Tbilisi. On November 3, 2017, Public Defender Ucha Nanuashvili addressed the Parliament of Georgia with a legislative proposal regarding amendments to the Georgian Law on Pensions.  ''According to the Public Defender, amendments to the law should be made in such a way that people employed in the public sector in the occupied territories have the opportunity to continuously receive a state pension'', is noted in the statement. In full… Source: www.ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. On October 2, 2017, the Public Defender of Georgia addressed the Minister of Labour, Health and Social Affairs of Georgia with a recommendation with regard to a case of discrimination on grounds of nationality. ''The applicant's interests were represented at the Public Defender's Office by the NGO -Young Lawyers’ Association. According to the factual circumstances of the case, the applicant is a member of a 7-member family which lives in a difficult economic situation. Her spouse is a foreign citizen who has no residence permit in Georgia. The applicant and her children had enjoyed social assistance, but the situation changed after her husband joined the family. The Public Defender calls on the Minister of Labour, Health and Social Affairs to modify the legislation on social assistance in such a way that the failure of a family member to meet certain criteria does not restrict the right of other family members to get social allowance'', is noted in the statement. In full… Source: www.ombudsman.ge

Samtskhe-javakheti. TDI visited Adigeni and Akhaltsikhe villages to direct a video about local Catholics. ''What kind of legal and social problems do Catholics face? - You will learn about this from our upcoming documentary. Stay tuned'', is noted in the statement. In full… Source: The organization’s web-page in a social network

Kakheti. ''…Time comes and this place will keep a whole village'' - this is a dream of one of the heroes of a movie - ''Nutsa’s School''. Life of heroes of this movie somehow resembles life of Gremi Temi... Which started some 20 years ago... ''Farm'', a program of the Public Broadcaster visited Temi... Meet ''Temi'' and ''Temi residents''... Charity Union "Temi” is a Georgian community organization where homeless, elderly, single mothers and etc. live together with people with disabilities as one family. Source:The Public Broadcaster

Tbilisi. On June 14, 2017, the Public Defender of Georgia submitted an alternative report to the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. ''The aim of the document is to inform the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities of the important issues, which, according to the Public Defender of Georgia, need attention during discussion of the implementation of the Convention in Georgia'', is noted in the statement. In full… Source: www.ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. According to the World Bank, GDP in Georgia increased from USD 10.1 billion to USD 13.9 billion between 2009 and 2015. Despite this growth, according to CRRC’s Caucasus Barometer survey (CB), the share of those who reported not having enough money to buy food on at least a weekly basis did not decrease between 2011 and 2015. ''This blog post shows how this finding differs by settlement type and reported household income. CB data show that a large share of households in Georgia have financial difficulties supporting their families’ primary needs and a majority struggle with not having enough money for food at least some of the time'', is noted in the statement. In full… Source: crrc.gec

Tbilisi. The Women's Information Center and Georgian Lottery Company started their joint campaign called ''This way it’s easier'' from Tbilisi. ''On June 6, within the framework of the campaign, two multi-child, socially unprotected families received gift parcels'' – is stated on the website of the organization. Read more… Source: The website of the organization in a social network

MAC recently conducted a new trainings on Strategic planning, Development and Project design for parents of persons with disabilities in the Telavi and Khashuri municipality.  ''Developed by our Peace Corps Georgia Response Volunteer, Tim White, the course seeks to help parents think through their challenges and priorities and then to develop strategies towards changing their circumstances. MAC hopes to begin to see more parents across the regions who are equipped with the knowledge, skills and confidence necessary to influence positive change for themselves and their community'', is noted in the statement.  In full… Source: The organizations web-page in a social network

Meetings were held between the representatives of the Georgian Public Defender and the Portuguese Ombudsman in Portugal’s capital Lisbon on May 24-26, 2017, for the purpose of sharing experience in the field of protection of the rights of migrants, asylum seekers and refugees. ''First Deputy Public Defender Natia Katsitadze and representatives of the Public Defender‘s Office, Tamta Papuashvili and Beka Javakhadze, met with representatives of the Portuguese Ombudsman's Office, as well as heads of the centers of reception and accommodation of asylum seekers. They were familiarized with the integration programs operating in Portugal for persons with migrant and refugee statuses, which are believed to be one of the best programs in Europe'', is noted in the statement.  In full… Source: www.ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. The Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center (EMC), within the framework of the ''What’s Your Demand?'' campaign, publishes a demand of Giorgi Giorgadze. The ''What’s Your Demand?'' campaign is an attempt to identify legislative shortcomings and systemic problems existing in the field of labor and environmental protection. Read more… Source:emc.org.ge

Tbilisi. Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center (EMC) publishes a blogpost: "Working conditions of those employed in mines and shafts”. ''In order to observe health, safety and working environment of those employed in mining and processing enterprises, EMC has studied: the condition of infrastructure and machinery, as well as the issue of furnishing with respective special clothes and equipment and the ability of receiving primary and urgent medical care at the employment sites'' – is stated on the website of the organization. Read more... Source:emc.org.ge

