On June 28 Legal Education Assistance Foundation under the Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association arranged a graduation ceremony and awarded diplomas and certificates to its graduates. At the beginning of the event Giorgi Chkheidze – GYLA chairman emphasized one of GYLA main statutory goals: development of lawyers’ professional skills and remembered his first steps in GYLA when the Legal Training and Information Center (LTIC)-an alternative source to receive legal education was just being established. GYLA chairman also talked on ten years’ experience of the Center and on successful graduates (who by GYLA recommendation were recruited by various public and private agencies), mentioned the necessity and main pre-conditions of founding Legal Education Assistance Foundation.
2007-07-01 20:00 See moreOn June 25, at the press conference the chairman of the Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association: Giorgi Chkheidze and the lawyer of GYLA/Rustavi office discussed violations of the Georgian United Power Distribution company. For the last three months, nearly 71 citizens applied to GYLA/Rustavi office for legal assistance. Rustavi population declares that even though meters where installed everywhere, electricity company considers the figures unreal and imposes additional payments on population.
2007-07-01 20:00 See moreOn June 21, 22 GYLA organized the training in the frames of the project “Strengthening of the rural associations’ role in the development of democratic process”. The topic of discussion was the following: non-entrepreneur legal persons (non-governmental organizations and melioration organizations). On June 21 seminar was held for representatives of local associations of the Kvemo-Kartli region and on June 22 for representatives of local associations of the Samtskhe-Kavakheti region. 24 representatives of the Kvemo-Kartli and Samtskhe-Javakheti local associations participated in both of the seminars. Participants received seminar materials. In the frames of the project we plan to conduct the training on such topical issue like local self-governance, freedom of information, local budget and so on. Ekaterine Pavlenishvili-the head of GYLA/Rustavi office led the seminar for representatives of Kvemo-Kartli local associations and Ketevn Bebisahvili –the head of GYLA/Gori office led the seminar for local associations of Samtskhe-Javakheti local associations. 30 months long project is funded by the Austrian Development Agency (ADA) that is carried out by Care Austria and Care international in the Caucasus together with the partner organizations- the Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association and the International Organization Civitas Georgia.
2007-06-24 20:00 See moreOn June 15th the Sector Economy and Economic Policy Committee by the first hearing supported the submitted draft which envisages introducing of Article 53 (3) to the Georgian Law on Entrepreneurship again. According to the law, the holder of 95% of the shares in the joint stock company is entitled to procure the remained 5% of the shares despite the fact whether the holder of the portion is willing to sell them. Adoption of the amendment submitted by the Parliament of Georgia would be gross violation of the judgment rendered by the Constitutional Court on May 18, 2007 and disobedience to the legislative order established by the court. By its judgment (May 18, 2007) the Constitutional Court considered unconstitutional Article 533 of the Georgian Law on Entrepreneurship and annulled it, since it violated property right guaranteed by the Constitution (paragraphs 2 and 3 of Article 21 of the Constitution). The President of Georgia without any justification, granted a priority to the discussion of the submitted draft on introducing of amendments to the law of Georgia on Entrepreneurship adoption of which as we have already mentioned must be considered as disobedience to the court decision. The Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association appeals the Parliament of Georgia not to adopt the amendment to the law on entrepreneurship submitted by the president’s initiative and not to establish unprecedented practice of disobedience with regard to the Constitutional Court judgments.
2007-06-14 20:00 See moreOn June 1, at the special briefing arranged in regard to protection of Children’s Rights the Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association and tens of international and local non-governmental organizations made a special statement to the government and public. At the press conference Giorgi Chkheidze- the chairman of the Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association talked on the juveniles’ increasing offence and on the necessity to carry out preventive measures.
