Kakheti. At the workshop, the CSO representatives discussed the role of civil society in the EU-integration, in particular, how to contribute to the process of granting the candidate status to Georgia. Also, the participants shared information about completed or ongoing reforms and projects implemented in Georgia with the support of the EU. Read more… Source: STAR project page on the social network

Guria. MAC Georgia’s Rural Schools Program implemented another “Weekend Academy” last week at Chochkhati’s Public School in Lanchkhuti Municipality. The Weekend Academy included a variety of activities, such as: Intellectual Competitions; Theater Drills; Sport Activities; Cognitive Games; Morning Warm-Up line dances…and more! Read more… Source: The organization’s page on the 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. On 13 March 2023, the Venice Commission published an interim opinion on the draft law on de-oligarchization. The document assesses the risks stemming from the draft law and suggests potential alternative ways to eliminate the excessive influence of vested interests in economic, political and public life. Taking into account the conclusion of the Venice Commission, TI Georgia considers that the government should achieve the goal of de-oligarchization not by adopting a single special law, but rather by strengthening state institutions and implementing fundamental sectoral reforms. Read more… Source: transparency.ge

Tbilisi. The Georgia Red Cross recently conducted a three-day training for volunteers and employees who will be working to facilitate child-friendly spaces. The main goal of this initiative is to integrate Ukrainian children and help them manage stress. Child-friendly spaces are safe places designed to provide a comfortable environment for children to play, learn, and express themselves freely. Read more… Source: The organization’s page on the social network

Regions. Teachers in three regions of Georgia are engaged in training sessions on civic engagement, participation, and education for sustainable development. The training is part of the Teachers Civic Engagement Program, which is organized by CENN and supported by the US Embassy Tbilisi, Georgia. The program aims to increase teachers' engagement in civil society development and democracy. Read more here… Source: www.cenn.org

Tbilisi. On April 5, 2023, Public Defender Levan Ioseliani met with Wolt couriers who are on a strike and listened to their problems related to their labor rights and discrimination. According to the applications filed with the Public Defender’s Office, some of the couriers were blocked by the Wolt application, which is why they cannot continue working, while others received a warning message about their dismissal from the company. The couriers name their protest against the company as the reason for the violation of their rights. The Public Defender continues to study the mentioned applications and will make a decision in the near future. Read more… Source: ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. The Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association, based on publicly available sources, reacts to the case of Lazare Grigoriadis and believes that there may be cases of violation of the rights of the accused, which is why it calls on the Special Investigation Service and the Public Defender to act in accordance with their mandate. In particular, 1. The court did not publicly justify the imprisonment used as a preventive measure; 2. Statements made by high-ranking officials may adversely affect Lazare Grigoriadis' right to a fair trial. This, in some cases, at the same time, violates the presumption of innocence of Lazare Grigoriadis; 3. Possible violation of the privilege against self-incrimination; 4. Possible Violation of the Prohibition of Mistreatment. GYLA calls for: - the Government representatives - to refrain from discriminatory statements and not to go beyond the framework of the presumption of innocence in the case of Lazare Grigoriadis. - the Special Penitentiary Service - to protect the prisoner's rights in full compliance with the national legislation and the state's international obligations. - the Special Investigation Service - to start an investigation based on the information provided by the lawyer of Lazare Grigoriadis. - the Public Defender of Georgia - as the person supervising the protection of human rights in the territory of Georgia, to act with the mechanisms stipulated by their mandate and, among them, to carry out frequent monitoring of the legal situation of the prisoner Lazare Grigoriadis. Read more… Source: www.gyla.ge

Tbilisi. The rights of LGBTQI+ in Georgia are the focus of the discussions between civil society and international organizations. The spring coordination meeting brought together the representatives of community organizations that summarized the results achieved in 2022, discussed the existing challenges and made future plans. Discussions are supported by the Norway-funded “Leadership, Equality, Advocacy and Democracy” LEAD initiative and Swedish-funded “UN Joint Programme for Gender Equality” in partnership with National Democratic Institute and Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. Read more… Source: The organization’s page on the social network

Samtskhe-Javakheti. The locals in Akhaltsikhe are demanding the construction of roads and drainage channels in Koriani area. “The current road conditions are hazardous during bad weather, and the improvement of the infrastructure is a crucial necessity for the residents. Moreover, other Vale residents also need to travel through this section to access their arable land”. TI Georgia urges the Akhaltsikhe Municipality Mayor's Office to address the request promptly and meet the demand of the locals. Read more… Source: The organization’s page on the social network

Adjara. According to TI Georgia, the organization’s lawyers successfully litigated at three instance courts the case of the illegal dismissal of Vakhtang Beridze from the director’s position at the Shuakhevi Cultural Center. Read more… Source: The organization’s page on the 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...

