Tbilisi. The Institute for Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI) publishes a blog post: Costs of amenities for the presidential residence. “In terms of inappropriate disposal of budgetary funds, purchase of modern furniture, lighting facilities and curtains for GEL 720 225 without a tender carries a special risk. IDFI calls on the State Audit Office to scrutinize purpose and cost-effectiveness of disposal of financial means allocated from the reserve fund and spent on amenities for the presidential residence”, - is stated on the website of the organization. Read more… Source: idfi.ge

Tbilisi. In light of the ongoing tense political developments in the country, CSOs call on the government: “To reject the use of any type of force against the demonstrators and avoid the escalation of the situation, which could potentially result in a state of full-fledged political instability and transform into events that could go beyond all legislative frameworks”. Read more… Source: emc.org.ge

Tbilisi. In order to protect life and ensure safety of Vazha Gaprindashvili, a doctor, the European Court of Justice should apply a provisional measure, - the organization “Article 42 of the Constitution” states about this. “The organization “Article 42 of the Constitution” considers it expedient to appeal immediately to the European Court of Justice requesting to apply a provisional measure against the Russian Federation as stipulated by Article 39 of the Rules of Procedure of the Court. The mentioned article envisages imposition of an obligation on a state within a tightened deadline to avoid irreparable damage”, - is noted in the statement released by the organization. Read more… Source: article42.ge

The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) published annual hate crime database for 2018.  ODIHR’s hate crime database is the largest of its kind worldwide. It is updated each year with information from both official and civil society sources and includes data on hate crime legislation, recording, prosecution and sentencing, as well as best practices from throughout the region.  Read more… Source: http://tdi.ge

Tbilisi. Public Defender Responds to Illegal Detention of Georgian Citizen, Doctor Vazha Gaprindashvili by Occupation Regime.  ‘Freedom of movement is enshrined in numerous international documents, including Article 2 of Protocol No. 4 to the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights. Given that these restrictions are not of one-off nature, it is important for the Georgian authorities to use all possible mechanisms to protect human rights of the population of the occupied territories. The Public Defender calls on the Georgian authorities and international organizations to make every effort to secure the immediate release of Vazha Gaprindashvili from the illegal detention, as well as to use all available international mechanisms to enable the residents of the occupied territories to receive appropriate high quality medical care’, - The Public Defender mentioned.  Read more…  Source: http://ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. Georgian Civil Society Organizations and Civic activists addressed to the European Socialists Party (PES), President Stanishev and Secretary-General Post:  ‘We, the undersigned representatives of the Georgian civil society organizations and civic activists, would like to address you at this important moment in the history of modern Georgia and urge you to take immediate and adequate actions responding to the grave challenges to the pluralistic and participatory democracy in the country, as a result of the actions of the ruling party Georgian Dream, a sister party to PES, which adds on to the ongoing state capture by the informal governor of Georgia and the chair of the party Mr. Ivanishvili’.  Read more… Source: https://www.gdi.ge

Tbilisi. EU Delegation and the US Embassy in Georgia made a statement to Georgia regarding on-going events in Tbilisi.  ‘The Delegation of the European Union to Georgia and the Embassy of the United States of America recognize the deep disappointment of a wide segment of Georgian society at the failure of Parliament to pass the constitutional amendments required to move to fully proportional parliamentary elections in 2020’ – Is mentioned in the statement, - ‘In view of the current situation, we consider it essential to immediately work to restore trust through a calm and respectful dialogue between the government and all political parties and civil society with a view to finding an acceptable path forward. We fully support the right to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression. We call on all parties exercising this right to do so in a lawful manner and within the framework of the Constitution’.  Read more…  Source: https://eeas.europa.eu

Tbilisi. GYLA calls on state authorities to work promptly and actively to release Vazha Gaprindashvili, an unlawful detainee of the occupational regime of so called South Ossetia. “Reportedly, the purpose of arrival of Vazha Gaprindashvili at the so called administrative border was also to provide proper medical care to a resident of Akhalgori. In particular, the family of Vazha Gaprindashvili considers it as one of the versions that a Georgian doctor departed for occupied Akhalgori to assist a local resident who fell into a deep well and was refused to be transported to Tbilisi in order to receive qualified medical care”, - is noted in the statement released by the organization, - “GYLA calls on the government of Georgia to take all possible measures promptly and effectively in regard to release of Vazha Gaprindashvili from unlawful detention; use all available international legal instruments as much as possible to overcome the humanitarian crisis existing on the occupied territories and enable people living there to receive access to basic needs, including high quality medical care”. Besides, it also urges the international community and relevant international organizations to assist the Georgian side in resolving these problems; intensify efforts in order to combat massive violations of human rights in Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region and to carry out monitoring activities of their missions on the occupied territories”. Read more… Source: https://gyla.ge/ge

