Regions. On May 17-20, 2022, the Institute for Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI) conducted online trainings on Localizing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for the representatives of Keda, Senaki, Oni, and Sagarejo Municipalities and local stakeholders. The trainings were attended by 40 participants, including civil servants of the municipality, representatives of non-governmental organizations, school teachers, and the Youth Advisory Council members. Read more… Source: idfi.ge

Tbilisi. The Georgia Fair Labor Platform is investigating mass layoffs at museums run by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth Affairs, which appear to have targeted employees for their critical views and/or trade union membership. The member organizations of the Fair Labor Platform are currently investigating the legality of the dismissal and reorganization of staff from the museum system. If necessary, we will provide legal support to members of the Trade Union of Science, Education and Culture, in addition to protecting the labor rights of other persons employed in the Ministry of Culture. Read more… Source: socialjustice.org.ge

Racha-Lechkhumi. According to the information of the UNDP Georgia, The Social Inclusion Centre in Ambrolauri is one of the few places in Georgia to provide people with disabilities with space for social activities, professional skills development and equal employment opportunities. “Initiated by UNDP with support from the UN Fund for Sustainable Development Goals (SDG Fund), this life-changing enterprise is being developed in partnership with the local self-government and a community organization “Together for Real Change”. The project has also received support from the embassies of Poland and Bulgaria”. Read more… Source: www.undp.org

Regions. In West Georgia, specifically in the Guria, Samegrelo and Imereti regions, the USAID YES-Georgia program visited local greenhouses, cafés, guest houses, flower shops, wine cellars, and artisan establishments to let women know about its entrepreneurship and soft skills training program. More than 60 women registered to participate in the training program. By 2024, USAID YES-Georgia aims to provide 2,600 women with greater access to quality education, training, and business development opportunities. Read more… Source: The organization’s page on the social network

Guria. Ambassador Carl Hartzell travelled to Guria to highlight EU support to the region visiting alocal school and meeting the beneficiaries from EU-funded projects. Read more… Source: www.eeas.europa.eu

Shida Kartli. On May 21, 2022, within the framework of the EU-supported "Civil Society STAR Initiative" project, Education Development and Employment Center (EDEC) and Shida Kartli Regional HUB – Society “Biliki” organised the Regional Forum for Youth and Voluntary Development. The event was held at Gori State Teaching University. The forum was attended by the young people (high school pupils, students), volunteers, teachers, representatives of local civil society organisations (CSOs) and community-based organisations, self-government, media, and various groups of the community. The goal of the forum was to involve the youth of Shida Kartli region in decision-making process of the local community, to promote a culture of volunteering, to support the communication between the host volunteering organisations and volunteers. Moreover, it aimed to promote the role and activities of Youth Councils, to raise the awareness on regional community organisations, to inform the population about the implemented projects, and to increase the trust towards CSOs. During the forum, the young people with the facilitators worked in small groups to draft the project ideas. At the exhibition, Shida Kartli Municipal Youth Council introduced its work to the audience, aimed at promoting the role and activities of the Youth Councils. Stephan Malerius, Head of Regional Programme Political Dialogue South Caucasus, also addressed the audience. Within the forum, the panel discussion was organised on the topic - "Civic Activism and Volunteering", where Zaza Chipashvili, Gori School of Democracy, Lika Kiladze, Chairman of the Board (EDEC), Nino Samsonidze, Civil Society Institute (CSI), Dimitri Gogiashvili, Head of Youth Service of Gori Municipality delivered their speeches. The forum was organised within the framework of the European Union (EU) and Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS) funded project “Civil Society STAR Initiative“. Read more… Source: Project page on the social network

Tbilisi. Civil Society Institute (CSI), along with the Georgian Young Lawyers Association (GYLA) and the Institute for Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI), on May 24th, presented a new 2021 country report for CSO Meter: A Compass to Conducive Environment and CSO Empowerment.  The CSO Meter is a monitoring tool used to assess the legislative and practical environment for CSOs, human rights defenders, and activists in Eastern European Partnership countries. The report covers 11 areas pertaining to enabling environment for CSOs and assigns quantitative scores under each area. The scores range from 1 to 7, where 1 signifies the lowest possible score (extremely unfavourable – authoritarian - environment) and 7 signifies the highest possible score (extremely favourable environment).  According to the 2021 CSO Meter report, the environment for CSOs, human rights defenders, and activists in Georgia was assessed with a score of 4.7 out of 7 (Legislation: 5.2, Practice 4.3).  Based on the 2021 CSO-Meter findings, Georgia ranked as a medium-risk country for CSOs.  The Report is implemented by the European Center for Not-for-Profit Law Stichting (ECNL).  Country Report 2021...

