Tbilisi. The Public Defender of Georgia would like to respond to the statement made by Irakli Kobakhidze, Chairman of the Georgian Dream political movement of citizens, in which he speaks about the possible responsibility of the Public Defender and doctors invited by her. This rhetoric goes beyond the legal framework, represents an attempt to attack and intimidate an independent constitutional body and its experts, and contradicts national and international human rights obligations. Read more… Source: ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. According to information released by the Social Justice Center, on November 18, the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development refused to transfer a mosque, located in Marneuli, to a religious organization - an unregistered union “Imam Ali Mosque” for its use. “The Ministry once again based this decision on the unfair and discriminatory argumentation that within the Muslim community, the only religious organization, recognized by the state, is LEPL “The Highest Administration of all Muslims in Georgia” (hereinafter referred to as the Administration), which has the legitimacy to acquire rights to historic religious buildings and enter into legal relations with the state. Given the fact that the Administration has neither legal and nor actual connection to the Imam Ali Mosque, this decision is another example of arbitrary and discriminatory interference of the state into the area of freedom of religion”. Read more… Source: socialjustice.org.ge

Tbilisi. According to information released by Transparency International Georgia, the Parliament of Georgia hastily reviews a legislative initiative on amendments to be made to the Local Self-Government Code, based on which the number of officials at city assemblies will be increased. “It is unclear how an increase in the number of officials is going to improve and make the performance of city assemblies more effective, as it is indicated in the explanatory note of the bill. An increase in the number of deputy chairmen of city assemblies will, first of all, increase budget expenditures”, - is stated on the website of the organization. Read more… Source: transparency.ge

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Tbilisi. Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 15:30, you can watch a program “Samastsavleblo”, which will feature topics of interest to teachers, schoolchildren, and parents on Teleskola, the General Education Reform page, and Kentsero. The project is the result of cooperation among the Ministry of Education and Science of Georgia, First Channel, Teleskola, and Kentsero, an online educational platform. “What qualities should a teacher have and how to increase the motivation of a schoolchild? How important is family involvement in the education of a child? How does the system of modern standards for evaluation and the best practice in distance learning look like? Experts in education and current teachers will talk about these and other issues in “Samastsavleblo”. Read more… Source: The website of the organization on a social network

Tbilisi. With the financial support of the Open Society Georgia Foundation, Mariam Natroshvili collected oral stories of people becoming homeless and published them in a book. “It is one step, one story from a roof over your head to homelessness in Georgia. Some of the heroes of stories gathered here once had a house, but today they live in a shelter. We have collected these stories there. Shelters scattered on the outskirts of the city enclose a lot of different and, at the same time, similar adventures”. Read more… Source: The website of the Open Society Georgia Foundation on a social network

Tbilisi. UNICEF continues supporting the Georgian Government in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. This time, in agreement with the Ministry of Internally Displaced Persons from the Occupied Territories, Labour, Health and Social Affairs of Georgia, we handed over 6600 boxes of Dexamethasone to the Georgian Medical Holding. This medicine is used in COVID-19 management and is considered a scarce good. Read more… Source: The organization’s page on the social network

Tbilisi. UN Women and the Georgian Charter of Journalistic Ethics have started their cooperation for promoting the ethical coverage of women’s rights and gender equality. The respective Memorandum of Understanding was signed today by Kaori Ishikawa, UN Women Country Representative in Georgia, and Mariam Gogosashvili, Director of the Georgian Charter of Journalistic Ethics. Read more… Source: The organization's page on the social network

Kvemo Kartli. The Vaccines for Life campaign is travelling across Georgia to spread the message about vaccines and vaccination. For now, UNDP stopped over in Marneuli to distribute information brochures among up to 300 people.  Read more… Source: The organization’s page on the social network

Tbilisi. According to IDFI’s assessment, the case of Mikheil Saakashvili is being considered in violation of the right to a fair trial. “Mentioned harms not only the accused, but the reputation of the Court and the principle of publicity of trials, as well as establishes a dangerous precedent”. Read more… Source: idfi.ge

Tbilisi. According to the IDFI, in order to strengthen gender equality in Georgia's mining industry, active cooperation with relevant international organizations and initiatives and introduction of international standards at the national level are necessary.: Existence of appropriate policies at the central level; Implementation of relevant legislative changes; Raising local community awareness. Learn more… Source: idfi.ge

