Adjara. On 11-12 February, Georgia Red Cross Society with partnership of Ministry of Education, Science, Culture And Sport of Georgia and collage “Black Sea“ is conducting profession orientation workshop in Batumi for the youth representatives. “During these meetings, youth will be introduced to the needs of the labour market in the region, as well as the education opportunities available in the country / region. This will help young people to choose the right profession and plan the future accordingly. The participants of the meeting also have the opportunity to get familiarize with the system of Vocational colleges. Meetings will be held twice in a month for the youth of Senaki, Zugdidi and Khelvachauri / Batumi Municipalities“. Read more… Source: Social network page

Tbilisi. Part of the civil society organizations respond to the February 10, 2020 decision of the Supreme Court of Georgia on the case of Gigi Ugulava, according to which the leader of the opposition party has been convicted to imprisonment for three years, two months and eight days. “We call on the Government of Georgia, the ruling party and Bidzina Ivanishvili, the informal leader of the country, to stop applying selective justice against opponents and dissenters, facilitate solution of the political crisis in a constructive mode and, instead of interests of the party, set population and the country development interests as a priority”. Read more… Source: transparency.ge

Tbilisi. Media Advocacy Coalition considers processes developed around “TV Pirveli” to be alarming. “Processes developed around “TV Pirveli” are one of the alarming signals as there is also a critical situation when it applies to the freedom of activity of other independent media managers and founders. Independent media is one of the important and reliable tools for development of democracy in any country. We once again call on the authorities to carry out a fast and objective investigation in order to halt risks created to freedom of media”, - is noted in the statement. Read more… Source: gdi.ge

Tbilisi. Today's report, prepared by the European External Action Service and the European Commission and covering the period since the last Association Council in March 2019, shows that Georgia remains committed to the obligations and undertakings of the Association Agreement.  “Alignment to the EU acquis, as well as to European standards, particularly in the area of human rights, has effectively continued. However, challenges remain in the areas of electoral reform, political dialogue and reform of the judiciary. Going forward, it is essential that the parliamentary elections are held in a free and fair environment and that the selection procedure for Supreme Court Judges adheres to all recommendations made by the Venice Commission and is carried out in a transparent manner and in line with a genuinely merit-based nomination process. Legislative changes in line with international recommendations and implementation of the fourth wave of reforms will be important throughout 2020”, is noted in the statement. Read more… Source: eeas.europa.eu

Tbilisi. Members of the youth organizations of political parties and Tinatin Gogeliani, a representative of the State Ministry for Reconciliation and Civic Equality of Georgia discussed the state strategy for civic equality and Integration action plan of ethnic minorities at Rondeli Foundation. "The discussion was a part of the project “National Minorities in Political Processes – Engagement for Better Future” which is implemented with the support and active participation of OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities (HCNM)“, is noted on the page of the organization in a social network. Read more… Source: Social network page

Tbilisi. Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center (EMC) publishes an article of Tornike Gerliani – “Reform of the electoral system: Bill of the opposition and the issue of its compliance with the Constitution”. The article is about a report that has been released by the OSCE/ODIHR in response to the address of the Public Defender of Georgia and relates to an electoral reform proposed by the opposition (so-called German model). “The report of ODIHR states at the beginning that “the final decision on compliance of law with the constitution must be taken by local courts. This opinion reviews proposed changes and analyzes them with respect to relevant international obligations and standards ...” Besides, as ODIHR indicates, “all proposed changes should be considered attentively and adopted on the basis of a broad consensus among political parties.” The report contains a review of compliance of the bill with democratic approaches and principles, recognized internationally. In this part ODIHR indicates that “the presented package does not propose those changes to election regulations, which would have an impact on the issue of compliance with principles of a universal, free, secret and direct voting right.” Thus, the report does not touch upon the issue of constitutionality of the proposed bill, however, it indicates its compliance with internationally recognized principles,” – is stated in the article, - “despite the fact that the report of ODIHR does not appraise the issue of constitutionality of the bill, it is important to evaluate this subject theoretically so as not to marginalize the idea, which may facilitate to conduct 2020 Parliamentary Elections within the framework of a fair electoral system based on a broad consensus of the society”. Read more… Source: emc.org.ge

