Tbilisi. In terms of development of civil society, the Parliament of Georgia has passed an important law on ''volunteerism''. The author of the law is the Civil Society Institute, while its initiator is the Legal Affairs Committee of the Parliament. The role of volunteers is important for effective and efficient operation of public organizations and foundations. Especially great is their role in the activities of the organizations, engaged in educational and social fields. The culture of volunteerism is actively developed in many European countries. 25-30% of the employees of public organizations are specifically volunteers.

As a rule, the volunteers are mostly youngsters and retired people. If youngsters obtain the knowledge, experience, support skills and new contacts through all this, the retired people share their experiences, knowledge and skills with the others themselves. There are a lot of examples of volunteerism in Georgia, however the legislation of Georgia has yet to recognize the volunteer concept. Accordingly, neither the rights and responsibilities of a volunteer and a host organization have been yet outlined by it. The law adopted by the Parliament of Georgia defines those rights and duties, which a volunteer and a host organization must have, in other words it regulates legal relations. Adoption of the law cannot automatically establish a complete culture of volunteerism, it is one of the steps to develop mentioned concept.

The President Giorgi Margvelashvili has already signed the law and it has entered into force.

The Civil Society Institute continues to lobby and work towards tax concessions for volunteers.