Tbilisi. The U.S. Embassy in Tbilisi releases the statement. “Last week, the ruling party undermined government accountability by abolishing the State Inspector Service, which is mandated to investigate police abuse and protect data privacy, undermined the independence of individual judges by amending the Law on Common Courts, and undermined faith in the judiciary by appointing yet another Supreme Court judge using a flawed selection process. No credible reasons were provided to the public for why these actions needed to be rushed through without appropriate consultations. Steps that weaken democratic institutions, such as the judiciary or independent oversight agencies, damage Georgia’s aspirations for NATO and European Union membership, and undermine the basic freedoms that are the foundation of Georgian culture and society”. Read more… Source: The Embassy’s page on the social network

Tbilisi. The Open Society Georgia Foundation has summarized its activities of last year. “Activities of the Foundation and its partners were accompanied with some tensions related to challenges entailed by the pandemic or difficult political situation in the country. Among developments occurred this year, it will be hard to forget tragic consequences of the pandemic and July 5, the day marked as the most hard date in the history of democratic development of the country. With the support of the Foundation, there were implemented more than hundred initiatives throughout the year, aimed at promoting free election and media environment, as well as protecting rights of civil activists and journalists. We have actively worked on issues related to ensuring labor rights, organizing public and green spaces, provision of decent housing for homeless. Through the efforts of the Foundation and its partners, the situation related to rights of various groups in Georgia has attracted the attention of UN member states”. Learn more about activities of the Foundation in 2021... Source: The website of the organization on a social network

Racha-Lechkhumi. Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo-Svaneti Regional Hub - Fund "AIC" organized the meeting with the representatives of newly-established regional CSOs. The invited mentors from the well-established and successful CSOs shared their achievements, main challenges and experience. The meeting aims to strengthen civil society as an independent, transparent and accountable actor across Georgia.  The meetings were organised within the framework of the EU and Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung funded project “Civil Society STAR Initiative”. Read more… Source: Project page on the social network

Tbilisi. The Bureau of the Parliament of Georgia has supported enactment of the procedure for an expedited review of the bill on amendments to the Code of Georgia on Spatial Planning, Architectural and Construction Activities (despite the fact that the initiator - the Government of Georgia - does not request an expedited review of the bill in the explanatory note). Acceleration of the process precluded an in-depth analysis of all consequences of proposed changes, which procedure is a requirement following to urban planning issues due to specificity of proposed changes and the field. Besides, specialists of the field, activists, and environmentalists were not involved in the process of drafting of intended changes, neither were they consulted about necessity of elaboration of changes and goals of the Government in case these changes become law... Signatory organizations release a detailed appraisal of the submitted bill and consider that turning the bill into law may cause irreversible damage to the environment of the country, health and life of people, development opportunities for settlements and municipalities, as well as severely harm public interests. Read more… Source: civilin.org

The web portal CsoGeorgia.org releases a weekly newsletter of grants competition, contests, vacancies, fellowships, and tenders for civil society organizations, and for any interested person. Newsletter...

Tbilisi. According to the information of the IDFI, The formal basis for the liquidation of the Memorial was the accusation of the Prosecutor's Office of violating the mandatory labeling of a "foreign agent" by the organization, which occurred more than a year ago. “For over 10 years, the Institute for Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI) has been actively cooperating with Memorial in the directions of Soviet and Memory studies as well as in researching Stalinist repressions. IDFI fully supports its partner”. Learn more… Source: idfi.ge

Shida Kartli. On December 12, 2021, the representatives of Shida Kartli Regional Hub - Society Biliki and #STARInitiative met Gori City Mayor Vladimer Khinchegashvili. The meeting participants introduced the Mayor the key objectives and activities of STAR project. Moreover, they discussed the prospect cooperation perspectives. Read more… Source: The project page on the social page

Tbilisi. EU Delegation responds to expedited procedures in the Georgian Parliament relating to the State Inspector's Service and the Judiciary. “The State Inspector’s Service is Georgia’s independent mechanism for investigating ill-treatment and abuse of power committed by law enforcement officials and is thus a key institution for a well-functioning democracy and for the protection of human rights. The European Union was engaged in the creation of this Service and has invested substantial financial and human resources in its development. We are, therefore, very disappointed to see these actions, and regret the fact that it has not proved possible for EU representatives to engage with the Parliament on this matter," stated Asunción Sánchez Ruiz, the acting Head of the EU Delegation to Georgia. Learn more… Source: eeas.europa.eu

Tbilisi. The Coalition for an Independent and Transparent Judiciary considers it disturbing that the Parliament intends to review amendments to the Organic Law of Georgia on Common Courts in an accelerated manner. The Coalition calls on the Parliament to: suspend revision of the initiated bill; establish a format oriented on consensus and broad participation of society in order to assess need for a fundamental reform of the justice system and prepare appropriate changes. Read more… Source: transparency.ge

Imereti. Within the framework of the project "Civil Society Initiative", LDA Georgia conducted training on the specifics of advocacy for the members of CSOs in the target municipalities. The trainings are being conducted by LDA Georgia within the framework of the project "Civil Society Initiative," with the support of the European Union and the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung. Read more… Source: The organization’s page on the social network