Tbilisi. Public Defender states restricting the 3rd President of Georgia, Mikheil Saakashvili, from participating in his own trial grossly violates the right to a fair trial enshrined in the Constitution of Georgia and the European Convention. “The Public Defender calls on the Special Penitentiary Service to properly and conscientiously perform its rights and duties and ensure that Mikheil Saakashvili is brought before court, by providing appropriate guarantees for his health and safety. The Public Defender also calls on the court to give the accused the opportunity to state his position, participate in the examination of evidence and protect his rights within the framework of all three ongoing cases”, is noted in the statement. Read more… Source: ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. UNICEF organized a two-day working meeting about the transformation of the disability assessment and status determination system. “The goal of the meeting was to present the information to the government bodies that are engaged in strengthening the system, discuss the current situation, achievements, and future plans”. Read more… Source: The organization’s page on the social network

Guria. On November 9, Learning and Employment Support Centers of Chokhatauri and Ozurgeti started a job search skills course. Training topics: Interpersonal communication; Non-verbal communication; Assertive behavior; Time management and self-management; Business written communication, etc. Read more… Source: The organization’s page on the social network

Tbilisi. According to the information of the IDFI, on November 25, 2021, the Supreme Court of Russia will consider the claim for liquidation of the Society Memorial, filed by the Prosecutor General's Office of the Russian Federation.  “Founded in 1989, the Society Memorial is still actively researching totalitarianism and aims to raise public awareness not only in Russia but also around the world. The Institute for Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI) and Society Memorial have been working together for years - especially on the issue of mass graves of victims of the Political repressions in the Soviet Union, about which Memorial has a great deal of experience. The attack on the Society Memorial is a clear act of revenge against a leading human rights organization aimed at suppressing a powerful voice that, for more than 30 years, has exposed the Soviet criminal system through documentary sources and high-quality research”, is noted in the statement. Read more… Source: idfi.ge

Tbilisi. The Public Defender has created a group of multi-profile experts aiming to monitor medical services of Mikheil Saakashvili. “On November 16, 2021, the Public Defender convened a group of multi-profile medical experts in order to monitor adequacy and timeliness of medical services provided to accused/convicted Mikheil Saakashvili, the third President of Georgia, by the Ministry of Justice/Special Penitentiary Service. The goal of the group is also to assess how feasible the medical facility N18 is to ensure protection of the right of Mikheil Saakashvili to health care at present and whether it will be possible to deliver adequate medical services at this facility after termination of a lengthy hunger strike by the prisoner, as it is demanded by the European Court of Human Rights in its November 10 ruling”. Read more… Source: ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. On November 15, 2021, Members of the European Parliament (2019-2024), Marina Kaljurand, Chair of the Delegation for relations with the South Caucasus, and Sven Mikser, European Parliament's Standing Rapporteur on Georgia, issued a joint statement on the importance of the role of the Public Defender of Georgia. “We strongly support the work of the Public Defender's Office, which plays a crucial role in Georgian society. Ms Nino Lomjaria and her Office deserve praise for their work, and attacks on their independence are of always of concern wherever they come from”, is noted in the statement. Read more… Source: ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. Transparency International Georgia has studied current situation and key trends at the advertising market in 2020. The study contains an overview of how restrictions, imposed to eliminate spread of COVID-19, and finances, spent by political parties on advertising during the parliamentary elections, were reflected upon the advertising market. According to one of the findings: in 2020, compared to 2019, the television advertising market increased by GEL 7.7 million (11%) and amounted to GEL 75.2 million. The increase was mainly entailed by finances that political parties spent on television advertising during the parliamentary elections. Read more… Source: transparency.ge

Tbilisi. The Public Defender is responding to the various opinions expressed around the multifunctional council created by the Ministry of Justice and believes that the Ministry of Justice/Special Penitentiary Service should ensure the full protection of Mikheil Saakashvili's health and make the work of the multifunctional council more systematic and effective. Read more… Source: ombudsman.ge

Racha. The Vaccines for Life campaign is reaching out to the region of Racha. Up to 400 people attended information meetings in the Ambrolauri and Oni municipalities. Read more… Source: The organization’s page on the social network

Tbilisi. On November 15, 2021, the Institute for Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI) conducted training on effective oversight, data extraction methods and the data visualization for participants of the Certification Program in Fighting Corruption. Read more… Source: idfi.ge

Tbilisi. Public Defender of Georgia releases a statement on insulting Campaign against employee of Penitentiary Institution. “The Public Defender considers that such a massive and gross interference in an area protected by the official's right to privacy before the end of the investigation is unacceptable, especially given that the information spread in the media space has not been verified. At the same time, the Public Defender reiterates the need to protect the psycho-emotional state of the juvenile living in the family of the addressee of the campaign and, considering his/her best interests, calls on the public to refrain from spreading abusive inscriptions and posters against the employee of the Penitentiary Service in public space, which may incite, inter alia, child abuse, bullying and other actions”. Read more… Source: ombudsman.ge