Kakheti. On 12 - 14 December, representatives of civil society organizations from 6 Eastern Partnership countries as well as international and transnational actors involved in the civil society promotion gathered in Lopota, Kakheti to discuss current objectives of the civil society development. Three major topics were addressed during the workshop: spaces and roles for civil society to engage in transformation of respective societies; structures and mechanisms of investing in and promoting of civil societies; reinventing and giving a new leaf of live to the regional dimensions, such as the Eastern Partnership. The findings of the workshop will be structured as a policy document and available for further public discussions. The workshop was organized in the framework of the project - “Georgian Civil Society Sustainability Initiative” - funded by the European Union #EU and co-funded by the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung

Tbilisi. ''International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy'' (ISFED) considers that investigation of facts aired in a ''Saturday Courier'' program of TV Company ''Rustavi 2'' on December 15 should be launched. ''The video footage contains Dmanisi, Senaki, Marneuli and Bolnisi precincts related video material, which reveals facts of alleged falsification of signatures of voters in voters lists, dropping ballot papers and violation of secret voting, committed by members of precinct election commission'', - is noted in the statement released by ISFED. Read more… Source:The website of the organization

Tbilisi. On November 8, 2018, the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) began to examine the case of Giga Otkhozoria on merits. In particular, the Court addressed the Russian Federation, as the respondent State, with respective questions concerning the case of Otkhozoria’s murder. ''The Russian Federation will have to answer the ECtHR questions about the fact of deprivation of Giga Otkhozoria’s life and in particular, whether the Russian Federation violated Otkhozoria’s right to life and the extent to which the investigation into Otkhozoria’s murder by the national investigative authorities was effective. In addition, the ECtHR demands that the respondent State submit copies of all investigative materials obtained within the investigation of Otkhozoria’s murder carried out by the de-facto Abkhazian authorities. The Russian Federation must submit its answers to the ECtHR questions by the deadline of March 7, 2019'', is noted in the statement. Read more… Source: gyla.ge

Tbilisi. ''Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center'' (EMC) releases a statement regarding physical confrontation between supporters of opposition and representatives of police that took place in parallel with inauguration of the President yesterday, in Kakheti. ''We call on the Chief Prosecutor's Office to launch an investigation of the incident occurred between supporters of opposition and representatives of police on December 16, besides, investigate timely and objectively both lawfulness of actions of police and the issue of injuries suffered by participants of the rally and policemen''. Read more… Source:The website of the organization

Tbilisi. ''Transparency International Georgia'' has completed a three-month internship program and awarded certificates to participants. The organization expresses its gratitude to the interns for cooperation and extended assistance. Read more… Source:The website of the organization in a social network

Tbilisi. Part of civil society organizations releases a statement regarding facts of intoxication and death caused by supposedly unknown, powerful narcotic substance. ''We call on the Ministry of Health to establish an expanded working platform with involvement of other agencies, where, through participation of professional and interested groups, there will be determined specific steps to be made for prevention of such facts'', - the statement reads. Read more... Source:emc.org.ge

Tbilisi. Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies releases publication: Territorial Dispute in North Caucasus: Unprecedented Protests in Ingushetia. ''The rallies in Magas demonstrates the growing unrest in North Caucasus. Since his early years, Putin has managed to cleanse the political spectrum of North Caucasus from the political opposition, civil society as well as an Islamic insurgency, which has created a political vacuum. The improvement of social media combined with the poverty and harsh economic conditions in the region could create the fertile ground for the future protests,'' is noted in the statement. Read more… Source: www.gfsis.org

EU-supported Georgian LAGs establish close partnership with the European Leader Inspired Network Community. The representatives of the EU-supported Borjomi Local Action Group (LAG) and ENPARD implementing partner organisation Mercy Corps took part in the Leader Inspired Network Community (LINC) meeting in Vienna, Austria. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss how future LINC seminars could be even better: What things were learned from previous seminars and what new things could be tried out. Operators in the LINC network have reviewed the results of the several international projects they executed and discussed the future cooperation. In the scope of the meeting, the Georgian delegation discussed the ways of cooperation between the Georgian LAGs and the LINC’s European partners. Despite the fact that at present Georgia is only an associate member of EU, it was agreed that the organizers of the LINC events will invite Georgian LAGs to all LINC workshops and conferences. In full  Source: http://enpard.ge

Tbilisi. ''International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy'' (ISFED) publishes a review of freedom of expression in Georgia in 2018. ''We may consider the year of 2018 as challenge to freedom of expression. Regressive initiatives and those restricting freedom of expression became a kind of tendency, including at the legislative body'', - the preface reads. Read more... Source:The website of the organization

Tbilisi. On December 12, 2018, Georgian Young Lawyers Association addressed a complaint to the European Court of Human Rights on behalf of Zurab Japaridze. ''On May 2, 2018, Zurab Japaridze, together with members of the political party "Girchy", witnessed the process of detention of a citizen by the representatives of the law enforcement agencies due to the possible use of drugs. The above mentioned fact was followed by the verbal protest of Z. Japaridze and the members of ''Girchy''. They explained to policemen the negative sides of repressive drug policy and legislation, including the detention of a person because of using of drug. According to local courts decision Z. Japaridze was recognized as an offender on the basis of Articles 166 and 173 of the Administrative Offenses Code of Georgia for minor hooliganism and disobedience to the lawful request of police. The complainant was fined by the court by 2000 GEL'', is noted in the statement. Read more… Source: gyla.ge