Tbilisi. Civil society organizations express their extreme concern in regard to possible abolition of the State Inspector’s Service by the authorities of the Georgian Dream. “On the background of extreme political polarization, seizure of state institutions, as well as public distrust of law enforcement agencies and the judiciary, the bill registered behind closed doors secretly and expeditiously and aimed at abolishing an independent institution, as well as terminating the authority of the State Inspector prior to the term of office, is nothing else but a political retaliation against an exceptional institution that has more or less managed to gain public confidence in recent years”, - is noted in the joint statement. Read more… Source: osgf.ge

Imereti. Local Democracy Agency Georgia, in the framework of the project "Civil Society Initiative", held meeting with the public servants who are responsible for relations with civil society organizations in Tskaltubo municipality. The meeting is being organized by LDA Georgia within the framework of the project "Civil Society Initiative," with the support of the European Union and the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung. Read more… Source: The organization’s page on the social network

The web portal CsoGeorgia.org releases a weekly newsletter of grants competition, contests, vacancies, fellowships, and tenders for civil society organizations, and for any interested person. Newsletter...

Tbilisi. The Center for Strategic Research and Development of Georgia (CSRDG) has launched a website www.csrgeorgia.com. It is the first website in Georgia, which provides a variety of resources on corporate social responsibility (CSR). “The platform brings together the most recent information on CSR and sustainable development both globally and locally in Georgia”. The website has been created by CSRDG within the framework of the “Civil Society Initiative” project and with support from the EU and the Konrad Adenauer Foundation. Read more… Source: The website of the organization on a social network

Tbilisi. On December 14, GIP presented the Georgia Governance Index (GGI). “The GGI report is the first attempt to offer a comprehensive assessment of Georgia’s performance in four governance areas: democracy and human rights (democratic governance), statehood, and state institutions (effective governance), social and economic policies (social and economic governance), and foreign and security policy (external governance)”. Read more... Source: The organization’s page on the social network

Adjara. Within the framework of the “Civil Society Initiative” project, Adjara Regional Hub conducted meetings with public school teachers and students in 5 municipalities of Adjara. “At public schools in Chvani, Legva, Kharaula, Tkhilnari and Ganakhleba, participants of meetings got acquainted with information about civil society organizations working in the Adjara region, project opportunities and activities. The project is implemented by a consortium led by the Konrad Adenauer Foundation (KAS) in collaboration with the following non-governmental organizations: Center for Strategic Research and Development of Georgia (CSRDG), Civil Society Institute (CSI), Center for Training and Consultancy (CTC), Education Development and Employment Center (EDEC) and Institute for European Politics (IEP)”. Read more… Source: The website of the organization on a social network

Tbilisi. International Anti-Corruption Day is celebrated on December 9. “This day is crucial for governmental institutions and non-governmental organizations, as well as for the whole society, to be reminded that joint cooperation is essential for the prevention of corruption. IDFI continues to actively promote the fight against corruption and works to raise the attention of relevant actors on important Anti-Corruption issues”. Learn more about IDFI's anti-corruption activities here… Source: idfi.ge

Tbilisi. The non-governmental organizations (NGOs) involved in the process of Open Government Partnership (OGP), express concern about continued inaction on the part of the Government of Georgia, due to which the OGP process in Georgia has been suspended for over two years.  “We, the member NGOs of the Open Government Georgia Forum and the Coordination Council, call on the Government of Georgia to immediately restore the process of open government partnership and ensure effective involvement of NGOs in this process. Otherwise, it will become clear to everyone that the open government process, its mission and values are no longer a priority for the Government of Georgia. We also call on the OGP Secretariat (the Support Unit) to become actively engaged in resolving this lengthy crisis and to call on the Government of Georgia to take effective steps with the aim of restoring this process”, is noted in the statement. Read more… Source: civilin.org

Tbilisi. Mission Director Peter Wiebler gave remarks at the launch of the USAID Civil Society Engagement Program, a new five-year program that will broaden and deepen its partnerships with Georgian civil society, empower citizens to develop their own solutions to key concerns and priorities, and support them to become part of a genuinely citizen responsive democracy. Read more… Source: The organization’s page on the social network

Tbilisi. Lusine Dostibegian has been awarded a runner-up prize of the local Human Rights Tulip by the Ambassador of the Netherlands. “Lusine is an activist from Tetritskaro. She works hard every day to change the lives of people in her municipality for the better. Lusine has many other plans for her municipality and we hope the embassy prize inspires her to keep up with the great work”. Read more… Source: Embassy’s page on the social network

Tbilisi. Hurie Abashidze was nominated for this award by the Rondeli Foundation. “Hurie is a really outstanding human rights activist from Khulo. She defends rights of Muslim women, supports them in employment, works on protection of cultural heritage and development of a regional community, as well as takes care of community mobilization of young people living in local villages and their participation in self-government”, - is stated on the website of the Netherlands embassy in Tbilisi on a social network. Read more... Source: The website of the embassy on a social network

The web portal CsoGeorgia.org releases a weekly newsletter of grants competition, contests, vacancies, fellowships, and tenders for civil society organizations, and for any interested person. Newsletter...