Tbilisi. UN Women Georgia in partnership with the Administration of the Government of Georgia is conducting capacity development training on victim-centered investigation of sexual harassment in the civil service. “The aim of this training is to strengthen capacities of public servants on effective implementation of internal complaints’ mechanisms on workplace sexual harassment, including on investigating sexual harassment cases with a victim centric approach. During the 2-day training, participants will strengthen capacities on effective operationalization of internal mechanisms on sexual harassment, including on investigation of sexual harassment cases with a victim centric approach, as well as international standards and best practices in the area. The training brings together 18 public servants from different government entities. The training is conducted within the framework of the “Good Governance for Gender Equality in Georgia” (GG4GEG) project generously funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Norway”. Read more… Source: The organization’s page on the social network

Peace Corps Georgia, with USAID Small Project Assistance funding, holds series of trainings in the regions of Georgia (Borjomi, Kutaisi, Batumi and Tbilisi) throughout May and June. To this training Peace Corps invites students and beneficiaries of partner schools and organizations, namely youth ages 16-22 who are interested in job search, employment or educational opportunities. Read more… Source: The organization’s page on the social network

Samegrelo. With support from USAID, UNICEF and the Media Development Foundation organized a media literacy training titled, “Do Not Get Infected with Misinformation”, that was held in Poti Public School #5 and taught young people how to identify misinformation about COVID-19, as well as disseminate knowledge about what they learned among their peers. Read more… Source: The organization’s page on the social network

May 24th, at 11:00, at the hotel Courtyard by Marriot, the Civil Society Institute (CSI), along with the Georgian Young Lawyers Association (GYLA) and the Institute for Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI) will present a new 2021 country report for CSO Meter: A Compass to Conducive Environment and CSO Empowerment. According to the 2021 CSO Meter report, the environment for CSOs, human rights defenders, and activists in Georgia was assessed with a score of 4.7 out of 7 (Legislation: 5.2, Practice 4.3). These results place Georgia as a medium-risk country for CSOs. This event is organised within the framework of the Action “CSO Meter: A Compass to Conducive Environment and CSO Empowerment”, implemented with the financial support of the European Union.  The Project is implemented by the European Center for Not-for-Profit Law Stichting (ECNL) More…

Tbilisi. GCSD launches a new project “Towards a Better Understanding of NATO”. “The main aim of the project is to introduce students, and different groups of society, NATO-related actual topics and foster discussion on them”. The project is implemented by GCSD with the financial support of the NATO Public Diplomacy Division. For more, follow the link…  Source: The organization’s page on the social network

Tbilisi. Following the announcement of Nika Gvaramia's verdict, the media agency - Ongo.ge, an agency mimicking the credible media agency -  on.ge, released "exclusive" information that allegedly Salome Zurabishvili will pardon Nika Gvaramia and that this was agreed in advance with the leaders of the United National Movement. The information was spread on pro-governmental media pages on Facebook and anonymous Facebook pages at intervals of several minutes. Read more… Source: isfed.ge

Imereti. UNICEF and Kant's Academy continue the project "Act for Health", which is supported by USAID Georgia. Meetings with young people on modern understanding and importance of a healthy lifestyle and personal hygiene are being held in 5 regions of Georgia. This time the meeting was held in Chiatura, and was attended by 35 participants.  Similar trainings are planned within the project in Gori, Akhmeta, Marneuli and Akhaltsikhe municipalities. Up to 150 participants will attend the trainings. Learn more… Source: www.unicef.org