2007-05-31 20:00 See moreAcute reaction of the society and state structures was caused by eviction of IDPs from the collective center “Specavtomeurneoba” (former auto engineering plant ) located in Vazisubani executed by police on April 24, 2007. To address this issue Georgian Young Laywers Accosiation conducted legislative analysis of the case and identified legislative gap, that constituted ground for this eviction. Consequently, GYLA has elaborated relevant reccomendations and forwarded to the Ministry of Interior Affairs. According to the presidential and ministerial instructions identified gap was bridged.
2007-05-31 20:00 See moreOn May 16, The Legal Committee of the Parliament adopted by the first hearing the draft initiated by the president of Georgia on introducing of amendments to the Georgian Law on Imprisonment that envisages administrative arrest for violation of the prison rules. The maximum term for the arrest should be 90 days. According to the draft the term is not included in the sentence and each time the prisoner commits the violation of prison disciplinary rules since the decision on imposition of administrative arrest for committing a violation enters into force he may be sentenced to additional 90 days arrest. The Amendment with its general meaning and specific provisions contradicts with the Georgian Constitution, European Convention on Human Rights, European Convention on Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment and its protocols, Recommendation (2006-2) of the Committee of Ministers of the European Council and the Fundamental Principles of Criminal Procedure. GYLA prepared a legal opinion in regard to the mentioned draft and submitted it to the Legal Committee and the Committee for Civil Integration and Human Rights Protection. Despite it, Legal Committee approved the draft by the first hearing and submitted it to the plenary session of the Parliament. The Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association appeals to the Parliament of Georgia not to implement amendments initiated by the President to the Law of Georgia on Imprisonment, since it might grossly violate domestic legislation, as well as principles on protection of prisoners’ rights ensured by various international instruments. Legal Opinion on amendments to the law on imprisonment
2007-05-15 20:00 See moreOn May 4-5, 2007 by organization of the “Civil Initiative Center” the second fair/forum of civil society organizations (CSOs) was arranged in the Exhibition Center –Expo Georgia, 11th pavilion. More than 70 CSOs participated in fair/forum and presented their works. The Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association submitted to public more than 50 various publications; social ads prepared by GYLA were also presented. On May 5, in the conference hall of Expo-Georgia the Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association made a presentation: “GYLA Legal Training Center on the way to development”. Tamar Metreveli – the director of the Legal Training Center made a presentation. At the ends of the fair/forum the official closing ceremony was held and organizations complaint with 5 Silver Principles of the Code of Ethics was announced. The Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association received the award already the second time. Apart form the Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association 17 organizations received the award. On September 26, 2004 more than 100 Civil Society Organizations signed the Code of Ethics of the Civil Society Organizations. According to the current information 116 civil society organizations from all over Georgia signed the Code. The Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association is in the list. The Code of Ethics is a set of regulations, standards and values. By signing the Code of Ethics civil society organization expresses its good will to protect the principles of freedom, tolerance, equality, diversity, pluralism, benevolence, partnership, mutual gratitude, respect, social activism, openness, transparency, professionalism and democratic governance.
2007-05-06 20:00 See moreOn April 24-25 the Georgian Young lawyers’ Association in partnership with the European Human Rights Advocacy Center conducted training seminar “Fundamental Human Rights under the European Convention and the procedure for applying to the European Court” within the framework of the project “Strengthening Rule of Law in Georgia” and the financial support of the European Union and EHRAC. 20 practicing lawyers from various NGOs and private law firms were selected on the ground of competition as training participants.
2007-05-04 20:00 See moreIn April 2007 the Legal Education Assistance Foundation founded by the Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association organized the debate internal tournament. Debate course has been conducted in the Foundation for already six months together with other law courses. Initially it was taught in 2005-2006 and proved the need of the debate course for law students in the future. Students gain the skills of constructive debate and, therefore, raise the knowledge in different legal issues, organize the public discussions on the state problematic issues. In 2006-2007 teaching of the debate course also initiated in GYLA regional branches – Rustavi, Kutaisi, Gori, Telavi and Batumi.
2007-04-23 20:00 See more