Tbilisi. The Board of the Georgian Charter of Journalistic Ethics expresses its concern over frequent attacks of members of the government on media representatives. “Such attitude of the government towards certain means of media is an indicator for us that the government is eager to change and intimidate journalists, or even make them think whether to disseminate critical facts about and pose tough questions to any branch of the government or not”, -is noted in the statement of the Board of the Charter, - “We call on the international community to pay more attention, along with intensifying political processes in Georgia, to facts of attack on journalists and attempt of their discrimination committed by state authorities, as well as to provide an appropriate appraisal to each similar case and respond accordingly”. Read more… Source: https://www.qartia.ge

Kvemo Kartli. The last session of the second cycle of training course, based on the Law of Georgia on Competition was held in Rustavi. The purpose of this training was to ensure compliance of work performance of the local self-governance representatives with the requirements of Law on Competition. During April-July 2019, with the initiative of the Competition Agency of Georgia, support of GIZ Legal Program, and technical assistance of the Academy of Ministry of Finance of Georgia fourteen training sessions were conducted on practical application of certain articles of the Law of Georgia on Competition in six selected regions of Georgia, which totally trained 420 local officials. Read more…  Source: https://www.facebook.com/giz.law.ge

Imereti. Local Democracy Agency Georgia was held forum in Zestaponi Municipality. Forum was attended by citizens, Mayors, City Hall department heads, and mayoral representatives in the administrative units from Baghdati municipality. The goal of this forum is to increase the involvement of citizens in municipal-level planning, include citizens’ input in next year’s budget, and improve communication between municipality’s local authorities and its populations. Read more…  Source: https://www.facebook.com/LDAGeorgia

#Happeningnow UN Women is presenting The Progress of the World's Women report 2019. The report presents the realities the families living in a changing world taking into consideration global economic, demographic, political and social changes. The progress report offers in-depth analysis in the areas of family laws, income and labour, unpaid work, violence against women, families and migration etc. Read more… Source: Social network

Local Democracy Agency Georgia was held forum in Baghdati Municipality. Forum was attended by citizens, Mayors, City Hall department heads, and mayoral representatives in the administrative units from Baghdati municipality. The goal of this forum is to increase the involvement of citizens in municipal-level planning, include citizens’ input in next year’s budget, and improve communication between each municipality’s local authorities and their populations. It should be noticed, that according to the research by LDA Georgia, two social programs such as Autism Spectrum Kids program and Home care program,will be included in the 2020 budget of Baghdati municipality. Read more… Source: 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. Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center (EMC) releases a statement regarding ongoing parliamentary discussions about a proportional representation electoral system. “EMC calls on the ruling team, opposition parties and independent Members of Parliament to realize the social and political context, which has brought the current issue of constitutional amendments to the agenda and urges the Parliament to support proposed constitutional amendments”. Read more… Source: emc.org.ge

#Happeningnow With the support of UN Women a Training of Trainers on the issues of Violence against women and domestic violence is ongoing at the Georgian Bar Association Training Center. „The course aims at building capacity of the trainers on the latest legislative regulations as well as covering psychological aspects of VAWG/DV primarily aimed at preventing secondary victimization. The trainers will conduct learning sessions for lawyers in different regions of Georgia“. Read more… Source: Social network

Tbilisi. On behalf of the Human Rights House Tbilisi, member organizations respond to the incident of physical and verbal abuse against the human rights defenders Ana Subeliani and Tamaz Sozashvili near Amirani cinema on November 8, 2019, as well as to the fact of thwarting the films screening at Amirani cinema, perceived as a restriction of freedom of expression, and call the government of Georgia as well as the law enforcement agencies to ensure the effective protection of human rights defenders and to guarantee a safe and free environment for them to implement their activities without any intervention. Read more… Source: hrht.ge

Tbilisi. The Public Defender is considering the transition to a proportional electoral system in the human rights context and expresses support for it, since it ensures the equality of the weight of votes, less lost votes, proportional transformation of votes into parliamentary mandates and political pluralism in the Parliament. “The Public Defender calls on the Parliament to support the transition to a proportional electoral system by the 2020 parliamentary elections, which will promote political pluralism and proportional representation of people's will and election results in the Parliament”, is noted in the statement. Read more… Source: ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy (ISFED) releases a statement regarding transition to a proportional representation electoral system. ISFED calls on: the ruling party and its Members of Parliament - to keep their commitment, made publicly, and support a constitutional bill thus ensuring the use of a fully proportional representation electoral system during the 2020 parliamentary elections; all opposition parliamentary parties - to consolidate efforts as much as possible and use their votes to support a proportional representation electoral system”. Read more… Source: isfed.ge

Tbilisi. Europe Foundation is pleased to unveil its food safety application Uvno, which will enable consumers to access the NFA inspection results of food safety enterprises operating in Georgia. The data available to the users since 2016.  The application aims at informing the consumers about food safety compliance in food enterprises so that they make informed decision before purchasing the produce. At the same time, the application represents a platform for civic monitoring and acts as an information-sharing tool.  Read more…  Source: http://www.epfound.ge