From December 10 until December 20 The Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association will arrange the Traditional Human Rights Week. Today, on December 10- International Human Rights Protection Day, Giorgi Chkheidze – GYLA chairman assessed November 7 events. Giorgi Chkheidze introduced to the journalists the statement entitled “A month after November 7- Right to Assembly - Fundamental Right?” Initiated from today, including December 20 GYLA will arrange various events in the frames of the Human Rights’ Week.
2007-12-09 20:00 See moreThe NGOs which are planning to observe the Presidential Elections on January 5th , 2008, publicize the following 10 pre-conditions for fair and free elections in Georgia. 10 pre-conditions for fair and free elections in Georgia.
2007-11-11 20:00 See moreTaking into account current situation in the country, GYLA today has ent letter to the Ambassadors and Heads of the foreign and international missions in Georgia. To see the letter, please follow the link From GYLA - Honorable Ambassadors
2007-11-07 20:00 See moreThe Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association expresses its opinion on the concluding observations and recommendations of the UN Human Rights Committee (UN HRC) with regard to the State report submitted by the Georgian Government (http://www.ohchr.org/english/bodies/hrc/docs/CCPR.C.GEO.CO.3.CRP.1.pdf). The UN Committee is dedicated to assess how effectively the rights and freedoms guaranteed by the UN Covenant on the Civil and Political Rights are ensured and protected by the state party. The Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association upholds the positive assessments of the Committee with regard to achievements in the sphere. At the same time, GYLA as a human rights protection NGO supports the position of the Committee in identification of the problems and agrees that Georgian Government should carry out prompt and adequate measure inter alia thereon: Effective Mechanisms against Torture – adopt effective legislative and procedural safeguards in the process of extradition, deportation and transfer, in order that deported persons were not tortured or subject to inhuman or degrading treatment and punishment. Combating violence - to reinforce state agencies’ activities in combating domestic violence, including effective investigation and victims’ protection (establishment of shelters) Right to life, excessive use of force – the Committee expressly indicates on the necessity to carry out prompt and effective investigations concerning deaths caused by use of excessive force by the police during arrests, special operations or in penitentiary system. GYLA upholds the Committee’s opinion concerning necessity for timely investigation of the facts that took place in 2006 in penitentiary institution #5. Furthermore, the Committee stresses the importance of trainings for law enforcement agencies with regard to criminal nature of the excessive use of power. Human treatment – the committee is concerned by the increasing number of prisoners in the penitentiary system and considers necessary immediate resolution of the problem; Independent and Corruption free judiciary – the committee indicates on the acute problem of judicial independence and considers necessary institutional amendments as well as adequate and timely reactions on any charges. Freedom of expression – rights of journalists – the Committee indicates on the facts of violence against journalists and appeals the state to their timely investigation. The Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association appeals the state to prompt and effective consideration of the concluding observations and recommendations of the UN Human Rights Committee and is ready to cooperate on the issues.
2007-10-31 20:00 See more“The fact that Georgia locks up so many of its citizens cannot be convincingly explained away by a high crime rate; the policy of “zero tolerance on crime” and the general outlook of law enforcement agencies, prosecutors and the judiciary must, in part, be responsible…” “The above-described conditions of detention under which the vast majority of prisoners at Prison No. 5 were held amount to inhuman and degrading treatment and as such constitute an affront to a civilised society…”
2007-10-24 20:00 See moreThe Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association celebrated the International Right to Know Day in 8 GYLA branch and regional offices in Tbilisi, Rustavi, Gori, Telavi, Dusheti, Kutaisi, Ozuregti and Batumi by organizing various events.
2007-10-01 20:00 See moreThe Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association reviewed and submitted the preliminary opinion on the draft prepared by the Ministry of Education and Science, that concerns introducing of the “Pupils’ Code of Ethics” in the secondary schools. GYLA sent its preliminary opinion to the Georgian Ministry of Education and Science and to 20 pilot schools selected in the frames of the program “the safe school”. Preliminary Comments of the Georgian Young Lavyers\' Association on The draft Pupils\' of Ethics
2007-09-24 20:00 See moreThe Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association within the campaign “the Georgian Government under the Sunshine” issued the sixth and the seventh final reports reflecting state agencies’ activities. The two publications cover activities of the Chamber of Control, General inspections of various agencies and financial monitoring of the Georgian President’s and the Government’s Reserve Funds, as well as problems encountered in the process of privatization. GYLA has been implementing monitoring over the state agencies activities for several years. It aims to assist effective, accountable and transparent governance. The state undertook obligation to reform the Chamber of Control and establish it as an independent agency. In reality, however, the state restricts the functions of the Chamber both legally and illegally. In particular, according to the amendment introduced to the relevant legislation, information with regard to the tax and customs’ incomes was considered secret. For that reason the Chamber of Control shall be deprived of the opportunity to get acquainted with the information. By the legislative amendment it can not control activities of local self-governance agencies either. Applicable legislation does not grant independence to the general inspections of various agencies. In particular, employees of the inspection agree their activities with relevant high officials of the specific agencies that conflict with international standards. At the end of the presentation, the audience discussed and searched for the ways to eliminate the detected violations.
2007-09-23 20:00 See moreAccording to the information of the Ministry of Justice, “during the first 7 month in 2007 nearly 41 959 citizens were fined for taking ID cards with delay.” According to the Ministry, citizens are obligated to take ID cards within six month after s/he reaches 16 years. If a citizen violates the term s/he has to pay GEL 5 as a fine. The Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association (GYLA) studied the issue and considers that the National Agency of Civil Registry fines citizens as per Article 185 of the Administrative Code of Offences, illegally.
2007-09-11 20:00 See moreIn 2007 the Parliament of Georgia plans adoption of the new Criminal Procedure Code by the second and the third hearings. The “present version” of the draft that has been elaborated since 2004 was adopted last summer at the first hearing. Since 2004 the draft changed considerably. Giorgi Chkheidze applies to the members of the Parliament with a letter asking to return the new Criminal Procedure Code to the initial version. Each member of the Parliament, the head of the Supreme Court, the General Prosecutor of Georgia, Parliamentary secretaries of the President and the Government and the secretary of the high council of justice received the letter. Chairman of the GYLA appeals to the Members of The Parliament
2007-09-02 20:00 See more