Tbilisi. GIZ’s Law Program publishes Georgian-German Journal of Comparative Law, 2/2020 Edition. „Please find download link below. Interested authors are kindly invited to participate in upcoming editions“. Read more… Source: The organization’s page in the social network

Tbilisi. The Women’s Initiatives Supporting Group (WISG) addresses state agencies in regard to the situation on spread of the coronavirus. “The crisis, caused by the virus, most severely affects those who do not have the “luxury” of self-isolation or working remotely, as well as lonely and homeless seniors, homeless people, IDPs, single mothers, people with disabilities and more. Among them are also transgender people and, so far, the state refuses to regulate legal recognition of their gender, which is a vitally important legal tool to ensure access of transgender people to health, employment and other social protection mechanisms rather than just a legal formality”. Read more… Source: women.ge

Tbilisi. Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center (EMC) calls on the Government of Georgia and local self-governments to pay particular attention to protection of the right to have water in villages, which is critically important for prevention of the COVID-19 virus. “EMC systematically conducts assessment of needs of villages populated by ethnic minorities at municipalities of the Kvemo Kartli region and Akhmeta. Access to clean drinking and consumable water is an issue that remains the major challenge in majority of the villages”, - is noted in the statement. Read more… Source: emc.org.ge

Tbilisi. Due to COVID-19, women who work remotely are, in parallel, managing increased household and care work. This is a big responsibility and men can step in to share it equally. “Globally, women do three times more unpaid care work than men, including child care and caring for the sick. In Georgia on average - women carry out 45 hours of unpaid household and care work per week, compared to men who average about 15 hours per week (UN Women, 2018)”. Read more… Source: Social network

Tbilisi. Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center (EMC) responds to the situation in the country in regard to spread of a new coronavirus (COVID - 19) and calls on the Government of Georgia to ensure safety of the homeless and other socially vulnerable groups and consider their needs. “On the background of challenges that the state confronts, it is essential for the Government to take into account not only public health but also social protection aspects. One of the most important issues in the current circumstance is to address needs of homeless people and provide them with adequate housing, which, in the given context, is of vital importance to homeless people”, - is stated on the website of the organization. Read more… Source: emc.org.ge

Tbilisi. According to information of part of civil society organizations in Georgia, the process of selection of a candidate for judge to be nominated at The Hague Court has been conducted opaquely and with faults. “The coalition considers that the Government of Georgia did not demonstrate due responsibility while following the rule and procedure for selection of a candidate for judge to be nominated from Georgia, that is why the Government failed to ensure carrying out of the selection process in an open, transparent and fair manner, and thus endangered successful election of the candidate for judge of the Hague Court nominated from Georgia. Taking this into account, a hearing, conducted today at the Parliament of Georgia, is only of a formal nature and cannot ensure nomination of an independent candidate”, - is noted in the joint statement. Read more… Source: gyla.ge

Tbilisi. The Open Society Georgia Foundation (OSGF) releases a statement in regard to a free legal consultation for citizens whose labor rights have been violated.  “We are aware that a number of those employed have lost their jobs or have their labor rights been otherwise violated. In some cases, employers sent their employees on forced and unpaid leave. There are also instances when employees got their salary or part of it deducted without respective legal basis and justification or they were forced to violate the rule of self-isolation and go to work. This is just a small list of possible violations of labor rights. To receive free legal consultation, you can apply to our partner organizations – the Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association, Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center and Solidarity Network. Lawyers will provide you with information regarding your rights and legal remedies as far as it is possible. If necessary, they will assist you in preparing a claim or other legal documentation”, - is noted in the statement.  Read more… Source: osgf.ge

Tbilisi. The Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association (GYLA) has filed a constitutional lawsuit in the Constitutional Court. A plaintiff in this case is GYLA itself.  “GYLA considers that part 1 of Article 77 of the “Election Code”, as well as parts 2 and 3 of Article 7 of the CEC Ordinance No. 8/2012 on “Approving instructions for filing an application/complaint and its review in the election administration” with respect to paragraph 1 of Article 31 (right to a fair trial) of the Constitution of Georgia are unconstitutional”, - is stated on the website of the organization.  Read more… Source: gyla.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 Sustainability Initiative” implementer organizations closely follow recent developments occurring around a new pandemic, #COVID-19, both in Georgia and worldwide. “We have been strictly adhering to the recommendations provided by the World Health Organization, the Government of Georgia and the National Center for Disease Control and Public Health of Georgia since the very beginning of spread of the virus. The health and well-being of employees, beneficiaries and partners is of prime importance for the members of our consortium. Once the risk of transmission of the virus increased, all consortium member organizations took respective measures to reduce likelihood of further spreading of the virus, more specifically: postponed international and domestic business trips of staff and experts; switched meetings and events to online mode; introduced special measures of hygiene at their offices”, - is noted in the statement. Read more…  Source: The website of the Project in a social network

Tbilisi. The Public Defender of Georgia is closely monitoring the implementation of measures aimed at preventing and eliminating the spread of coronavirus. “The Public Defender’s Office has not yet been applied with regard to any alleged violation of rights. However, people have questions about various legal issues. That is why we want to provide the public with information about the most frequently asked questions regarding human rights standards in the current situation”. Read more… Source: ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi.UNICEF publishes a blog post on a social stigma that appears in a period of pandemic. “In a period of pandemic, among other dangers there is a social stigma, that often means people are labelled, stereotyped, discriminated because of a perceived link with a disease. It's important to fight against the stigma, as it can: Drive people to hide the illness to avoid discriminati; Prevent people from seeking health care immediate; Discourage them from adopting healthy behaviours Always watch what you share.  Misconceptions, rumours and misinformation are contributing to stigma and discrimination which hamper response efforts. Read more… Source: The organization’s page in a social network

