Tbilisi. Institute for Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI) & Ilia State University kicked off Certification Program in Fighting Corruption. The 44 students (out of over 300 applicants), representatives of the public, private and non-governmental sectors, will deepen their knowledge on anti-corruption issues and acquire the skills of effective response against the facts of corruption. IDFI has been implementing the program for the second year in partnership with the Ilia State University, under the financial support of the Open Society Institute Budapest Foundation (OSI) and the Open Society Georgia Foundation (OSGF). Read more... Source: The organization's page in the social network

Tbilisi. To promote fair and transparent 2020 Parliamentary Elections in Georgia, CDD signed the code of conduct (Ethics), which provides an agreement between the election administration and local observer organizations on professional and ethical standards. The basic principles of the code of conduct (Ethics) are: political neutrality and impartiality, transparency and accountability, promoting a free and fair electoral environment, proactive cooperation and response, and ensuring a healthy electoral environment during a pandemic. Read more... Source: The organization's page in the social network

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

Kakheti. A two-day meeting with media representatives on COVID-19 was held on 26-27th of September in Kakheti. Global and local health challenges amid COVID-19, health system management, Epidemiological oversight and protective measures, clinical management, vaccination, UNICEF response to COVID-19 pandemic, the Code on the Rights of the Child and other important issues were discussed during the sessions. Read more... Source: The organization's page in the social network

Tbilisi. On September 23, 2020, Ghasan Khalili, Representative of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) in Georgia, met with Madona Basiladze and Tamta Chechelashvili at the Western Georgia Division of the Public Defender's Office. "The situation of children's rights in the regions of western Georgia and the role of the Public Defender in the context of the pandemic (COVID-19) were discussed at the meeting. Particular emphasis was placed on the child’s right to education and the challenges relating to remote learning. The growing number of cases of domestic violence against children, child poverty, difficult social conditions of families and the situation in these areas in the regions of Georgia were other topics of discussion". Read more... Source: ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. Civil society organizations express their extreme concern in regard to another attack of Irakli Kobakhidze, Executive Secretary of “Georgian Dream”, the ruling party, on Nino Lomjaria, the Public Defender of Georgia.  “Unfortunately, unsubstantiated and insulting statements about the Public Defender have already become a habit as for members of “Georgian Dream”, as well as for representatives of both legislative and executive authorities. The only purpose of these statements is to discredit the most important constitutional institution, divert attention from real problems and challenges existing in the field of human rights. We, the signatory organizations call on the political team of “Georgian Dream” to refrain from making insulting statements against the Public Defender, both directly or indirectly, as well as to discontinue their attempts to obstruct activities of this institution”, - is noted in the joint statement. Read more… Source: isfed.ge

Adjara. The Georgia Red Cross Society Batumi branch continues to deliver food and hygiene parcels to the older people and multiple children families. The Georgia Red Cross Society provides the community with the support of the USAID. Read more... Source: The organization's page in the social network

Tbilisi. Civil society organizations respond to facts of interrogation of lawyers of the family of Tamar Bachaliashvili in the presence of a magistrate judge, as well as seizure of a personal mobile phone of Mikheil Ramishvili within the framework of an investigation launched on the ground of the fact of falsification of evidences by the Prosecutor’s Office. CSOs consider that these actions might be acknowledged as deliberate attempt to use justice for other purposes, in particular - to influence the position of the family of Bachaliashvili and defenders of her rights. “We call on the Prosecutor's Office of Georgia to remain in the legal space, immediately stop any type of interference in the activities of lawyers and respect their professional independence”, - is noted in the joint statement. Read more… Source: gdi.ge

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. With the support of UN Women, Public Defender's Office has conducted online seminars on gender-sensitive reporting and media standards. Participants of the seminar have been introduced to the standards of ethical and non-discriminatory, gender-sensitive reporting including femicide reporting. Journalists have discussed existing challenges in mainstream media related to the gender-sensitive reporting and received recommendations. Read more…  Source: The page in social network

