Tbilisi. Heinrich Boell Foundation and the “Get rid of plastic” movement present an atlas of plastic. “The first international version was published in English. Later it was translated into Georgian. Georgian publication contains several articles in regard to plastic wastes and their management in Georgia”. Read more… Source:ge. boell.org

Tbilisi. According to information released by the Institute for Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI), there are transparency gaps in activities of Georgian National Communications Commission (GNCC). “In its letter, seeking public information, IDFI requested a roster of staff of “Media Academy”, copies of legislative acts defining functions of “Medialab”, “Media Criticism” and “Media School”, operating within the “Media Academy”, information regarding activities performed by them, indicating expenses, their budget and other data. Unfortunately, in its reply, “Media Academy” refused to provide us requested information and, as a justification, stated that “Media Academy” was not a legal entity under public law neither in the organizational-legal nor functional sense”... 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. International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy (ISFED) publishes a study: Femicide and challenges related to it in Georgia. “Present study is a kind of an attempt to review legislative guarantees that criminalize gender-based violence as well as femicide in Georgia, reveal problems that exist in practice in this area and elaborate recommendations”. Read more… Source:isfed.ge

Tbilisi. Are you interested in training courses, conferences, academic exchanges, research grants and more? Check out the EU-funded opportunities here... Source: EU’s page in the social network

Tbilisi. International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy (ISFED) has presented the first interim report on pre-election monitoring of the 2020 elections of the Parliament of Georgia. According to observation of ISFED, during the reporting period there have been revealed: 19 facts of alleged electoral bribery, including 16 cases committed by Majoritarian Members of Parliament of Georgia, while 3 – by “Movement for the future – Momo”, 2 facts of alleged use of state resources, 1 fact of pressure on an observer of ISFED, 2 facts of obstruction in political activity, 1 fact of pressure / threatening probably on political grounds. Besides, as the organization found, in the months of March-June there have been detected cases of distribution of food and/or medical packages to population performed by certain Majoritarian Members of Parliament within the framework of various social events, which fact contains signs of bribing voters - an action prohibited by Article 252 of the Law of Georgia on Political Associations of Citizens”. Read more… Source: isfed.ge

Tbilisi. Four civil society organizations call on the Government to establish an independent anti-corruption agency. “We firmly remain on our position and call on the Government of Georgia to take into account recommendations of strategic partners and civil society organizations, conduct in-depth analysis in regard to high-level corruption in the country and make such an important commitment as to establish an independent anti-corruption agency, main function of which will be prevention and investigation of high-level corruption”. Read more… Source: idfi.ge

Tbilisi. “Media Advocacy Coalition” member organizations respond to the bill on intended amendments to Laws of Georgia on both “Broadcasting” and “Electronic Communications” submitted to the Parliament of Georgia. “We consider that proposed amendments contain risks of unjustified restriction of freedom of expression and their adoption will cause great damage to the media environment. We call on the Parliament of Georgia to prevent approval of this bill, taking into account pre-election and election processes. We demand to have the Parliament of Georgia review proposals, provided by the Communications Commission, with the participation of broadcasters, authorized people, domestic and international experts”. Read more… Source: gyla.ge

Tbilisi. On July 7, the Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association (GYLA) presented the High Council of Justice monitoring report N8 (for 2019).  "The document focuses on such issues as:  Nomination of Supreme Court judges;  Appointment of judges in the first and second instances;  Chairpersons of courts;  The report contains recommendations, however, according to the opinion of GYLA, implementation of these recommendations can be successful only in the circumstance if the “clan” at the council can no longer control a decision-making process”.  Read more… Source: gyla.ge

Tbilisi. On July 9, at 13:00, on behalf of the Georgian Institute of Politics (GIP) and in partnership with International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy (ISFED) there will be conducted a presentation of a report: "Georgia’s Implementation of 20 Eastern Partnership Deliverables for 2020”. Please register here and choose one thematic session Read more… Source: The website of the organization in a social network

Tbilisi. UNICEF is partnering with the National Center for Disease Control and Public Health to reach out to approximately 26,000 registered pregnant women in Georgia and offer them virtual consultations with gynecologists. “Since June 2020, leading doctors have organized online consultations for more than 5000 pregnant women. UNICEF is calling on pregnant women to register and use this opportunity once they are contacted by phone and are invited to the sessions. The virtual sessions are organized to mitigate the risks associated with COVID-19. During the online consultations each woman receives individual attention from the doctor. The sessions gather up to 25 pregnant women together via the virtual platform and allow them to learn about the issues connected with pregnancy from both the clinician and their peers”. Read more… Source: www.unicef.org

