Tbilisi. Civil society organizations of Georgia evaluate the 2020 parliamentary elections. “On October 31, the parliamentary elections in Georgia were carried out with a renewed electoral system. Citizens of Georgia had the opportunity to elect a legislative body by a model close to the proportional system, which fact should be assumed as an important step forward. Despite this change, we consider that the Government of Georgia has failed to ensure conduct of the elections in accordance with democratic standards. Moreover, according to our appraisal, the 2020 parliamentary elections were the least democratic and free among those carried out within the period of governance of the “Georgian Dream””. The organizations demand to recount results of those polling stations, in protocols of which there have been detected imbalance, as well as to review submitted complaints lawfully and impartially. Read more… Source: transparency.ge

Tbilisi. The Open Government Partnership (OGP) is one of the world's leading international initiatives aiming to increase the accountability of government agencies in the Member States, to raise standards of openness and transparency, and to strengthen citizen involvement in decision-making processes. “IDFI has been actively involved in OGP activities since 2011. The organization advocates various initiatives directed at raising government openness and increasing citizen engagement. Giorgi Kldiashvili, executive director of IDFI, one of the faces and global supporters of the OGP, was elected as the member of the Steering Committee in June 2017, representing civil society. Giorgi Kldiashvili was nominated as a candidate for the Steering Committee membership by Nils Scott, UN Ambassador to Georgia. Giorgi’s nomination was also recommended by the representatives of local and international organizations. The membership term of IDFI Executive Director Giorgi Kldiashvili in OGP Steering Committee expired in October 2020”. Read more… Source: idfi.ge

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. Civil Society Organization’s Web Portal - CsoGeorgia.org, ask you to complete the questionnaire. Your feedback is important to us. We have started many innovations since 2012 and we are also planning many updates. Share your views in order to better provide you with the desired information, to better assist you in your activities. Deadline for completing the questionnaire: November 27, 2020 Questionnaire...

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. Civil society organizations are responding to the extremely complicated epidemiological situation in the country. The organizations evaluate the existing situation and call on the state to make decisions related to combating COVID-19 as transparently as possible. CSOs consider that it is necessary to inform population about plans the state has in case the situation develops at different scenarios. “We would like to express our heartfelt sorrow in regard to significant increase in the number of infections and deaths caused by COVID-19 in Georgia. It seems the state finds it further more difficult to deal with the crisis along with the increasing number of infected people”. Read more… Source: transparency.ge

Tbilisi. Civil society organizations respond to the aggravated epidemic situation in the Tskhinvali region and call on the Government of Georgia to intensify negotiations with the de facto Tskhinvali regime immediately, as well as to use international political mechanisms in order to restore freedom of movement in a timely manner and increase access to medical services. Read more… Source: gyla.ge

Tbilisi. International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy (ISFED) publishes a document: Rights and responsibilities of local self-government bodies and public servants during the pre-election campaign - 2020. Read more… Source: isfed.ge

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. Civil society organizations, operating in Georgia, appeal to the Government of Georgia and its relevant agencies, as well as international organizations and diplomatic corps, and urge them to take all appropriate measures under their mandate to protect the life, safety and rights of Irakli Bebua, detained in occupied Abkhazia, as well as to facilitate the process of his transfer to the Georgian-controlled territory. Read more… Source:emc.org.ge

Tbilisi. On October 9, there were conducted a presentation of a 10-point concept of judicial system reform and a signing ceremony, initiated by non-governmental organizations. “The concept was developed taking into consideration observations and studies of a number of years of the non-governmental sector. It aims at functional and systemic improvement of judicial system, enhancement of independence of judges and introduction of democratic mechanisms of internal governance. The document was signed by 8 political subjects, thus pledging to implement reforms given in the concept as soon as the new parliament is convened after the 2020 parliamentary elections. At the same time, it should be noted that the concept does not require constitutional changes”. Read more… Source: transparency.ge

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. Civil society organizations publish a manifesto in regard to processes that take place in Nagorno-Karabakh. “We, the peoples living in the Caucasus region, have the severest experience of brutal wars, conflicts and exile. We have all realized from our own historical experience that wars are heavy burdens on shoulders of people, carry the power to destroy and impoverish them, and bring only pain, suffering and frustration. No nation or ethnos in our region has gained victory and development as a result of war. That is specifically why we believe that only a policy of peace, negotiations and cooperation will bring stability and development to our region”, - is stated in the Manifesto.  Read more… Source: humanrights.ge

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...