Tbilisi. The Coalition for Independent and Transparent Judiciary would like to comment on the guilty verdict delivered against Mr. Nika Gvaramia, director of Mtavari TV. "The ruling represents another concerning example of pressure exerted on critical media organizations, raising questions regarding the legitimacy of the ruling and showing signs of selective and politicized justice. The flawed administration of justice, which significantly affects and degrades the existing media environment and standards of protection of human rights and freedoms in general, further aggravates the political crisis and deepens the polarization in the country. At the same time, it fails to ensure stable democratic development and has a negative impact on the ongoing crucial processes of European integration”. Read more… Source: socialjustice.org.ge

Guria. Representatives of civil society organizations operating in the Imereti region, visited to successful organizations in Ozurgeti Municipality -  “Innovation and Civic Development Centre” and “Institute for Change and Innovation”. The study visit was organized by LDA Georgia.  During the visit, the participating organizations were given the opportunity to receive information about the establishment and implementation of civil society organizations operating in the border regions. Also, get acquainted with successful examples. As a result of the activity, the experience of CSO’s/CBO’s representatives of Imereti region increased in the direction of management and development of the organization. The circle of contact persons in the form of organizations working in the bordering regions has also increased. We would like to thank Innovation and Civic Development Centre" and "Institute for Change and Innovation" for hosting. The study visits are being organized within the framework of the project “Civil Society STAR Initiative,” with the support of the European Union and the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung. Read more… Source: LDA Georgia’s page on the social network

Imereti. According to the information of UNICEF, the organization in collaboration with the National Association of Local Authorities of Georgia (NALAG), has developed a methodology and tools for local research of the needs of children and families with children. “Within the framework of the initiative, a training for the representatives of Kutaisi City Hall and the social service staff has been held in Kutaisi City Hall on the implementation and introduction of the methodology for assessing the social needs of children and families with children. The training was attended by the UNICEF Representative in Georgia, Ghassan Khalil. After the training, a needs assessment will be launched in the pilot municipalities using the developed methodology. UNICEF and NALAG will assist municipalities in implementing a full cycle of social programs”. The project is being implemented with the support of European Union in Georgia. Read more… Source: The organization’s page on the social network

Tbilisi. Together with the management of the Agency For State Care And Assistance For the (Statutory) Victims of Human trafficking, UN Women invited representatives of Global Rights for Women to Georgia. Experts will evaluate the state funded services provided to DV/VAW victims by shelters and crisis centers, and make recommendations to improve these services. Read more… Source: The organization’s page on the social network

Tbilisi. U.S. Embassy in Georgia Congratulates to Fulbright Graduate Student Program finalists: Goga Katalandze, Giorgi Gvasalia, Giorgi Revishvili, Ana Mikadze, Tea Natelauri, Mariam Latsabidze, Ana Sarukhanov, Salome Bakhsolian, and Natia Kantaria. These nine students will travel to the United States this summer to pursue their studies on a full scholarship. Read more…  Source: The U.S. Embassy’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. TI Georgia believes that the draft amendments to the Election Code and the Local Self-Government Code of Georgia, which were initiated by members of the parliamentary majority on May 10 and regulate the issue of powers of city council members elected in by-elections a new manner, have only been tailored to the interests of the ruling party. “The Georgian Dream has decided to overcome the crisis in the Batumi City Council to their advantage by means of this initiative. We call on the Parliament of Georgia not to tailor the legislative amendments only to the interests of the ruling party in the Batumi City Council and to put an emphasis on the development and introduction of a unified standard of staffing of local self-government bodies”. Read more… Source: transparency.ge

Tbilisi. Transparency International Georgia publishes the blogpost: Who is the Presiding Judge on the Nika Gvaramia Case? “Lasha Chkhikvadze has been a judge for 15 years. Lasha Chkhikvadze was involved in a car accident that took place on January 22, 2015. Six cars collided in the accident, several people were injured and one died. The prosecutor's office denied that “any manipulation is taking place in the terminated case, as well as influencing someone, specifically Judge Lasha Chkhikvadze”. Zaza Gvelesiani, a witness in Nika Gvaramia’s case, was a close friend of a judge. Zaza Gvelesiani is the director of the media holding that manages Rustavi 2. Although Judge Chkhikvadze did not deny his close friendship with Zaza Gvelesiani, he did not grant the motion to dismiss himself from the case.  The criminal cases of Gigi Ugulava, Bacho Akhalaia, and Irakli Okruashvili are linked to the name of Judge Chkhikvadze”. Read more… Source: transparency.ge