Tbilisi. The new Executive Director was elected on April 16 at the session of the Charter of Journalistic Ethics. Journalist Tamar Rukhadze was supported by five members of the Board. Position of the Executive Director became vacant after Tamar Kordzaia decided to join politics and leave the Charter. Source: media.ge

Tbilisi.Transparency International – Georgia offers to its users the brief guide on the State Program on General Healthcare. Users can find answers to all questions of concern. For the full text. Source: transparency.ge

Tbilisi. Presentation of the coalition "For the Development of Local, Regional Self-Governments and Local Civil Actors" was held in the Georgian Institute of Public Affairs (GIPA). Member organizations of the coalition are: the Georgian Institute of Public Affairs, the Georgian Young Economists' Association, the Center for Strategic Research and Development of Georgia, the foundation Liberal Academy - Tbilisi and the Caucasian Institute of Economic and Social Research. The coalition's mission is to promote the development of local self-government and the local democracy.Source: page of the Georgian Young Economists' Association in the social network.

Tbilisi. On April 16, the Children and Youth Development Foundation has executed the Memorandum of Cooperation with the Peace Corps. As part of the Memorandum, parties will plan joint cultural-educational events. In the near future the volunteer of Peace Corps will visit the Foundation, who will be involved in the Foundation's activities over the next six months.Source: the organization's page in the social network.

Tbilisi. On April15, the National-Democratic Institute has released the results of the public opinion polls. This is the second poll after the October elections, which reflects the public attitudes on number of current and political events.The poll provides public attitude towards the national and local issues, democracy and reforms, ongoing developments, foreign relations and media.The polls of the National-Democratic Institute are funded by the Swiss Development Agency and are carried out by the Caucasian Research Resources Center.NDI's poll: public attitude in Georgia (Source:civil.ge). Video recording of NDI's poll presentation (Source: civil online-broadcasting "Stream").

Adjara. As part of the ecological celebratory week, the beneficiaries of the Social Center for Elderly and the 5th-graders of the Kobuleti Public School #6 have participated in the cleaning of the Black Sea coast line. They have cleaned the coast line located at the River Achkva and the Black Sea estuary from the everyday and other waste. The event aimed at raising the interest of the youth in caring after the environment. Source: the organization's page in the social network.

Samegrelo. The professional educational groups for the car and computer fixing were set up in the Zugdidi Office of the Center "Abkhazeti", where 10-10 probationers are occupied. Since April, Center "Abkhazeti" launched the implementation of the "Program for the Support of Integration of Probationers in the Society and Crime Prevention". In cooperation with the Zugdidi Bureau of Probation, the probationers were selected and the professional educational groups were established. Beneficiaries will undergo a three-month training course and gain both theoretic and practical knowledge.Source: the organization's page in the social network.

Tbilisi. Transparency International – Georgia has released another podcast, covering issues such as the report on funds of the political parties, comments on planned amendments to the Labor Code, and the procedure of election of the members in the Nadzaladevi District Election Commission. Podcast of parliamentary news: 15 April. Source: transparency.ge

Tbilisi. The Civil Society Institute has organized the first meeting of sub-group of the inter-group on "CSO Development Effectiveness" of the Georgian National Platform of Eastern Partnership. The participants have expressed opinions and visions on the sub-group's work, and have identified the priorities. Key issues of the work include the improvement of working environment of CSOs, a dialogue between the authorities and the CSOs, a dialogue between the donors and CSOs, and issues of self-regulation by the CSOs. The Director of the Civil Society Institute, VazhaSalamadze, was elected as the sub-group's Coordinator for the period of one year.

