Tbilisi. Non-governmental organizations respond to a story aired in Rustavi 2 program "Post Scriptum”. "We would like to respond to the September 14 story aired on Rustavi 2 TV program referring to the event of vandalism taken place in Kobuleti on September 10, when a group of local citizens slaughtered a pig around the Muslim theological school and fixed its head to the door. In our opinion, the story plot was uneven because in this case of religious intolerance instead of discussion on law and legal viewpoint, a speculative interpretation was proposed in the first part which was connecting the social problem to minority issues unfounded. More trouble is that this interpretation takes place at the expense of an underage which violates the rights of the child”, said in the statement. For the full text… Source: www.media.ge

Tbilisi. The organization "Partnership for Human Rights” held another working meeting for a bill regarding "theProvision of Equal Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities”. The meeting was attended by representatives of governmental and non-governmental organizations. The process will have a continuing character. Working on the bill is initiated and support by the organization "Coalition for Independent Living” and USAID. Source: The organization’s page in the social network         

Tbilisi. Association of Young Economists of Georgia and Economy Policy Experts Centre broadcast a statement: "We would like to respond to Georgian constitution court decision about cancelling of prohibiting moratorium of selling agricultural land to foreigners. We believe that cancelling moratorium is fair and has positive impact on improvement of business environment in the country. Moratorium for purchasing agricultural land would have negative impact on development of agriculture, investment attractiveness of the country and its economic development in general”, said in the statement.  For the full text Source: Organization web-site in social network

Tbilisi. On September 15 a discussion: "Civil Activism on Sakdrisi Example” was held with initiative of German Association of Public Universities (DVV International). The meeting was attended by representatives of public organizations and media as well as other interested persons. The discussion was held too.The participants discussed various important issues and aspects related to Sakdrisi, also future perspectives. The world practice was talked about as well. Source: "Sakdrisi – Memorial of World Importance” page in the social network          

Tbilisi. Transparency International Georgia and JumpStart Georgia address Parliament on occasion of the International Day of Democracy. "On September 15 the world marks the International Day of Democracy. On this occasion, the Open Government Partnership (OGP) has launched its first-ever Global Legislative Openness Week (GLOW), which aims to connect a range of legislative openness activities, organized independently by civil society organizations and parliaments around the world. ...We believe it is time for parliamentarians around the world to strengthen their roles as representatives elected by and for the public, and embrace new technologies that are changing how societies connect, communicate and govern.Georgian Parliament can do these things by adopting the application and the spirit in which it was built and by continuing to help civil society participate in improving the application to meet their needs of transparency and openness of important parliamentary information". For the full text Source: transparency.ge

Tbilisi. American Councils, CRRC and ARISC present the 1st talk in the Fall 2014 Works-in-Progress Series - "Practicing Stalinism in the Georgian NKVD" By Timothy Blauvelt, American Councils for International Education and Ilia State University. Date: September 17, 2014, at 18:30 Venue: Eurasia Partnership Foundation/CRRC, Kavsadze St. #3 Source: crrc.ge

Guria. On September 15 International Day of Democracy was held in Ozurgeti Youth Center. Local media representatives and foreign volunteers took part in the meeting together with young people. Each group represented portrait of democracy by illustrations and messages. At the end of presentations they discussed democracy as the most important value. Source: Center web-site in social network      

Tbilisi. NGOs respond to Manana Kobakhidze’s statement made in social network. "On September 12 Manana Kobakhidze, the Vice Speaker of Parliament and Gender Equality Council at the same time, broadcast a statement through her own page on Facebook regarding the offensive statements made by politicians. From the Vice Speaker’s side the mentioned statement represents incitement to violence on the basis of political and cultural rejection of the application and gender stereotypes are reinforced” – said in the statement. NGOs appeal to Georgian Parliament and Gender Equality Board to dissociate from the Vice Speaker’s statement. For the full text Source: gdi.ge

Tbilisi. On September 12 a lecture of Giorgi Mshvenieradze: "Freedom, as Assumption of Equality” was held in "Liberalism Training Center” of Charter of Journalistic Ethics. Who could not attend the lecture they can see the video of the lecture. Lecture Source: Center web-site in social network    

Tbilisi. Transparency International, ISFED and GYLA have released a joint statement "on alleged dismissal of civil servants from the Tbilisi City Hall based on political grounds".The organizations urge the Tbilisi Mayor and relevant authorities to probe into the cases and react adequately. For the full text Source: isfed.ge

Kakheti. As part of the UN joint program "Promoting Gender Equality in Georgia", the "Kakheti Civil League" has announced a small grants program competition for hte Kakheti-based CSOs and the initiative groups.According to the "Kakheti Civil League" representatives, the UN joint program issues small grants in the range of 2,500 USD.Further, the small grants program aims to raise public awareness on reproductive health and gender equality. This program will facilitate education of women and men and create favorable environment for introducing gender equality, as well as increase the population's demand for services and rights related to reproductive health.Deadline for submission of applications in September 20, and the organization will announce winner projects on September 30. Grant Competition

Shida Kartli. Representatives of CSOs working on women's problems have met on September 9 with the Gori Sakrebulo Chairman and the Sakrebulo deputies. The event aimed to establish a cooperation format between the Gori Sakrebulo and the women's organizations.At the meeting the Sakrebulo Chairman has presented to CSOs the advisor on gender issues, Natia Omadze. Source: the organization's page in the social network.

