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On April 6 of 2011 the problems of eco-migrants and the victims of natural catastrophes was discussed at the round table in Tbilisi Human Rights House. The members of the Civil Coalition on Migration Issues talked about the problems that the eco-migrants and the suffered population face as a result of legislative shortcomings and the absence of state strategy in this sphere.

We, the undersigned members and partners of the Human Rights House Network (HRHN), condemn the recent repression of peaceful demonstrations in Tbilisi and call upon the Georgian authorities to fully ensure the right to freedom of peaceful assembly in practice and by law.

On April 1st, Human Rights House Tbilisi hosted the round table on Freedom of Speech and Expression in Georgia. The following NGOs made presentations in the round table: Human Rights Center, Georgian Young Lawyers Association (GYLA) and Article 42 of Constitution. The journalist Ia Antadze moderated the discussion. The cases on violations of freedom of expression were discussed at the round table as well as the right to freedom of expression during demonstrations and on social networks.

Human Rights house Tbilisi organizes a round table on “Ecological Migration in Georgia”
The round table will be held at the office of Human Rights House Tbilisi (Niko Nikoladze 7) on Wednesday, 6 April, 2011 at 2:00 p.m.
Speakers:
• Rezo Getiashvili- Project Coordinator at Caucasus Environmental NGO Network (CENN)
• Rusudan Mchedlishvili – Article 42 of the Constitution
• Sopho Benashvili – Public Defender’s Office of Georgia
Moderator: Nino Gvedashvili

Human Rights House Tbilisi organizes a round table on “the rights to freedom of speech and expression”.
The round table will be held at the office of Human Rights House Tbilisi (Niko Nikoladze 7) on Friday, 1 April, 2011 at 2:30 p.m.
Speakers:
• Giorgi Gotsiridze – Lawyer of Constitutional Litigation, Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association (GYLA).
• Tamar Gabisonia – Chairperson of the Article 42 of the Constitution
• Beka Jikia – legal officer at Human Rights Centre
Moderator: Ia Antadze (a journalist from Radio Liberty)

Fifty-three percent of the Georgian population is made up of women. However, very few of them hold decision-making roles within the various governmental bodies in Georgia. Since the beginning of Georgia’s independence, participation by women in parliament has been very low. Historically speaking, 2008 marked the lowest representation by women in the Georgian Parliament on record. By looking at the results from previous elections, the dynamics of women’s representation in parliament does not provide much basis for optimism. In 1992, only 5% of parliament consisted of women; in 1995 – 5.8 %; 1999 – 6.8 % and in 2004 – 9.3%.

On March 25 the patrol police officers dispersed a peaceful protest rally held in support of prisoners at the Ministry of Corrections, Probation and Legal Assistance. Seven participants of the rally, in particular Giorgi Burjanadze, Vladimir Sadgobelashvili, Merab Chikashvili, Otar Bekauri, Akaki Chikovani, Besik Tabatadze and Giorgi Kharabadze were detained under the charges of the breached administrative law.

Freedom of information is ensured by Georgian legislation. In practice however, public agencies often fail to meet the requirements of the law. The inquiries conducted by various NGOs and the experiences detailed by some lawyers illustrate some disturbing trends. Georgian state bodies often deny its citizens the access to public data which should be readily available in all democratic societies.

2010 marked several novelties as well as the continuation and strengthening of some trends observed in previous years in Georgia. The report represents the summary of work carried out mostly by Human Rights Centre in 2010. The report also relies on the work of Human Rights House Tbilisi, also the Public Defender, International Organizations as well as other partner NGOs. It covers the main points of concern regarding the dynamics of democratic transition in the country and shows that the effective execution of power achieved by the current government is used not to eliminate alarming trends in the field of basic rights and freedoms but abused in many cases to further strengthen the position of the ruling elite.