Kvemo kartli. On May 3-4, 2017, Public Defender Ucha Nanuashvili visited the Dmanisi and Gardabani municipalities of the Kvemo Kartli village, where he met with representatives of the local self-governments and the acting Governor of the region. ''One of the most important issues in the Dmanisi municipality is providing adequate housing for homeless people. The Public Defender visited vulnerable families, including children, living in poor conditions at the former hospital of Dmanisi. Although the local authorities use all the available resources to help the families, it is necessary the central authorities to allocate an appropriate building for social housing, which would be a long-term solution to the problem'', is noted in the statement. In full… Source: www.ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. The purpose of a study, conducted by EMC in 2016, was to interview individuals, engaged in controversial movements among those employed at both under and above ground freight and passenger transportation throughout the country. ''Working conditions at a duty station are dangerous for health and safety of those employed at the sector of railway transport, which fact is not properly addressed by employers. Employees consider that taking care of improvement of a working environment is performed with single and unsustainable methods. In order to maximize profit, they make saving on security measures in companies'' – is stated on the website of the Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center. Reade more... Source:emc.org.ge

Tbilisi. The action ''Protect our work'' was held at the Chancellery of the Government of Georgia. The action was organized in relation with the International Workers' Day to protect labor rights of women. Read more… Source: The website of the organization in a social network

Tbilisi. The Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center (EMC), within the framework of a research: ''An Assessment of the Labor Inspection Mechanism and a Study of Labor Rights Conditions in Georgia'', publishes excerpts from interviews with employees. ''It is cold during the winter period. Terribly cold, really, do you know how cold it is? There is no difference whether you sit outside or inside, it doesn't make a sense. There are some small heaters and et cetera, but when you work you do not feel cold'' - says one of the employees. Read more… Source:emc.org.ge

Tbilisi. The Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center (EMC), in cooperation with researchers of social rights and members of the State Constitutional Commission, has developed a draft law on amendments to the Constitution of Georgia. ''Proposals have been initiated at the State Constitutional Commission. The purpose of the submitted project is to consider respective guarantees in the Constitution of Georgia in order to establish social justice and equality'' – is stated on the website of the organization. Read more... Source: emc.org.ge

Tbilisi. Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center (EMC) publishes a blog post of Lela Rekhviashvili: ''Street traders and capitalist order''. ''The state cannot disperse traders and if it intends to set an order, then: it should declare social vulnerability of traders, increase the volume of social assistance programs up to the general state level'' – is stated on the website of the organization. Reade more… Source:emc.org.ge

Tbilisi. On November 27, at the Tbilisi municipality, there was established a Commission for homeless registration and shelter provision, which calls periodic meetings and reviews applications. ''...Statistics clearly show insufficiency and ineffectiveness of a policy of the Tbilisi City Municipality in regard to homeless groups. While the high rate of applications of citizens, submitted to the City Hall, and the fact that almost half of the reviewed applications meet the criteria for granting a status of homeless person, underline systemic nature of the problem of homelessness'' – is stated on the website of the organization. Read more... Source: emc.org.ge

Imereti. On 29 March 2017 a new Specialized Family-Type Service for Children with Severe Disabilities has been established in Kutaisi by the Ministry of Labour, Health and Social Affairs with the support of USAID and UNICEF. U.S. Ambassador Ian Kelly, Minister of Labour, Health and Social Affairs David Sergeenko, USAID Mission Director Douglas Ball and UNICEF Representative in Georgia Laila Omar Gad visited Kutaisi to open the new service. The Specialized Family-Type Service is the first unit in Georgia with the community-based care for young children with severe and profound disabilities and health problems. In this Service, children transferred from large state-run institutions receive a 24-hour nursing care, physical rehabilitation, and community integration services. Read more… Source: unicef.ge

Tbilisi. On March 21, 2017, the Public Defender of Georgia addressed the Ministry of Labor, Health and Social Affairs of Georgia to take necessary measures for solving the problems of the Brotsliani Charity House (non-commercial legal entity). ''The examination revealed that the service is not delivered in an environment oriented to beneficiaries; the service is not tailored to individual needs; sanitary conditions and safety are not protected; proper attention is not paid to the beneficiaries' health; their social activity is not promoted; the negative practice in terms of management of complex behavior needs to be immediately changed'', is note din the statement. In full… Source: www.ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. On March 17, 2017, the Georgia Red Cross Society (GRCS) and the Government of Hungary signed an agreement to support people affected during 13-14th June Tbilisi flooding in 2015 with food and non-food parcels, as well as children with psychosocial support at GRCS psychosocial care center. ''The GRCS still continues provision of humanitarian support to the affected population with support of various organizations and donor partners. Psychosocial care center was established by GRCS for addressing the psychosocial needs of affected population. Beneficiaries together with professional psychologists were involved in different activities designed to develop relevant skills for coping with the stress'', is noted in the statement. In full… Source: Social page

Tbilisi. Civil Society Institute (CSI), by order of a Czech organization "People in Need” (PIN), conducted a study regarding access to social services in Tkibuli, Gori, Zugdidi and Khobi. ''The purpose of the study was to make an expert analysis on challenges existing in the social sector on both central and regional levels. What were the results of the study and what recommendations do the authors of the study give to the government?'' – is stated on the website of Radio Liberty. In full... Source: www.radiotavisupleba.ge