The web portal www.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. This morning, Tbilisi Appeal Court's chamber: judge Diana Berekashvili, judge Ketevan Dugladze, judge Besarion Tabagua, delivered precedential decision on workplace sexual harassment and ruled for Tatia Samkharadze. Tbilisi Appeal Court ruled against Shalva Ramishvili as he illegally used his power and sexually harassed employee Tatia Samkharadze. Due to the sexual harassment, Shalva Ramishvili is responsible to compensate for moral damages. Read more… Source: The organization’s webpage in a social network

Tbilisi. ''Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center'' (EMC) addresses the Prosecutor’s Office in regard to the case of Zviad Ratiani and demands to start prosecution against police officers. ''One year has passed since police committed physical violence against Zviad Ratiani. However, within the framework of investigation carried out at the Prosecutor’s Office, none of the police officers, involved in the case, has been convicted, neither has the status of victim been granted to Zviad Ratiani'', - is noted in the statement released by EMC. Read more… Source:The website of the organization

Tbilisi. GYLA Considers the Regulation Initiated with Regards to the Administration of the President to be Unconstitutional. ''On December 6, the legislative initiative of MPs Guram Macharashvili and Rati Ionatamishvili was submitted to the Parliament of Georgia, according to which the staff of the Administration of the President will be considered as persons employed by the administrative agreement and it will no longer use labor guarantees set for professional public servants. The Bureau made a decision to review the above-mentioned draft law in an accelerated manner, including to review it with two hearings in a day. We believe that the presented legislative initiative contradicts to the Constitution of Georgia, the judicial practice of the Constitutional Court of Georgia and it does not comply with the principles strengthened by the Law of Georgia on Public Service and violates labor rights of persons employed in the Administration of the President,'' is noted in the statement. Read more… Source: gyla.ge

Tbilisi. Majority of adolescents’ parents in Georgia practise an authoritarian parenting style and apply physical and psychological punishment methods; parents are mostly engaged in caring for their adolescent’s material and physical wellbeing, less in psycho emotional development – these are some of the findings of the ‘National Study on Parenting of Adolescents and Parenting Support programmes in Georgia’ being released today. Read more… Source: unicef.ge

Tbilisi. ''Institute for Development of Freedom of Information'' (IDFI) has prepared a test and a guide, which contains rights to freedom of expression. ''Freedom of expression is not an absolute right. This means that in some cases it may be restricted. Take a test of IDFI and learn how well you know the scope of freedom of expression in this direction'', - IDFI addresses readers. Read more... Guide… Source:The website of the organization

Tbilisi. ''No to Phobia!'' platform responds to developments at Public Service Hall and calls on law enforcement agencies to take immediate measures against blocking the entrance of the administrative institution, which fact prevents both operation of the institution and use of services of Public Service Hall. Read more… Source:mdfgeorgia.ge

Tbilisi. Throughout 2018, Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association (GYLA) has been maintaining its human rights protection work through litigation, monitoring and advocacy. ''In 2018, over 36’500 persons have benefited from the free legal aid of GYLA. Legal documents were prepared for over 4’700 persons (lawsuits, applications, statements, etc.), 120 cases have completed successfully already. Strategic litigation and advocacy of GYLA have made an important impact towards improvement of legislation and practice in various spheres of human rights. Monitoring efforts of GYLA have allowed revealing those issues, where additional efforts are necessary to resolve existing problems,'' is noted in the statement. Read more… Source: gyla.ge

Tbilisi. The International Anti-Corruption Day is celebrated on 9 December. ''Georgia has made some progress in combating corruption since 2004. Bribery in the delivery of public services, in particular, has been eliminated almost completely. At the same time, more complex forms of corruption remain a problem in Georgia. According to a public opinion poll conducted by Transparency International Georgia earlier this year, 36% of the respondents believe that abuse of power for personal gain is common among public officials in Georgia, while only 16% think that it is not common,'' is noted in the statement. Read more… Source: www.transparency.ge

Kvemo Kartli. Over 30 young farmers from Tetritskaro municipality participated in youth event on gender issues organized with EU ENPARD support by Association Rural Development for Future Georgia (RDFG). The event took place in Tetritskaro on the occasion of the international campaign "16 days of activism against gender-based violence” that runs every year in the period of 25th November to 10th December. In full  Source: http://enpard.ge

Tbilisi. According to TDI’s information Racially motivated violence was qualified as radial discrimination. On November 29, at around 7:00 pm a citizen of the Republic of Cameroon was traveling by public transport in Rustavi. According to G.M., one of the men in the mini-bus verbally and physically assaulted him because of the skin color. In particular, he was using the hate speech, telling the victim that his place was not in Georgia, he had to return to his country and also, was calling him "Zangi” (N-word). ''Immediately after engaging in the case, TDI requested to grant G.M. the victim status and to qualify the violence act as racial discrimination. On December 4, TDI lawyer participated in the identification procedure of the attacker and on December 6, G.M was officially granted the victim status,'' is noted in the statement. Read more… Source: tdi.ge

Tbilisi. Women's Movement and non-governmental organizations address newly elected President of Georgia. ''Women's Movement congratulates Salome Zurabishvili on her becoming a president and reminds her, as a woman president that she has a significant role in improvement of situation in terms of women rights. Taking this into consideration, we call on Salome Zurabishvili to review the decision about considering the candidacy of Dimitri Gabunia on a position of Parliamentary Secretary of the President'', - is stated on the website of the organization in a social network. Read more… Source:The website of the organization in a social network