Tbilisi. “Government inaction encourages violence by aggressive groups against the media” – is noted in the statement of the Transparency International Georgia released on July 5. “We call on the authorities to ensure the safety of media representatives in a timely manner, to protect them from physical violence, and to create conditions for the safe conduct of professional activities. It is important for the authorities to investigate each incident effectively and punish all perpetrators with the full force of the law”. Read more… Source: transparency.ge

Tbilisi. The Public Defender of Georgia considers the ongoing violent events on Rustaveli Avenue and near the office of the Shame Movement extremely disturbing. „By shifting responsibility onto the peaceful demonstrators, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili further exacerbated the already tense situation, after he described the March of Dignity as a cause for civil confrontation and said that "revanchist and radical" political forces were behind the Pride. The Public Defender once again reminds senior officials that the protection of freedom of peaceful expression and assembly, including by responding to counter-demonstrators' violent actions, is a constitutional obligation of the State and calls on the law enforcement agencies to use legal mechanisms to remove alleged offenders from public spaces“. Read more… Source: ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. On June 29 graduation ceremony for the class of 2020 and welcoming reception for the new group of the program Capacity Building of the Georgian Leadership Community (CBGL) was held. “The Series of Policy Documents 2020 were distributed among the participants and guests at the ceremony. Throughout a seven-month-program the participants in parallel to attending lectures individually developed policy documents. Like in preceding years, selected best 9 policy documents were published separately.  The Rondeli Foundation has been implementing CBGL program since 2009, with the support of the Swedish International Development Agency (#Sida)”. Read more… Source: The organization’s page on the social network

Tbilisi. Media Advocacy Coalition calls on the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia to ensure safety of media representatives and participants of “Pride March” while monitoring it. "We, the member organizations of the Coalition, consider that protection and recognition of rights of minorities is a common responsibility. While elimination of discrimination and violence is the special responsibility of the state”. Read more… Source: idfi.ge

Tbilisi. In recent years, there have been questions whether the competitions to select members of the Georgian National Communications Commission (GNCC) have been carried out as a sound, competitive and independent process. The prevailing practice creates an impression of an imitated competition, which, as a result, diminishes the Commission’s undoubtedly important role and significance in the current politicized environment, strengthens the ruling authority’s influence on the agency, and discourages professional, independent cadres from participating in the selection process. Read more… Source: transparency.ge

Tbilisi. On June 28, the Parliament of Georgia adopted the amendments to the Electoral Code, aimed at improving the electoral legislation. The working process lasted for several months and the final version of the document also reflected the provisions of the agreement between the political parties (the so-called Charles Michel Document). Overall, Transparency International Georgia welcomes the changes, as they provide for several important reforms, but there are also some issues that we consider problematic. Read more… Source: transparency.ge

Tbilisi. On July 1, 2021, Public Defender Nino Lomjaria delivered a speech at the global Generation Equality Forum - "Central Role of Gender Equality in Strengthening Democratic Systems." “The purpose of the high-level meeting was to share the practices of different countries in the field of gender equality; It also provided a unique opportunity to deeply analyze cultural and geographical contexts and link them with women's empowerment strategies. In her speech, the Public Defender spoke about the importance of administration of justice on crimes of sexual violence, as well as the existence of a gender-sensitive criminal justice system, where crimes against women are properly recognized, classified and punished by the prosecution and the judiciary”. Read more… Source: ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. A civil platform “No to Phobia” calls on the Ministry of Internal Affairs to protect the freedom of assembly and expression of participants of “Pride March” and ensure their safety. “On July 5, there is intended to hold “Pride March” to be organized by “Tbilisi Pride”. The event is threatened by violent, homophobic groups, which use social media during recent days to urge society openly and publicly to commit violence and announce a contraction against participants of the March”. Read more… Source: transparency.ge

Tbilisi. On 30 June, the representatives of the Czech non-governmental organization, Posy Bellum held an online training for the representatives of the Institute for Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI) and the other interested researchers about the methodology, structure and other details of the online archive – Memory of Nations of the organization. Read more… Source: idfi.ge

Tbilisi. With the letter of 30 June 2021, IDFI once again addresses the Prime Minister of Georgia, Irakli Gharibashvili, the Chairman of the Parliament of Georgia, Kakha Kutchava, Minister of Finances of Georgia, Lasha Khutsishvili and the Chairman of the Finance and Budget Committee of the Parliament of Georgia, Irakli Kovzanadze with the request for the Government to increase the living subsidy for the repressed individuals from 7 GEL to 44 GEL with the 2021 and 2022 budget. This decision would at least slightly improve the difficult financial conditions of the families of the repressed individuals, who are also a risk group considering their age. Read more… Source: idfi.ge

Tbilisi. In connection with the March of Dignity scheduled for July 5, 2021, the Public Defender of Georgia considers it important for the State to ensure the freedom of assembly and expression of citizens by preventing risks and taking appropriate protection measures. In addition, the statements made by far-right and violent groups, containing threats against the LGBT+ community and their supporters, need special attention and appropriate legal response.  Read more… Source: ombudsman.ge

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. In June, initiative groups, with the support of the Batumi branch of the Civil Society Institute (CSI), registered online petitions at City Assemblies of Batumi and Khelvachauri Municipalities. The petition - “Green districts to Batumi”, registered in Batumi, envisages naming of green, recreational spaces in the city of Batumi, granting them an appropriate status and protecting them. The purpose of the petition is to make sure there is a green environment, equally accessible for everyone, in all 14 districts of Batumi. The petition – “Outdoor lighting to villages of Machakhela”, registered in Khelvachauri, concerns provision of outdoor lighting for inner roads of highland villages of Khelvachauri. Machakhela Valley is one of the unique natural areas and an important tourist destination. The Batumi branch of the Civil Society Institute, in cooperation with the organization Bread for the World (Brot für die Welt) and the Open Society Georgia Foundation, supports civic activism and enhancement of citizen participation in the local decision-making process. Read more...