Tbilisi. Sapari succeeded in the case of Nana Gogaladze, a victim of systematic domestic violence, who was brought to trial for wounding her offensive husband. Through the efforts of the organization, there have been revealed circumstances for legitimacy of the necessary repulsion, interrogated a number of witnesses, and carried out certain investigative actions in the case. As a result, the Tbilisi City Court qualified the case as a necessary repulsion and ruled out a decision to acquit Nana Gogaladze. The accusing party appealed against this verdict and demanded to declare Nana Gogaladze guilty as well as to punish her under Article 117 of the Criminal Code. The Tbilisi Court of Appeals rejected the appeal of the Vake-Saburtalo District Prosecutor and left the first-instance decision of acquittal in force. Read more… Source: The website of the organization

Tbilisi. Caritas Georgia presents the report “Needs of Vulnerable Groups and Social Care, which is based on first-hand information provided by our beneficiaries.  The goal of the report is to work and invite the attention of all actors in the sphere of social care and protection in Georgia to the systematic problems that people living in poverty have.  Read more…  Source: The page in the social network

Europe Foundation published a post about positive examples in Ozurgeti Municipality where budget related-issues were resolved through a participatory principle  “GIFT (Global Initiative for Fiscal Transparency) has declared 10 principles of public participation in fiscal policy to implement citizen-oriented budgeting policy. One of these principles is SUSTAINABILITY”, - Is mentioned in the post, - “There are some positive examples in Ozurgeti Municipality where budget related-issues were resolved through a participatory principle helping to institutionalize public participation in fiscal policy. Founder of Progress House Mindia Salukvadze is sharing his experience of collaboration with local government and some positive results he has seen in Ozurgeti municipality”.  Read more…  Source: Page in the social network

Tbilisi. On September 24, 2020, the Public Defender of Georgia and the Council of Religions of the Public Defender of Georgia presented recommendations drawn up in 2020 concerning the challenges relating to freedom of religion and religious minorities. The event was supported by the Promoting Integration, Tolerance, and Awareness (PITA) Programme, which is being carried out by the UN Association of Georgia (UNAG) with the financial support of the US Agency for International Development (USAID). Read more…  Source: The web-page of the organization

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

Tbilisi.Handbook is elaborated with the support of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) commissioned by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). Project “Citizen Participation in Municipal Budgeting” is implemented within the frames of Eastern Partnership Regional Fund for Public Administration Reform.  Practical Handbook on Participatory Budgeting

Tbilisi. In support of women's empowerment, UN Women has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Agricultural and Rural Development Agency of Georgia.  The overall objective of the Memorandum of Understanding is to provide support to women, especially vulnerable women through special economic empowerment programs developed by the Agricultural and Rural Development Agency.  Read more…  Source: Page in the social network

Human Rights Center, in the frame of the project “Free Legal Advocacy and Human Rights Monitoring After the COVID-19 Pandemic”, organized field visits to the project targeted regions of Imereti, and Kvemo Kartli.  The project regional lawyers met citizens and informed them about the free legal aid Human Rights Center can offer them to advocate their breached human rights.  Read more…   Source: Page in the social network

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...

Tbilisi. EU4Justice is pleased to introduce a new publication (GEO) on selected issues of EU law.  Read more…  Source: Page in the social network

Tbilisi. Election coverage has become more diverse in recent years, but analytical depth is lacking and some outlets resort to gender stereotypes. These are some of the findings released today by the European Union (EU) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) from the first 11 weeks of monitoring of mass media coverage of the upcoming parliamentary elections.  The monitoring is implemented by UNDP in partnership with three Georgian civil society organizations: the Georgian Charter of Journalistic Ethics, Internews Georgia, and CRRC-Georgia. It covers 43 different media outlets, including 12 television stations, 10 radio stations, 8 print newspapers, and 13 online editions. It also looks into the ways that Georgian media organizations connect with their readers on Facebook, analyzing what kind of electoral news gets most of the social media outreach, including through the Facebook pages associated with political parties, officials and politicians. A separate report prepared by CRRC-Georgia examines how Georgian television stations are covering foreign influence on Georgian electoral processes.  Media coverage of the Georgian political landscape has expanded to cover a wider range of political parties and actors than in past elections. However, the monitoring also showed that media coverage is largely shaped by the political agendas of the contending forces, focusing on only a few issues and failing to provide in-depth information on topics of potential public interest.  The interim reports released today cover 11 weeks of the pre-election period, from 15 June through 31 August.  Read more… Source: eeas.europa.eu