Tbilisi. The European Court of Human Rights found Article 2 of the Convention - the right to life (procedural part) violated in the case - “Sakvarelidze v. Georgia”. The respondent state was ordered to pay EUR25000 to the plaintiff due to a non-material loss.  “Information about the decision of the Strasbourg court was published today. With the legal assistance of the Human Rights Center, Mariam Sakvarelidze, the victim, applied to the Strasbourg court in 2010. Main demand of the victim was to urge the state to investigate the case of Davit Sakvarelidze and Eter Tsuliashvili, both dead as a result of a collision between an armored personnel carrier of a Ministry of Security and a vehicle of the “BMW” brand on November 22, 2003”, - is stated on the website of the organization in a social network.  Read more… Source: The website of the organization in a social network

Tbilisi. The Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center (EMC) responds to an initiative of the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia related to selling 100 new licenses for mining by auction.  “We consider that this initiative contradicts a document on the “Strategy for the Mining Sector of Georgia” and is incompatible with principles of democratic, transparent and relevant knowledge-based management of natural resources. The decision of the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development further promotes the practice of issuing licenses based on privatization and auction rules, despite the fact that the experience, obtained in Tkibuli, Chiatura and other regions, raises doubts regarding socio-economic and ecological sustainability of this policy, while the “Strategy for the Mining Sector”, approved in December 2019, indicates significant legislative gaps existing in the mountain mining sector, without eradication of which gaps launching of a large-scale wave of licensing is extremely dangerous”, - is noted in the statement of EMC.  Read more… Source: The website of the organization

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. The Public Defender’s Office of Georgia has studied the practice of early conditional release of convicts and replacement of the unserved part of a sentence with a lighter penalty.  The Public Defender believes that proper functioning of the mechanism requires that certain measures be taken in a timely manner, so that prisoners can be fully focused on proper fulfilment of their obligations during serving their sentences and the process of re-socialization, and thus be hopeful for the effective use of the mechanism.  Read more…  Source: http://ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. National Platform of Georgia for the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum releases a statement in regard to the competition for selection of the Prosecutor General.  “National Platform of Georgia for the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum calls on: the Prosecutors’ Council to not nominate the candidacy of Irakli Shotadze at the Parliament, as well as to justify minimal compliance of the candidate with the requirements defined for the Prosecutor General in case it nominates another person; the Parliament to take the final decision based on a consensus among various political forces and not on a majority basis, which fact would promote political neutrality and legitimacy of the newly-appointed Prosecutor General”, - is noted in the statement of the Platform.  Read more… Source: https://gyla.ge

Tbilisi. The Public Defender of Georgia shares a statement on Baghdati Municipality Tragedy.  ‘Unfortunately, child poverty and inadequate living standards have remained unresolved problems for years, which in some cases endanger the health and life of children. The child protection and social system fails to protect children from extreme poverty. The programmes offered by the State to families living in poverty are not oriented to outcome, individual needs or timely prevention; therefore, the socio-economic situation of such families basically remain the same over the years. Under the current social policy, it is problematic to satisfy even the basic needs of children living in poor families’, - is mentioned in the statement  Read more…  Source: http://ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. The Center for Strategic Research and Development of Georgia (CSRDG) publishes a blog post on a blog related to corporate social responsibility and sustainable development: www.asocireba.ge - All about association with the European Union on one site. “There are various opinions regarding those obligations that Georgia assumed based on the Association Agreement with the European Union. For this particular reason, to ensure that the society is not misled and gets more thoroughly aware of European values, legislation system and obligations that the EU Association Agreement entails, the Center for Strategic Research and Development of Georgia (CSRDG) has created a platform www.asocireba.ge. The website contains video tutorials, which take 10-15 minutes to let you get aware of what Europe is and what its values are, what the Association Agreement means and what obligations or benefits it may entail as for the country itself as for each of its citizens”, - is stated in the blog post. Read more… Source: csrblog.ge

Tbilisi. The Human Rights House Network releases a statement in regard to the case of Tamara Mearakishvili. “ We, 60 members of the Human Rights House Network, are deeply concerned regarding the legal persecution carried out by the de facto government of South Ossetia against Tamara Mearakishvili, a well-known human rights defender. The indictment and subsequent legal prosecution done by the de facto government are the consequences entailed by attempts of Tamara Mearakishvili to reveal corruption in de facto South Ossetia. While performing her professional activity, Tamara Mearakishvili exercised her fundamental and legal rights and she, as a defender of human rights, should have respective guarantees”, - is noted in the statement.  Read more… ource: https://hrht.ge

