Tbilisi. Transparency International - Georgia has released another edition of the weekly audio podcast. Main topics of the May 20 edition of parliamentary news are: second hearing of the Labor Code, May 17 developments. Podcast of parliamentary news - 20 May.(geo) Source: transparency.ge

Tbilisi. The EU Delegation to Georgia has released the statement on developments during the International Day against Homophobia. "The EU Delegation was dismayed by the scenes of brutal intolerance and violence  committed by some demonstrators on 17 May with a declared desire to prevent other  demonstrators from expressing themselves peacefully. The EU considers the freedom of expression of every human being to be of paramount  importance as stated on numerous occasions.. The EU believes in the need to fight discrimination on any grounds, including sexual orientation, and to encourage tolerance as a basis for a democratic and peaceful society”. The EU calls on the government of Georgia to uphold the international and European standards of freedom and equality in dignity and rights to which it has committed itself. For the full text. Source: eeas.europa.eu

Tbilisi. The Civil Coalition for Migration Issues and the Adjara Coordination Group for Eco-Migration have released the joint statement. They focus on the problems of Eco-Migrants and "support the eco-migrant families evicted from the villages of the Tsalka Municipality and assess the state reaction to existing situation as inadequate." They are ready "to provide recommendations to the responsible state agencies and assist in introducing the effective regulations in the field of eco-migration." For the full text.(geo) Source: ecomigration.ge

Tbilisi. "The statement of Georgian citizens on the May 17 events" was released online. The applicants address the President of Georgia, the Prime Minister and the Chairman of the Parliament. The statement is still open for signature. The Statement (geo)

Tbilisi. The Charter of Journalistic Ethics has met with the journalists of information service of TV Company "Imedi". Representatives of the Charter have briefed the journalists about the principles of the Charter's work. TV Company "Imedi" is the third consecutive television within the framework of information campaign that the Charter of Ethics implements. The campaign aims at actively involving the journalists in the Charter's activities. Source: media.ge

Tbilisi. The Institute for the Development of Freedom of Information has released the construction expenses of the freeway and elevated roads on the Heroes' Square. According to the information posted online, 111,864,750 GEL were spent on the construction works. For the full text (geo) Source: opendatablog.wordpress.com

Kvemo Kartli. On May 19, the experimental exams in general skills were delivered for the Azerbaijani school-leavers, organized by the Marneuli Youth Center and supported by the National Exams Center. Exams for the ethnic minorities were conducted in the region for the first time and 200 Azerbaijani school-leavers have participated in them. Source: the organization's page in the social network.

Samegrelo. On May 20, the newly established NGO "Law-Enforcers' Protection League met in Zugdidi with the police officers dismissed after the October 1 parliamentary elections and offered them free of charge attorney services. The NGO working on the law-enforcers' rights was founded by the former high officials of the Ministry of Interior. It is headed by the former Deputy Minister of Interior Levan Gvazava.

Tbilisi. CSO members together with volunteers have organized the welfare event - "Daisies for charity". On May 18, the event participants have sold the daisies gathered in Kojori in the Tbilisi streets and have distributed booklets about the village Anaga day center. The event "Daisies for charity" aimed at assisting the village Anaga day center. 382 GEL were raised during the event. The charity event initiated by the "Civil Initiative" was joined by the representatives of other NGOs and the society. Source: the page of Civil Initiative in the social network.

Adjara. On May18, the branch of the Civil Society Institute and the association "Independent Journalists' House" have organized the performance, by which the Adjara-based CSOs have responded to the May 17 events. NGO and public representatives have read out the articles of the Constitution of Georgia, which emphasize the equality of all humans.

Shida Kartli. The Gori Youth Center functioning with the Gori Club of the Disabled has celebrated the World Remembrance Day of AIDS Victims. Together with 30 volunteers, the Center members have lit candles in the street, by which they have expressed solidarity with persons affected by AIDS and their relatives. Source: the organization's page in the social network.

Tbilisi. On May 18, the Community Development Center (CDC) has organized in the exhibition hall of the Caucasian House the exhibition-sale of items created in the Nukriani and Napareuli workshops - social enterprises. The Nukriani and Napareuli workshops are the social enterprises. Currently up to 15 women work in the workshop. CDC aims to support the strengthening and development of workshops as social enterprises, which is a precondition of activation of the women's community and their greater participation in the rural development. Source: the organization's page in the social network.

