Adjara. The Batumi Branch of the Civil Society Institute has delivered another training on April 1. This time the Branch head has discussed with youngsters a public policy, and in particular they have examined the issues of problem identification and searching for potential solutions. Apart from getting familiar with theoretic materials, training participants have worked on case studies. In addition, they have identified several problems the municipality is facing and delivered a presentation on them as a result of group work. At the end youngsters have selected several areas, created working groups and started working on a recommendatory document for further submission with the Batumi City Council.

Tbilisi. The Civil Development Institute has developed a manual on "Media Literacy", which will assist teachers in providing professional support to schoolchildren for finding a right focus amid increasing flows of information, and assessing information of any content by critical thinking. For the full text... Source: cdi.org.ge

Imereti. Members of the Gori and Kareli youth self-government groups of "Bridge of Friendship Kartlosi" are participating in the "Kutaisi UN Modeling 2015" project of the UN Association of Georgia. Project participants are visiting the Parliament of Georgia for three days and they are getting familiar with the committee activities and the UN working principles, and actively participate in formal and informal discussions. According to the project organizers, for young leaders this project is a chance to demonstrate their abilities and gain experience with their peers. Source: Bridge of Friendship Kartlosi.

Tbilisi. The NATO and EU Information Center has organized a meeting on March 26 with the NATO Assistant Secretary General in Public Diplomacy issues, Ted Whiteside, hosted by the Iv. Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University. The meeting focused on NATO's contemporary challenges and NATO in a rapidly changing world. For the full text... Source: the organization's web page in the social network.

Tbilisi. UNICEF has released an infograph including information on the new Juvenile Justice Code. The Code is developed with assistance from UNICEF and the EU. Infograph... Source: UNICEF Georgia.

Kakheti. CSO "Human, Law, Freedom" has organized an information meeting in Telavi, in the NikoSulkhanishviliTelavi Music School, aimed at informing the audience about project "Youth Local Councils in 64 Municipalities". According to the organization, youngsters are hugely interested in getting familiar with specifics of the self-government activities and the way their cities or districts are governed; how are local budgets planned; how are the elections planned; what is the principle for selecting the deputies, etc. Following the meetings in the municipalities, the "Youth Local Councils" will be staffed in 64 municipalities and the project will start functioning fully across entire Georgia, uniting 2105 schoolchildren.

Tbilisi. The German Association of Public Universities has organized a discussion on March15 over issues of children violence. Bullying – children violence, is an acute problem worldwide as well as in Georgia. What is the reason of children's cruelty? Who is responsible for preventing such events? What is the role of a school, family and the public at large in timely assessment and elimination of the problem? What measures should be taken to minimize bullying risks? The organization has posted a video of discussion over these issues in the social network. Source: German Association of Public Universities.

Shida Kartli. On March 17, representatives of the Polish organization - "Heart for Georgia" - have visited the charity humanitarian center "Apkhazeti" and presented gifts for the beneficiaries of small family type children homes. The organization plans to implement the new project - "Distance Friendship" - in the three small family type homes in Kakheti in partnership with the Center "Apkhazeti". The project aims to link children living in the homes with the Polish families and making friends with them. Tea Kacharava, Project Manager: "In the near future we will organize learning contests in the small family type children homes and will award winners with these very gifts. Such initiatives are extremely important for our children and they facilitate their reintegration into the society". Source: web page of the "Apkhazeti" Center in the social network.

Tbilisi. Based on the UNICEF data, "Liberal" magazine has released an infographic – "A child face to face with poverty". The infographic... Source: liberali.ge

Tbilisi. The Human Rights House and its member organizations have released a statement on the screening of violent images in front of minors. "Human Rights House Tbilisi and its member organizations condemn screening the photo-video footage of violence to the underage children. It is absolutely inadmissible to show the photo and video footage of the prison scenes on torture and other cruelties to the adults of the age from 12 to 18. If their participation is confirmed in the event, it can be qualified as violence against children", the statement says. For the full text... Source: humanrights.ge

Tbilisi. Public Defender has reacted to the story aired by TV company "Rustavi 2" on March 15 concerning the demonstration of images of violence to school children in the Samegrelo Region. For the full text... Source: ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. CSOs have released a joint statement, expressing concerns over "showing of films containing violence to children in four cities of Samegrelo". for the full text... Source: transparency.ge

Adjara. CSO "Borjghali" has organized a meeting on March 7 with schoolchildren, hosted by the Batumi Civic Engagement Center. The meeting aimed to inform youngsters about the activities of CSOs operating in Adjara and to shape future cooperation prospects with them. As part of the project, the first meeting was organized with the youth organization "Art Way". The organizers have discussed the objectives of founding the organization and implemented projects. In addition, they have informed them about future plans and expressed desire to cooperate with them. As already noted, within the project framework this group will also meet with other CSOs operating in Batumi.