Tbilisi. By the IDFI Georgia’s Anti-Corruption Indexes is Worsening. ‘In 2019-2020 Georgia was mentioned in the rankings of several international organizations. All of them indicate that corruption situation in the country is worsening with high-level corruption being mentioned as one of the causes’, - is mentioned in the information of IDFI. Read more… Source: https://idfi.ge

Tbilisi. Civil society organizations send an address to international organizations in regard to the humanitarian crisis existing in Akhalgori.  “Over the last several years, rights of population of Gali and Akhalgori have been gradually restricted, including the right to education in the native language, freedom of movement and other fundamental rights. While those who raised their voice against restrictions have become victims of persecution by de facto governments. Grave instances of violation of human rights, including unlawful detention and deprivation of life, are not uncommon as well. Proofs to this are the cases of death of Davit Basharuli (2014), Giga Otkhozoria (2016), Archil Tatunashvili (2018) and Irakli Kvaratskhelia (2019). Respectively, we urge you to increase pressure on the Russian Federation, as on a power having an effective control throughout these territories, in order to immediately open the Odzisi-Mosabruni passage, stop unlawful detention of civilians at the occupation line and allow international monitoring missions to enter occupied territories unhindered”, - is noted in the joint statement.  Read more… Source:www. transparency.ge

Tbilisi. Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center (EMC) publishes an appraisal of an audit report on Tkibuli mines. “While visiting mines, a group of experts detected serious violations of safety standards, such as damaged ceilings and walls of roads leading to mines, carriage rails broken in many places, work platforms built with certain breaches of safety rules and etc. According to the report, these violations pose an obvious threat to health and safety of people located and working in mines, and show an indifferent attitude of the employer towards issues”, - is stated on the website of the organization. Read more… Source: emc.org.ge

Tbilisi. On 31 January 2020, GDI presented its report on Freedom of Expression in Georgia. The report was prepared with the financial support of the Open Society Georgia Foundation, within the project – Litigation for Freedom of Expression. „The report aims at analysing the recent situation regarding freedom of expression in Georgia. It also covers the cases litigated by GDI before the national and regional courts as well as the Constitutional Court of Georgia. The GDI team has identified practical examples and trends in terms of restriction of the right to freedom of expression by the national authorities in different aspects”, is noted in the statement. Read more… Source: gdi.ge

Tbilisi. “Media Advocacy Coalition” releases a statement in regard to the attack on Nika Gvaramia. “Nika Gvaramia has been injured as a result of the incident, however we do not know yet whether any of the eyewitnesses was interrogated and other necessary investigative actions were taken or not. With this in mind, the Coalition calls on law enforcement agencies to carry out a timely, comprehensive, effective and impartial investigation into this particular incident. The Coalition also considers it important to identify perpetrators and impose responsibility in a timely manner in order to prevent similar incidents in the future”, - is stated on the website of the organization.  Read more… Source: gyla.ge

Tbilisi. Part of civil society organizations in Georgia consider that the process of dismissal of social workers is carried out with violations. “The fact of dismissal of qualified social workers from their work on the grounds of reorganization and with vague justification is unacceptable for signatory organizations. It should also be noted that dismissed social workers participated in the above mentioned collective dispute of social workers while some of them took active part in organizing the strike and expressing a public protest, which fact raises suspicion that dismissed employees were punished specifically due to the protest”, - is stated on the website of the organization. Read more… Source: www.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 organizations, operating in Georgia, release a joint statement: Statement of the President of Georgia undermines the rule of law and fundamental principles of democratic society. “Addressing the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe on January 28, the President of Georgia stated she was ready to host a delegation of the Russian Federation, including Sergey Lavrov, Minister of Foreign Affairs, at the event planned in May, bypassing the Law of Georgia on Occupied Territories. According to the appraisal of non-governmental organizations, the stated intention to disregard the law in favor of members of the delegation of the specific state, military aggression of which resulted in occupation of territories of our country, is alarming and contradicts national interests of the country”, - is stated on the website of the organization. Read more… Source: gyla.ge