Imereti. Local Democracy Agency Georgia held informational meeting for youth in Adult Education Center in Khoni municipality, about these following issues: The importance of civic engagement; civil society organizations; International volunteering platform "Time Bank"; Meeting held within the framework of the project, „Georgian Civil Society Sustainability Initiative”. The project „Georgian Civil Society Sustainability Initiative” is implemented by the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS) in cooperation with the Civil Society Institute (CSI), the Consultation and Training Center (CTC), the Center for Strategic Research and Development of Georgia (CSRDG), and the Education Development and Employment Center (EDEC). The project is funded by the European Union (EU) and co-funded by the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS). Read more... Source: The organization's page in the social network

The US Agency for International Development publishes the CSO Sustainability Index every year. Most recently the 2019 index has been released. Picture of sustainable development of CSOs, operating in Georgia, can be seen here...

Imereti. Local Democracy Agency Georgia held consultations in the Sachkhere municipality with civil servants responsible for NGO relations as well other public servants.  The consultations were conducted as part of the project "Civil Society Development Initiative". The meeting focused on the challenges posed by COVID19 and identified topics in which civil society organizations continue to work actively. The Project ”Georgian Civil Society Sustainability Initiative” was developed and is implemented by the consortium led by the Konrad ­Adenauer­ Stiftung in cooperation with four Georgian Civil Society Organizations: Civil Society Institute (CSI), Center for Training and Consultancy (CTC), Center for Strategic Research and Development of Georgia (CSRDG) and Education Development and Employment Center (EDEC).The project is funded by the European Union and co-funded by the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung. Read more... Source: The organization's page in the social network

Shida Kartli. An inter-agency commission on prevention of violence against women and/or domestic violence is going to be established at the City Hall of Gori Municipality. The commission will be headed by Paata Ivanishvili, Deputy Mayor of Gori. The project, which made it possible to implement this idea, is initiated by the Women's Information Center. As Elene Rusetsky, the head of the organization, explains, this is an unprecedented case when a group composed of representatives of various institutions is involved in the process of resolving similar issues at the municipal level. Prior to Gori, an inter-agency commission was set up in Zugdidi. It is intended to facilitate establishment of similar groups in other cities of Georgia as well. Read more… Source: ginsc.net

Tbilisi. Institute for Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI) published the statement.  “Based on the appeals of “Institute for Development of Freedom of Information” and “Media Development Foundation” the Constitutional Court of Georgia, by its decision of June 7, 2019, ruled that the provisions of the Law of Georgia on Personal Data Protection, specifically Article 5 and paragraphs 1 and 3 of Article 6 were unconstitutional as they prohibited access to the full text of court decisions delivered within the scope of public hearings by Common Courts of Georgia. According to the constitutional court, any decision rendered in the process of adjudication should be open unless there is a substantiated necessity to restrict its accessibility. The Court declared the disputed norms void from May 2020 and thus gave the Parliament of Georgia time to harmonize existing legislation with the requirements of the Constitution, but the Parliament has not adopted appropriate legislative amendments within the prescribed time frame. Although no changes have been made to the legislation to date, from May 1, 2020 the provisions of the Law of Georgia on Personal Data Protection, that restrict access to the full text of court decisions delivered within the scope of public hearings by Common Courts of Georgia, are abolished”, - is mentioned in the statement, - “IDFI requested the full text of the judgments rendered in May 2020 from several common courts. In response to our requests, courts stated that they are obliged to protect the personal data contained in the judicial acts from disclosure, therefore, they cannot provide us with the full texts of court decisions (without personal data being redacted)”.  Read more…  Source: idfi.ge

Racha-Lechkhum-Kvemo Svaneti. LDA Georgia is still holding meetings with the members of Civic Advisory Councils and public servants in Tsageri and Lentekhi municipality within the framework of the grant “ Racha-Lechkhumi and lower Svaneti Regional Development Initiative”. All the main inter-municipal initiatives which can be implemented by neighboring municipalities were discussed at the meeting.  „Racha-Lechkhumi and lower Svaneti Regional Development Initiative” is undertaken within the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) “Fostering Regional and Local Development-Phase 2” project, with financial support from the Swiss Agency for Development Cooperation (SDC), Austrian Development Cooperation (ADC) and the Government of Georgia.  Read more…  Source: Page in 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...

Imereti. The importance of civic engagement, Civil Society Organizations, International volunteering platform "Time Bank" – That’s issues Local Democracy Agency Georgia talked to youth in Baghdati municipality. The information meeting, which is implemented within the project, "Civil Society Development Initiative", was held at the youth center of the village Rokhi.  The project „Georgian Civil Society Sustainability Initiative” is implemented by the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS) in cooperation with the Civil Society Institute (CSI), the Consultation and Training Center (CTC), the Center for Strategic Research and Development of Georgia (CSRDG), and the Education Development and Employment Center (EDEC). The project is funded by the European Union (EU) and co-funded by the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS).  Read more…  Source: The web-page of the organization