Tbilisi. With support from the UN Children's Fund, the Georgian Charter of Journalistic Ethics is launching a new project to promote ethical coverage of children's issues by the Georgian media. The project includes several areas: media monitoring, seminars for journalists in the Georgian regions (Batumi, Gori, Telavi), identification of in-depth works on children's issues, and advocacy aimed at activating the consideration of applications on children's issues submitted with the self-regulatory bodies of broadcasters. For the full text (geo)... Source: qartia.org.ge

Kakheti. At the initiative of the Civic Engagement Center, a public discussion was organized in Telavi on March 2 on the "Social media and local leaders". The meeting aimed to rethink the importance of social media among public in identifying local leaders and achieving their success. At the meeting young bloggers have shared their experience with the audience and discussed the role of social media in the society: "At the meeting we have discussed the importance of social media, what is a blog, how should it be created and managed. Further, we have discussed various social networks and bloggers. We have informed the audience about ways of becoming successful leaders by blogging", blogger RatiTegerashvili has stated. The coordination team of the Civic Engagement Center has informed the meeting participants and the audience about the bloggers' contest announced by the "Media Development Fund", titled "Women for Changes".

Tbilisi. The Civil Society Development Center has organized on February 26 a screening of the documentary – "Diaries of Our Life". The film describes problems of children living and working in the streets. The film was produced as part of the project "Invisible Children". The project aims to inform public and demonstrate the reality - what is the life of children living and working in the streets like, how they struggle to survive, and how they often become victims of forced labor exploitation. As part of the project, for the sixth month Radio "Chocolate" airs program "Invisible Children", with direct participation of street children. The documentary "Diaries of Our Life" is produced by taking into account the article of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. The stories of 4 children living and working in the streets are told. A discussion has followed after the film with participation of representatives of the society and CSOs operating in the social field. Source: the Civil Society Development Center.

Tbilisi. CSO "Young Barristers" appeals to the Government of Georgia to submit the Juvenile Code to the Parliament through expedited procedures and welcomes another initiative on introducing the child protection officer institute in schools instead of resource officers (mandaturi). For the full text (geo)... Source: barristers.ge

Tbilisi. As part of the "Future Generation" program, association "Biliki" has organized on February 19 a study tour to the Tbilisi City Court for 28 schoolchildren of 10 public schools of ShidaKartli. Schoolchildren have visited the Citizen Service Center, court building and courtrooms, and got familiar with procedures for accepting and registering cases in court. After seeing the building, schoolchildren were hosted by the Chairman of the Tbilisi City Court. MamukaAkhvlediani has briefed them about reforms undertaken in the judicial system. Visitors have asked numerous questions - mostly about jury trials, activities of judges and administration of cases in court.

Tbilisi. CSO "Initiative for Rehabilitation of Vulnerable Groups" has presented on February 18 a legislative analysis of protection of children's personal data in the penitentiary and probation systems. According to the organization's head Anton (Tato) Kelbakiani, "today, data on the children are available to persons and authorities that lack due qualification and competence. Improper use of data in the penitentiary system raises many problems and risks. Apart from stigmatization, unjustified publicizing of data may adversely affect a child's psychic, change his/her attitude towards law-enforcement agencies, and moreover, towards the state. Further, personal data may be used for pressure, threats and blackmail against an individual, examples of which we have unfortunately witnessed in the past". For the full text (geo)... Source: www.osgf.ge

Imereti. Kutaisi has hosted a discussion on February12 over discrimination related issues, moderated by the Imereti trustee of the Public Defender's Office and attended by members of the Kutaisi Youth Center. The participants have discussed forms of discrimination, issues related to freedom of faith and religion, as well as the current human rights situation. The meeting was held as part of the Advancing National Integration in Georgia project, implemented by the UN Association of Georgia with support of the US Agency for International Development. The Kutaisi Education, Development, and Employment Center is the project's partner in Imereti. Source: the organization's web page in the social network.

Kakheti. The fifth class has graduated from the Telavi Democracy School of the Netherlands Institute for the Multiparty Democracy (NIMD). Participants have completed a 5-month program. The organization's representative, political analyst Levan Tsutskiridze has delivered a summary lecture in the School. CSO representatives, civil servants, members of political parties, students, academic circles, and active citizens have attended a final event in Telavi. According to the Head of the NIMDTelavi Democracy School, NikolozSharvashidze, lecture participants have discussed future plans of NIMD and continued cooperation with graduates.

Tbilisi. On February 4, 2015, the Public Defender of Georgia Ucha Nanuashvili, Minister of Education and Science of Georgia Tamar Sanikidze, Ambassador of the European Union Janos Herman and Human Rights Officer at the EU Delegation to Georgia Eva Pastrana presented awards to winners of the competition "Me – Ombudsman”. For the full text Source: ombudsman.ge