Tbilisi. According to information of the Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association (GYLA), the Russian Federation paid compensation to those of citizens affected as a result of a collective deportation from Russia in 2006 who had filed individual complaints in the European Court of Human Rights. “At this stage, the Russian Federation has transferred compensations to 7 persons under defense of GYLA that were assigned to them on the basis of the March 26, 2019 decision of the European Court, while in relation to one applicant, GYLA continues to communicate with the Russian Federation”, - is stated on the website of the organization. Read more…  Source: gyla.ge

GIZ's Law Program publishes the publication: Labour Case Law (Compilation of Court Decisions), Zakaria Shvelidze, 2020, Tbilisi. Source: The organization’s web page in a social network

Tbilisi. As Gender Information Network informs, according to data of Geostat, in the IV quarter of 2019, the average monthly nominal salary of men in Georgia is GEL 575 higher than that of women.  Based on a report of the “National Statistics Office”, in the IV quarter of 2019, the average salary of women constituted GEL 1018.5, while that of men – GEL 1593.2 and the annual increase of salary reached GEL 112.5 and 124.7 respectively. By types of activity, salaries of men exceeded those of women in almost all sectors”, - is stated on the website of the Platform. Read more…  Source: ginsc.net

Tbilisi. According to information of the Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association, on January 27, Public Defender of Georgia found that Batumi Shota Rustaveli State University and Akaki Tsereteli Batumi Public Library committed direct discrimination against “Identoba” on grounds of sexual orientation and field of activity. Interests of “Identoba” were defended by GYLA. “Ombudsman called on Batumi Shota Rustaveli State University and Akaki Tsereteli Batumi Public Library to elaborate an internal policy document on prohibition and prevention of discrimination and to carry out future activities via adhering to the principle of equality”. The University of Batumi has already planned activities to implement the recommendations, while the library has taken the suggestions of Ombudsman as a note and will consider them in the future. Read more… Source: gyla.ge

Tbilisi. Civil society organizations collectively address international organizations in regard to alarming processes taking place at Adjara Broadcaster. “The dynamics and context of developments occurred at the broadcaster since spring 2019, including unsubstantiated impeachment of Natia Kapanadze, challenging rule and procedure for electing Giorgi Kokhreidze, while prior to these facts, critical statements made by Bidzina Ivanishvili, Chairman of the ruling political party, at Adjara Public Broadcaster show that the Government attempts to gain control over the broadcaster thus aiming at weakening its criticism and independence”, - is stated on the website of the organization. Read more… Source: emc.org.ge

Tbilisi. On March 17, representatives of EMC and miners from Dzidziguri Shaft, located in Tkibuli, conducted a joint press conference. “Miners have been refusing to work in the shaft for several days due to hazardous work environment that exists there. EMC supports miners from the Dzidziguri shaft and calls on the state to take into account recommendations, provided through the report of audit carried out on its own request, urging to suspend coal mining activities in shafts and protect labor rights of miners until the safe working environment is provided”, - is stated on the website of the organization. Read more… Source: emc.org.ge

Tbilisi. Organizations and activists that work to protect the rights of persons with disabilities demand effective engagement in the process of revision of the bill on “Rights of Persons with Disabilities. “As you are aware, due to significance and relevance of the issue, it is vitally important to involve representatives of the community of people with disabilities, parents and organizations, working to protect the rights of people with disabilities, in the process of revision of the subject bill in order to ensure any improper decision is not made. At the same time, we note that the World Health Organization and the National Center for Disease Control of Georgia directly recommend to protect the community of disabled people due to the threat of a coronavirus infection since they are the ones who represent one of the risk groups. Respectively, on the one hand, their engagement into the process of revision of the bill is a serious threat to their health, while on the other hand, working on a bill, related to the community of disabled people, without involving them in the process is completely pointless, which also contradicts the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities”, - is noted in the joint statement. Read more… Source: emc.org.ge

Tbilisi. March 16th, at 14:00, Chris Davenport, Press Attaché of the US Embassy in Georgia, will read a story about a little penguin to you. “While schools are closed in Georgia, we, at the US Embassy, would like to help children continue their education. From 14:00 on weekdays, an American diplomat will read his favorite story and talk to you in English through the Facebook live. This is an excellent opportunity to practice your English and learn more about the United States”, - is stated on the website of the US Embassy in a social network. Read more…  Source: The website of the Embassy in a social network

Tbilisi. The Georgia Red Cross Society actively continues mobilization of volunteers in order to reduce the risk of further spreading of a new Corona virus (COVID-19), to inform population and to take preventive measures. “Volunteers will be given the opportunity to engage in various activities: -Inform population regarding preventive measures; -Deliver products, hygiene parcels and medicines to self-isolated as well as socially unprotected and chronically ill elderly and people with special needs living alone”. Read more…  Source: The website of the organization in a social network

Tbilisi. The Coalition publishes the statement on nominating Nino Kadagidze as the chair. “Significantly, the HCOJ made the decision of nominating her upon consultations with Supreme Court judges only, behind closed doors. Judges from the first and second instance courts, as well as civil society representatives and other interested parties, were not involved in these discussions. Given the above questions towards the selection process and the history of judge Kadagidze’s appointment to the supreme court, the Coalition considers the nomination of Nino Kadagidze’s candidacy for the high post of Chair of the Supreme Court of Georgia unjustifiable and calls on members of Parliament not to support her candidacy”, is noted in the statement. Read more… Source: transparency.ge