Adjara. On March 29, 2023, the Public Defender of Georgia, Levan Ioseliani, visited the arbitrarily built “dream town” in the city of Batumi and learned about the situation of its inhabitants. “The homeless citizens of Georgia, resettled from the mountainous Adjara region, have been living in the conditions of faulty water supply, sewage and electricity systems for more than 10 years. Due to the lack of road infrastructure, it is also difficult for children to get pre-school and secondary education”. Read more… Source: ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. PHR needs the help of friends. “The organization is asking for your help in covering our utilities and office rent for the current month (March 2023) so that we can continue to operate and not face the threat of office closure. Specifically, we will cover the following costs: Electricity, natural gas, GWP, cleaning, internet, phone, and Georgian post service”. The total amount is 927.10 (nine hundred and twenty-seven lari.  JSC „TBC Bank“, Account number: #GE88TB7589036080100003 Partnership for Human Rights. In subject write donation. Read more… Source: The organization’s page on the social network

Tbilisi. “Rights Georgia” has launched Stateless.ge, a new Statelessness Portal. https://stateless.ge/en Persons who live in Georgia but do not possess citizenship of any country will be able to get comprehensive information about their rights and important public services through the special web portal - Stateless.ge. The Statelessness Portal was created by “Rights Georgia” with the support of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).  Read more… Source: stateless.ge

Tbilisi. According to the Human Rights House Tbilisi, 176 people applied for professional practice in our organization. “We are happy that there is such a strong desire to continue working in the human rights-defending organization”. Read more… Source: The organization’s page on the social network

Tbilisi. According to the TI Georgia the individual entrepreneur Alexander Khergiani who was the Deputy Head of the Municipal Administration of Mestia received 243,034 GEL from the Mestia Municipality procurements.   “Alexander Khergiani is a business partner of the Deputy Mayor of Mestia Neli Naveriani’s son, in Hatsvali 2015 LLC (https://bit.ly/3lphQQU). Neli Naveriani is the spouse of the Majority MP Viktor Japaridze’s cousin. TI Georgia calls on the Anti-Corruption Agency to examine each procurement and establish whether it contains potential signs of corruption or not”. Read more… Source: The organization’s page on the social network

Tbilisi. UNICEF shares an informational blogpost about a panic attack. “A panic attack is an intense feeling of fear and anxiety. It often happens if people feel anxious about something happening in their life or have experienced something difficult or stressful. Panic attacks can feel very frightening, especially for children, but they can usually be stopped with treatment. It’s important to know that a panic attack won’t cause any harm and, even if it may not feel it during an attack, the feeling will pass”. Read more… Source: www.unicef.org

Kvemo Kartli. Education Development and Employment Center (EDEC) and Kvemo Kartli Regional Hub, organized another workshop for the members of the Bolnisi Youth Council on the topic "Local Self-Government Budget and its Monitoring", the aim of the workshop was to raise awareness of the Youth Council representatives on the peculiarities of the formation and functioning of the local self-government budget, planning, and execution of the self-government budget and monitoring issues. Find out more... Source: The organization’s page on the social network

Tbilisi. According to the TI Georgia, Martin Gabrieliani, who has held various public positions in Akhalkalaki Municipality since 2013, receives state procurements. Since August 2019, his company Megobroba-5 LLC has received 36 public procurements and signed contracts for 1,390,861 GEL. Whence, his company received 667,186 GEL (47.9%) from the Akhalkalaki budget through 21 procurements. “Transparency International Georgia calls on the Anti-Corruption Agency of the State Security Service to examine state procurements of Megobroba-5 LLC and establish whether there were possible corrupt deals between it and the procuring organizations”. Read more… Source: transparency.ge

Tbilisi. 20 young women peacebuilders from all over the world were in Georgia for a four-day meeting.  Supporting leading women's organizations from conflict and post-conflict countries to build peace, strengthening the leadership skills of young women peacebuilders, and developing their capacities - peacebuilders selected from 4,500 applicants joined the pilot program. Read more… Source: ginsc.net

Tbilisi. Civil society and community organisations are responding to the attack on MP Tariel Nakaidze and believe that “this attack is directed not only against an individual politician but aims to discredit the human rights work in general and harm the human rights condition of minorities in Georgia”. “Unlike the MPs supporting the Russian Law, Tariel Nakaidze often uses the Parliament tribune for defending human rights and discussing the challenges of religious and ethnic minorities, women and LGBTQI persons. Minority rights protection is part of those European values that are strongly protected in the EU and are an organic part of our traditions. The hate speech and politics of hatred promoted by government representatives, besides being against democratic values and the spirit of human rights, irreversibly deepen political polarisation and harms pluralism and diversity”. Read more… Source: socialjustice.org.ge Photo: IPN