization Disability Rights International and the judge of the Federal Court of the United States of America.Meeting participants have discussed the experience of the United States in advocating the rights of persons with disabilities and the current challenges in Georgia, such as the rehabilitation of persons with disabilities, integration into the society, restoration of breached rights through judicial procedures and other important issues. Source: the organization's web page in the social network.

Shida Kartli. On March 10–11 consultations were held in Shida Kartli within the framework of Sida’s project "Individual Aid to Migrants in Greece and Turkey”. The participants in the consultations were representatives of "Society for the Spread of Computer Knowledge” and "Gori Information Centre”.Identical visits are planned in other regions too. Source:the organization's page in the social network

Tbilisi. Non-Governmental Organization "Young Barristers" released a statement about mothers employed in the private sector. Organization published a research and recommendations on: "Legal status of mothers employed in private sector”, which has been sent to the executive and legislative authorities of Georgia for further introduction and implementation. For the full text Source:barristers.ge

Tbilisi. According to the transparency International - Georgia's poll on surveillance, 69% of respondents would not discuss critical political opinions on the phone. In the period of 3-26 October 2013, 1,918 adults (18+) were interviewed face-to-face across the country. "The results of this nationwide poll indicate that Georgians are neither willing to share a secret nor their opinion about the current political events in Georgia with a friend over the phone". For the full text Source:transparency.ge