Tbilisi. Transparency International - Georgia released a statement - "The government must not restrict citizen journalism”. "Transparency International (TI) Georgia would like to express its concern regarding instances of police officers restricting citizens from recording recent publicly performed law enforcement raids. Restrictions are applied without any explanation and include prohibition of recording, erasing of recorded material, and in some cases even detention of citizens", says the statement. For the full text Source: transparency.ge

Tbilisi. The Institute for the Development of Freedom of Information has released Ana Seturi's letter: "New draft Law limits the broadcasters in disseminating the non-Georgian content". The publication examines amendments to be made to the Law "on Broadcasting". For the full text. Source: idfi.ge

Tbilisi. An online journal was developed as part of the network of the South Caucasian young expert women, which aims to facilitate a peace-building process in the South Caucasus region, as well as activation of women in establishment of peace and security in order to set up an integrated regional platform. The journal. Source: Women's Information Center.

Tbilisi. Transparency International - Georgia released a blog-post "The companies and other organizations related to the Georgian Orthodox Church”"The companies and other organizations related to the Georgian Orthodox Church”. "Unlike other state budget funded institutions that face certain degree of accountability for their spendings, the Georgian Orthodox Church has never been obliged to report back. In order to shed some light on Patriarchate’s finances, TI Georgia conducted a small scale research into publicly listed companies and organizations that are owned or were founded by the Patriarchate. The research highlights few cases that contain possible breaches of the law". For the full text Source: transparency.ge

Tbilisi. The Georgian Young Lawyers' Association has met with management of the Tbilisi Development Fund on September 4. "Although founded by the Tbilisi City Hall, the Tbilisi Development Fund, just like its predecessor the Old City Rehabilitation and Development Fund, was one of the most closed institutions over years. In 2005-2013, over minimum of 400 million GEL were spent from the budgetary funds only on Tbilisi's rehabilitation. ... Potential ways of solving the problems and future prospects of the Fund were discussed at the meeting", says the organization's page in the social network. Source: the organization's page in the social network.

Samtskhe-Javakheti. Engagement of the population in political life was discussed in the Akhaltsikhe Civic Engagement Center.How should the local self-government and the youth cooperate, does the population have the right to attend Sakrebulo sittings – these and other important issues were discussed on August 31 at the initiative of the Civic Engagement Center. Local youth and the civil sector representatives have attended the meeting. They have expressed their opinions in respect of these issues, noting that the population must also be involved in the decision-making process.The meeting was led by the member of CSO "Union of Meskhetian Women" and coordinator of the "International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy". They have informed the participants about their rights and urged them to engage in a political life.

Kakheti. CSO "Public Assembly" has held a meeting on August 31 in Telavi with the Telavi Mayor Platon Kalmakhelidze.The meeting was organized in the Telavi Civic Engagement Center and was attended by representatives of various local and international non-governmental organizations. Meeting participants have discussed problems of the city and issues related to their solution.

Imereti. The Kutaisi Branch of the Georgian Young Lawyers' Association and the information agency Topnews.com.ge (learn about major news in Imereti) implement a joint project foreseeing provision of free legal consultations to citizens. Interested persons can approach GYLA's Kutaisi Branch with a question, while answers will be posted on the information agency's web page. Currently the information agency's web page offers information on military conscription and the related issues. For the full text. Source: topnews.com.ge

Tbilisi. The Civil Society Institute has released the best story identified as part of the results-oriented project management training cycle. 6 workshops were organized as part of the project with participation of CSO representatives working in Tbilisi and regions. At the closing meeting of the project the participants have presented the stories of changes within their organizations, which described positive results achieved by applying the knowledge gained at the trainings in practice. The participants have themselves selected one of the presented stories - that of representative of CSO "Stepantsminda". A story of changes, CSO "Stepantsminda" (GEO)

Tbilisi. The Georgian Young Constitutionalists' Association has organized a roundtable on August 24 - the day the Constitution of Georgia was adopted. Members of the State Constitutional Commission, experts, civil sector representatives and youngsters working on constitutional issues have attended the event. A discussion evolved around an ongoing constitutional reform, and at the end of the roundtable youngsters have adopted a petition on constitutional amendments, which will be submitted to competent state institutions. The event was organized under the aegis of the project "Stable Constitution - Youth Choice", funded by the LEPL "Children and Youth Development Fund". Source: the organization's web page in the social network.