There are no accurate statistics about the number of homeless families living in Georgia. The homeless people have been particularly active in reminding the state of their existence following the October 2012 elections, when they occupied a number of buildings in Tbilisi, staged protest rallies, both illustrating the seriousness of the problem and calling on the state to take measures to provide housing. It is not my intention to discuss effectiveness of their protest; instead, I am going to address the state policy to remedy the problem.
2013-05-20 02:26 See moreOn May 17, the state failed to ensure conduct of the scheduled event for marking the day against homophobia and transphobia, and thus rights of rally participants to assembly and manifestation were grossly violated. In view of the number of counterdemonstrators, their uncontrolled conduct and possible risks, selected police strategy was inadequate and ineffective for ensuring security of rally participants.
2013-05-17 12:12 See moreThe round table “Ill-treatment and old and new challenges” was arranged on May 17, 2013 in Courtyard Marriott. The event took place in the framework of GYLA and Public Defender’s joint project “Improvement of Prisoners’ Rights –Joint Advocacy.”
2013-05-17 07:26 See moreThe 17th of May is the International Day against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHO) officially recognized by the European Parliament and number of European countries. It is a form of protect against stigmatization and violations of human rights under the sign of sexual orientation and gender identity. Analysis of human rights situation in Georgia reveals that violation of LGBT rights on the ground of sexual orientation is frequent, whereas state’s response on the problem insufficient. Georgian legislation and its implementation practice is discriminative in number of cases in terms of LGTB and deprives them of the opportunity to exercise fundamental rights comprehensively, including the right to family and privacy, protection of health and labor rights. Moreover, investigations carried out on violation of LGTB rights are ineffective. Appropriate application of paragraph 3 1 of Article 53 of Penal Code of Georgia, recognizing as aggregating circumstance committing of offence under the motive of intolerance to sexual orientation and gender identity, is also problematic. Along with ineffective state policy, current social and cultural structures also lead to isolation and stigmatization of LGBTs, namely they are treated as group of diseased, aliens and rivals. This construction makes LGBT individuals especially vulnerable and sets upon the state positive obligation to carry out complex measures for LGBT integration in public and for promotion of their unrestricted development.
2013-05-16 01:59 See moreWith the assistance from GYLA’s office in Tbilisi, a person illegally dismissed from a public school was restored to work and compensated for missed salary A lawyer from GYLA’s office in Tbilisi was representing interests of M.B., the teacher dismissed from her work at public school on grounds of para.1d, Article 37 and para.3, Article 38 of the Labor Code of Georgia. By January 25, 2013 decision, the Supreme Court found incorrect legal interpretation of the rule of dissolution of labor agreement made by the first instance court and the Appellate Court and the case was remanded to the Appellate Court.
2013-05-16 01:57 See moreFirstly, we would like to comment on the Prime Minister’s statement regarding the case of imprisoned officials of the Ministry of Agriculture. The Prime Minister reported that he wishes not only Kirvalidze’s acquittal but of other detained individuals as well. “However, I doubt that it will be so. I pay attention to the process and have some questions. I would be glad if Kirvalidze is acquitted, yet the issue should be decided by an investigation” – the Prime Minister noted.
2013-05-14 06:59 See moreWe would like to respond to the statement of the President of Georgia made in Tbilisi State University at the meeting with students on May 10. Namely, in the audio recordingreleased by mass media the President states: “rumors that people were slaughtered in the street belong to the same story as though I was implementing sexual harassment. Who was slaughtered in the streets during my government? They allege that 37 exemplary individuals were killed – who was exemplary, was it Vazagashvili? Vazagashvili had two guns and was going to kill others ”. The interview was also released in internet with a student who left the University hall in protest. As he reports, he left the meeting as a sign of protest when the President called the “victims of the regime killers, namely he meant Vazagashvili and the Aprasidzes”.
2013-05-14 06:41 See moreAs it is known, non-entrepreneur (non-commercial) legal entity “Rural and Agricultural Development Fund” was established on January 22, 2013 with a goal to stimulate development of agriculture and attract investments thereto. At this moment, the Fund is implementing two projects: “The project for support of spring agricultural activities for farmers possessing small plots” intending dissemination of different vouchers among the possessors of agricultural plots and “Preferential Agro-credits’ Project” envisaging agro-credits in low interest rate.
2013-05-14 03:18 See moreGYLA representative visited seven imprisoned individuals on the Case of the Ministry of Agriculture in Gldani penitentiary. Following detailed communication with them, some topical issues were identified that require attention from investigative agencies and public.
2013-05-13 02:45 See moreOn April 2, 2012 GYLA held presentation of trial monitoring results focused on criminal cases in city courts of Tbilisi and Kutaisi. The trial monitoring was conducted in the framework of USAID funded “Judicial Independence and Legal Empowerment Project ” (JILEP) implemented by the East –West Management Institute. In view of urgency of topics related to justice system in Georgia, GYLA has been implementing direct trial monitoring for already two years on criminal cases in Tbilisi City Court and by releasing periodic monitoring reports attempts to submit objective, fact-based picture of some of what is going in Georgia’s criminal trial courtrooms.
2013-05-08 06:05 See more