Tbilisi. The Youth Parliament of Georgia has echoed the May 17 developments on the Rustaveli Avenue and released the statement. "We share the views and opinions of both sides and urge the public to maintain peacefulness and solidarity and stop any kind of discrimination," says the statement. The Youth Parliament of Georgia calls on the relevant agencies to investigate these events objectively. For the full text (geo) Source: the page of the Youth Parliament in the social network.

Tbilisi.The Human Rights Center expresses concerns over the mess and violence in the Tbilisi center on May 17. "Unfortunately, the state has failed to secure the order and protection of citizens," says the Center's statement. The Human Rights Center demands that the "law-enforcement agencies identify and hold liable the citizens who participated in the violence directly and violated the public order. At the same time, the high officials of the Ministry, who should have protected the safety of the rally participants and the public order but failed to fulfill this task, should be held accountable." For the full text. Source: the Center's page in the social network.

Tbilisi. On May 17, the Georgian Young Lawyers' Association and the Public Defender of Georgia have organized the round table "Ill-Treatment – Old and New Challenges". The round table aimed as at presenting and discussing the monitoring results of the national prevention mechanism for 2012, as well as at evaluating the existing environment and the new challenges.Ill-treatment in the penitentiary institutions and temporary confinement cells of eastern Georgia (2012)  Source: gyla.ge

Tbilisi. "Identoba" has released the statement concerning the May 17 manifestation. According to the organization, the Ministry of Interior has failed to undertake adequate measures to secure the peaceful start and end of the rally."The police has not undertaken due measures: appropriate number of police officers was not mobilized on site and they were not equipped to restrain the violence. They did not resort to any lawful remedies prescribed for such instances. The police managed to evacuate only a portion of the rally participants, however, even in this case the counter-demonstrators and clerics have managed to attack the buses and physically abuse the participants," says the statement. Identoba demands from the authorities immediate prevention of the crime, detention of offenders and launch of an investigation. For the full text. Source: identoba.com

Imereti. As part of the Civic Education and Teacher Training Program, at the initiative of the civic club of the Kutaisi Public School #7, the photo-school was established in the Kutaisi Education, Development and Employment Center, which unites schoolchildren from the Kutaisi-based target schools of the Program interested in photography. Photos taken by the schoolchildren will be uploaded on the organization's page in the social network.Source: the organization's page in the social network.

ShidaKartli. On May 16, members of the school-based civic clubs from Gori and the Gori District have visited the Gender Resource-Center. The visit aimed to obtain more information on the Center's work and the gender issues in general. Representatives have informed the schoolchildren about the existing situation in ShidaKartli, problems of the beneficiaries, and the statistics of addressing the Center for assistance. The meeting was organized within the framework of the Civic Education and Teacher Training Program (USAID/PH International).Source: "Biliki's" page in the social network.

Tbilisi. NGOs have released the statement concerning the May 17 rally. "The state has failed to secure holding of the planned rally on the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia on May 17, thus infringing upon the freedom of assembly and manifestation in respect of the rally participants," – says the statement of NGOs.The statement is signed by Transparency International – Georgia, Georgian Democratic Initiative (GDI), Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center (EMC), Georgian Young Lawyers' Association, Article 42 of the Constitution of Georgia and the International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy (ISFED). For the full text. Source: page of the Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center (EMC) in the social network.Sector – human rights.

Tbilisi. The Institute for the Development of Freedom of Information has released information obtained from the Marine and Land Transport Agencies. Information posted online includes the issued bonuses, budget balance, dismissed employees, staff list and salaries, vehicle fleet expenses, biography data of employees and the officials, 10 December reports and the funded events. Information from the Marine Transport  Agency.Information from the Land Transport Agency. Source: opendata.ge

Samegrelo. On May 16, managers of the NATO and EU Information Centers have met in Zugdidi with the students and the state and NGO representatives and talked about the importance of becoming the member of the EU and NATO. The Director of the Information Center EleneGotsadze has stated that with the new authorities the issue of Georgia's affiliation with NATO and the EU is not only still on the agenda, but the priorities are intensified and much more active work is done in this respect. According to her, normalized relations with neighbors is one of the requirements for integration with NATO and the EU, but this should not take place at the expense of Georgia's sovereignty.Managers of the NATO and EU Information Centers hold information meetings countrywide.

Kakheti. With the $450-grant won in the contest announced by PH international, the civic club of the Telavi Public School #8 has organized the cleaning event, during which the waste bins were installed in the city territory.They were actively assisted by the Telavi Education, Development and Employment Center, as well as the Cleaning Service of the local municipality, which has allocated two garbage trucks and workforce specially for the event.