Tbilisi. More than 500 delegates from more than 15 countries participated in the Annual International Investment Forum - Role of Good Governance Reform in Economic Development & Investment Attraction - held in Tbilisi.  It hosted about 50 speakers, including a well-known investment expert, Richard C. Wilson, who is known in the United States as the manager of investments accumulated by wealthy and ultra-wealthy families.  IDFI's Panel at International Investment Forum. A panel organized by the Institute for Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI) included a discussion on the Role of Good Governance Reform in Economic Development & Investment Attraction.  Read more Source: The web-page of the organization

Tbilisi. According to the statement of “Coalition for an Independent and Transparent Judiciary”, the Council of Justice does not release public information in regard to candidates of judges of the Supreme Court. “The Coalition calls on the High Council of Justice to publicize data submitted to the Council in regard to candidates (except that about their health condition) and information obtained by the Council immediately, meanwhile to discontinue procedures of the competition”, - is stated on the website of the organization. Read more… Source: www.transparency.ge

Samegrelo-zemo Svaneti. On June 22, Mestia is hosting the official launch of two development projects in Svaneti, combined with a public event designed to reach out to the local population.  The aim of the event is to introduce donors, ENPARD partner organizations, GRETA project, LEADER implementers and other local or international stakeholders with the main goals, milestones and future activities of rural development projects supported by the EU. The invited guests will also explore prospects and opportunities of local development in Mestia municipality, and mountainous regions of Georgia.  The event is organized by the Delegation of the European Union to Georgia with support from the Embassy of Sweden in Tbilisi, Austrian Development Cooperation, Austrian Development Agency, Mestia local government and CARE Austria and PMC Research Center.  Read more  Source: http://enpard.ge

Tbilisi. Nino Mchedlidze, the wife of Vepkhvia Khuchua, one of the workers deceased on a construction in Ortachala on March 16, 2019, applied to Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center (EMC) with the request to provide a legal assistance. “EMC is ready to submit a lawsuit to a civil court and claim compensation for the damage caused to the family of Kuchua once relevant evidences are obtained”, - is stated on the website of the organization. Read more… Source: emc.org.ge

Tbilisi. Non-governmental organizations release statement on the 14 and 16 June events. “The public saw clearly that the LGBT+ activists were prevented from exercising their right outside the Chancellery on 14 June. They, as well as other peaceful citizens, journalists and representatives of the Public Defender, became a target of threats and violence on the part of the groups whose leaders have links to the Russian Federation. Considering all the above, we believe that, in the situation that has taken shape, the following is necessary: The law enforcement bodies must investigate in a timely and efficient manner the violent actions committed and calls made at the rallies on 14 and 16 June; All necessary preventive measures must be carried out in order to ensure the safety of LGBT+ activists during the Tbilisi Pride Week so that they are able to freely exercise their right to public assembly and expression; The government must be particularly careful and pay special attention to the extremist forces stepping up their activities in the country, study their possible links to the Russian special services and efficiently respond to the threats and challenges that exist in this respect,” is noted in the statement. Read more… Source: isfed.ge

Tbilisi. Organizations working on human rights respond to developments occurred on June 14 and June 16. “It is obvious that the government is unable to ensure protection of freedom of assembly of LGBT people for years already and openly neglects LGBT people and their rights. ... Signatory organizations once again call on the state authorities to realize their responsibility in the occurred social crisis and take effective measures for passing the policy grounded on equality and inclusion. It is essential to have political parties and the Patriarchate realize their responsibility in this process”, - is noted in the joint statement. Read more… Source: gyla.ge

Tbilisi. The Public Defender of Georgia is responding to the events developed during the demonstration organized by the LGBT community and their supporters on 14 June, including violent incidents and statements of counter-demonstrators.  “Media reports, as well as the monitoring of the demonstration on the ground, refer to a number of offenses committed by counter-demonstrators, which require additional timely and adequate response by the investigative bodies”, - The Public Defender mentioned, - “Despite political differences, all political community should agree on that humiliation of any group and encouragement of violence against them is inadmissible. Tolerance and respect for the different is the basis of our country’s constitutional and legal order, which is threatened by strengthening of similar groups”.  Read more Source: The webpage of the Public Defender’s office

Guria. Civil Society Regional Forum held in the Culture and Recreational Park in Ozurgeti, Guria Region. The goals of the regional forum are to demonstrate the activities of local CSOs and to promote volunteerism. Up to ten local CSOs and the representatives of small business participated in the forum. The event was launched with the concert of children's group "Binuli". Then the organizers of the forum delivered the speeches and underlined the importance of the event. During the forum, the most active volunteer in Guria "Euro Club" was awarded by the "Time Bank", the platform to promote volunteerism. Within the event, the technique of working on Teqa and the preparation of the local tea were presented. Along with other entertaining activities, participants showed examples of making bamboo items. Visitors were also provided with the opportunity to choose an activity the most suitable for them and they could voluntarily involve in the work of local organizations. The participants were introduced with the bilateral volunteerism platform “Time Bank". The forum also included the quiz. Many Presents were gifted to the visitors of the Time Bank tent. The quiz questions were related to the culture of volunteerism in Georgia. The forum is organized in the frame of the project ”Georgian Civil Society Sustainability Initiative”. The project 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