Tbilisi. In an informational video, prepared by Social Justice Center, the organization responds to inaccurate, false and manipulative arguments in regard to the Namakhvani HPP project that have been disseminated by its supporters. Source:socialjustice.org.ge

Tbilisi. The Institute for Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI) conducted a large-scale research, within the framework of which the organization studied communist, totalitarian regime related names of settlements, streets, parks and squares, as well as other toponyms in the territory controlled by the state of Georgia. “Out of the 80 settlements studied, Soviet totalitarian toponyms can be found in 46. In 35 settlements, there can be found names of those people, events, organizations that have been connected with a special crime committed against Georgia or humanity. While studying toponyms, there have been revealed people whose names are actively used by the contemporary Russian propaganda”. Read more… Source: idfi.ge

Tbilisi. UNICEF supports universities in incorporating child rights into educational programmes and curricula. On June 28-29, under the professional development programme, UNICEF organized seminars on the learning-teaching methodology of child rights for the academic staff of Akaki Tsereteli State University and Shota Meskhia State Teaching University of Zugdidi. Read more… Source: The organization’s page on the social network

Tbilisi. SOS Children’s Villages Georgia releases an official statement in response to information broadcasted through mass media about two alleged cases of violence that took place in the service of a small family house of the organization in the past. “We, at the organization, are deeply concerned about the fact that living in a small family house turned to be traumatic for our two former beneficiaries and it is very difficult for us to hear their stories. The Association expresses its maximum readiness and openness to facilitate any kind of investigation process within the framework of law; moreover, provide psycho-emotional and legal assistance to both the alleged victim of violence and former foster children through the established practice of the organization. All revealed facts, regardless of the age of the case, always create a precondition for reviewing current systems of monitoring, existing within the organization, in order to ensure upbringing and development of each foster child in a safe and secure environment”, - is noted in the statement. Read more… Source: The website of the organization on a social network

Tbilisi. On June 28, IDFI, in cooperation with Tbilisi City Hall and with the financial support of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Good Governance Initiative in Georgia (USAID GGI), held an online public discussion of the Open Data Portal concept. This event aimed to introduce the concept of the Tbilisi City Hall Open Data Portal to the public, and ascertain stakeholders’ views. Read more… Source: idfi.ge

Tbilisi. On June 24-25, 2021, in cooperation with the State Inspector's Service, the Institute for Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI) and the Social Justice Center held a working meeting with media representatives.  “Representatives of IDFI and the Social Justice Center introduced the main findings of the study "Independent Investigative Mechanism in Georgia - Achievements and Existing Challenges", which is scheduled for public presentation on July 12, 2021. This joint study by IDFI and the Social Justice Center is the first document that comprehensively reviews the activities of the Independent Investigative Mechanism and focuses on measures to be taken to strengthen the institutional capacity and increase the degree of independence of the Service”. Read more… Source: idfi.ge

Tbilisi. Institute for Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI) signs a Memorandum of Cooperation with Post Bellum. “Post Bellum is a non-governmental nonprofit organization which documents the memories of witnesses of the important historical phenomenon of the 20th century and tries to pass these stories on to the broader public. It was founded in 2001. The organization was founded by a group of journalists and historians. Post Bellum’s core project is the Memory of Nations, a collection of memories from people who experienced the totalitarian eras of the 20th century as well as photographs, newspapers, and various historical records. The collection is comprised of about 12 thousands of witness stories and is accessible to the public through an online database. IDFI is actively working on memory and disinformation studies. IDFI shares Post Bellum's mission and visions on the above-mentioned issues, especially the importance of telling the stories of victims of totalitarianism. Based on this, the organizations agree on sharing knowledge with each other and working on or developing new projects together in these directions”. Read more… Source: idfi.ge

Tbilisi. Women’s Information Center presents an alternative report on the implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, prepared for the CEDAW Committee in 2021. “The initial draft of the report was prepared by the NGO Women's Information Center, and 29 civil society organizations working on gender equality and women's rights in Georgia were involved in the final drafting of the report. The report was developed with the technical and financial support of the UN Women and the Government of Norway”. Read more… Source: The organization’s page in the social network

Tbilisi. On June 27 European Union and Georgia mark the 7th Anniversary of the signature of the EU-Georgia Association Agreement. “While it is a technical document, it embodies our shared values and ambitions. And it is the key to unlocking the potential of what we have set out to achieve together. Happy anniversary to both Georgia and the EU! I look forward to continue our joint efforts to further deepen our partnership and bring us even closer together in the years to come”, says Carl Hartzell, EU Ambassador to Georgia. Read more… Source: The EU’s page on the social network