Tbilisi. The Institute for Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI), together with the “Memorial” Society, launches a large-scale campaign. “The first activity is to demand an increase in a household subsidy defined for those repressed, as it is GEL7, a subsidy envisaged for specifically those recognized as victims of political repressions (along with people affected by the Chernobyl nuclear facility) that is lowest among amounts of household subsidies set by the state for various social categories. IDFI addressed an open letter to the Prime Minister of Georgia demanding to increase the subsidy”. Read more… Source:idfi.ge

Tbilisi. Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center (EMC) presented a brief report related to the situation existing at the occupied regions of Georgia to the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). “In the conditions of absence of independent mechanisms for monitoring human rights on the occupied territories, information of organizations working on human rights has a particular importance for the Office of the High Commissioner. It is already the fourth year that the OHCHR report, based on a relevant resolution of the UN Human Rights Council, broadly describes dire situation existing on the occupied territories of Georgia in terms of humanitarian needs and human rights. The information provided by EMC focuses on the most important circumstances occurred in 2019, severe humanitarian crisis and systemic violations of human rights”, - is stated on the website of the organization. Read more… Source: emc.org.ge

Tbilisi. On July 2, the Parliament of Georgia supported amendment of the election legislation in the third reading. “We welcome this fact, as a lot of election issues will be better resolved. Take a look at a brief overview of basic changes and remaining problems”, - is stated in the information published in this regard on the website of Transparency International Georgia. Read more… Source: transparency.ge

Tbilisi. On July 1, the Public Defender’s Office of Georgia, with the support of the UN Refugee Agency, held an online presentation on: "Legal Status of Foreign Citizens in Georgia." “The challenges and trends relating to the rights situation of migrants, asylum seekers and internationally protected persons, such as the low rate of granting international status in recent years, refusal on security reasons, alternatives to detention and integration, were discussed at the meeting”. Read more… Source: ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. Signatory organizations express their extreme concern in regard to possible removal of fundamental records from the labor reform at the Parliament of Georgia and send an open letter to international organizations.  “This bill aims at bringing the Georgian Labor Code closer to international human rights standards and best practices. Proposed changes touch upon fundamental rights of workers, however the bill has appeared under attack from private interest and business lobby both formally at the Parliament and informally as it seems. As a result, its adoption is in jeopardy today. There are only a few sessions remaining until the end of the spring session and the risk of the bill being delayed or dropped increases gradually. This fact puts also fulfillment of obligations, committed through the Association Agreement, in doubt”, - is noted in the joint statement.  Read more… Source: gyla.ge

Tbilisi. The marketer collected all grants announced by the United States Agency for International Development in one blog post. Check out the grant competitions and apply in case you get interested. Read more… Source:www. marketer.ge

Tbilisi. Due to the information of Transparency International Georgia the companies whose shares are owned by Georgian MP Viktor Japaridze and his son, Otar Japaridze, are winning tenders. The total value of the contracts they have been awarded since 2018 amounts to GEL 6,264,688. Read more… Source: transparency.ge

Tbilisi. The Institute for Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI) has filed a petition demanding to increase a household subsidy to victims of political repressions.  The organization requests you to get acquainted with it and sign...  “We write this petition in order to get a household subsidy, which constitutes GEL7 per month, increased to victims of political repressions and equalized with the amount of a household subsidy defined for other social categories – GEL44. Increase of the household subsidy by the Government of Georgia to those repressed will be a significant support to 10000 citizens, victims of political repressions in Georgia, and a real state assistance to them” – is stated in the description of the petition.  Source: ichange.gov.ge

Tbilisi. Georgian Democracy Initiative (GDI), International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy (ISFED) and the Human Rights Center (HRC) call on both the Government and Parliament of Georgia to promptly provide public with information regarding the pandemic, what legal reality is going to exist after July 15. “We consider that prompt update of public on existence/nonexistence of restrictions related to the pandemic is given a special importance by the election year and processes, because full conduct of the election process and free expression of the will of electorate highly depends on legislative regulation of fight against the pandemic”, - is stated on the website of the organization. Read more… Source: gdi.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. On July 1, International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy (ISFED) published a document evaluating pre-election environment of the 2020 parliamentary elections. It contains a review of current situation in the country in terms of election legislation, political and media pluralism, as well as of those important socio-political processes that developed in the country before July 2020. Read more… Source: isfed.ge