Tbilisi. Transparency International – Georgia has released 7 comments on the planned amendments to the Labor Code, covering the following issues: fixed-term contracts, collective and individual labor contracts, remuneration of overtime work, holidays, burden of proof, collective labor contract, origination of the right to strike/lockout. For the full text. Source:transparency.ge

Tbilisi. The Georgian Young Lawyers' Association and the organization "Penal Reform International" welcome the initiatives of the Georgian authorities in respect of liberalization of the criminal justice. At the same time, organizations focus on the issues in the draft Law that in their opinion require improvement. For the full text. Source: gyla.ge

Tbilisi.NGO "Trainers' Qualification Center" has developed a new social video on the issues of persons with disabilities. It focuses on issues such as equal rights to information, movement, education.Source: page of the Youth Center for Independent Life in the social network.

Adjara. On April 15, NGO "Borjghali" has organized a meeting in the Batumi Civic Engagement Center, at which it has presented the program - European Volunteering Service (EVS) - to the civil sector representatives, students and other interested persons. It is one of the constituent parts of the youth program - Youth in Action - funded by the European Commission, which aims to promote deeper solidarity among the youth through the volunteer activities.

ShidaKartli. On April 13, the workshop was held in the Gori Civic Engagement Center at the latter's initiative and with participation of the American and local parties. NGOs were invited from the Gori-based organizations, while the representatives of the US Embassy and the US Agency for International Development have participated from the American side. Meeting participants have discussed the situation after the Georgian parliamentary elections in various aspects. The guests have made special emphasis on the human rights protection, problems of gender equality and the planned reform of the local self-government.

Tbilisi. The Human Rights Center has released the statement on the investigation of the August War. "The Human Rights Center calls on the Government of Georgia to timely fulfill undertaken obligations. At the same time, it would like to address once again the Prosecutor's Office of the International Criminal Court with the request to launch official investigation into the crimes committed during the 2008 conflict in Georgia, should the investigations at national level prove to be inefficient," says the statement. For the full text. Source: npo.ge

Tbilisi. The Georgian Young Lawyers' Association, Transparency International – Georgia, and ISFED have released the statement on the election of secretaries of the Precinct Election Commissions for the 27 April by-elections. For the full text. Source: gyla.ge

Tbilisi. The Caucasian House has released another edition of an online diary. The April 12 diary presents the documentary produced by the Caucasian House "Without a Homeland". The documentary is dedicated to the Muslim Meskhetians. Source: the organization's page in the social network.

Tbilisi.  On April 12 Transparency International – Georgia has released the new report "Finances of Political Parties in 2012". The report analyzes annual financial declarations of the nine political unions that have received over 1% of votes independently or within the election bloc in the 2012 parliamentary elections. The Report – "Finances of Political Parties in 2012" Source: transparency.ge

Tbilisi. The Caucasian Institute for Peace, Democracy and Development (CIPDD) has extended the deadline for submission of applications of participants of the Grant Competition Supporting the Civil Society and Free Media. For the full text (geo) Source: cipdd.org

Adjara. From 15 to 22 April, the Association of the Elderly has organized the ecological celebratory week dedicated to the Earth Day. As part of the ecological celebratory week, the sea side area will be cleaned, landscaping event and environmental seminar will be held, and the round table dedicated to the ecological problems in the Kobuleti Municipality will take place. Source: page of the Association "Deserving Old Age" in the social network.

Kvemo Kartli. The Civil Society Institute continues presenting the CSO web portal - www.csogeorgia.org - in the regions. At the presentation held on April 12 in the Rustavi  Civic Engagement Center for the CSOs, media and interested public, the Civil Society Institute has informed users in detail about the portal. Presentations held in various regions aim in addition to get familiar with the initiatives and proposals of the direct users of the portal, which will promote the portal's development.

Tbilisi. The Institute for the Development of Freedom of Information has filed an administrative complaint with the Public Broadcaster due to a refusal to issue public information. "Requested information contains neither the state, professional nor commercial secret. LEPL Public Broadcaster has refused the Institute without any grounds. We hope that LEPL Public Broadcaster will react adequately to the complaint of the Institute for the Development of Freedom of Information," says the organization's web page. Source: the organization's page in the social network.