The project develops work of civic initiatives active in specific areas (geographically, politically, socially and nationally) and issues – mainly in equality and non-discrimination, freedom of speech and access to information, cooperation with public administration bodies and in environmental protection. The project will achieve the main goal through strategic planning of campaigns, series of education in active citizenship, study trip to Czech Republic, networking, sharing and increasing of competences in campaign methods, ongoing couching in organizational and expert field. The important aspect of this support will incorporate work with starting grassroots initiatives, volunteers, young people as well as with initiatives already cooperating with NESEHNUTÍ. This aspect ensures continuity, multiplication of outputs and transfer know-how from those more experienced to less experienced initiatives in the area.

Enhancing the participation of regional CSOs in policy dialogue on social inclusion in Georgia

The action aims to strengthen the link between public and civic actors and harmonize their activities in the area of social inclusion by establishing a joint advisory body, the Advisory Council on Social Inclusion (Advisory Council), and piloting PIN SIP approach with 2 NGOs in 2 municipalities. Joint action of the Advisory Council will produce strategic directions for local social inclusion activities. Intensive capacity building, mentoring and networking activities will support targeted CSOs to become stronger partners to public institutions and participate in setting priorities and increasing the efficiency of social inclusion programmes at local and national levels.

Getting Started: Together against discrimination

The Antidiscrimination bill with the prohibition of discrimination and with the right to equal treatment was approved only last year in Georgia. Experience from across Europe, and so it is also in the case of Georgia, shows that for full implementation of non-discrimination in practice is not enough only adoption of certain relevant legislation, but it is essential that victims of discrimination must actively use and demand their rights. The project targets on transfer of Czech expertise to local non-governmental organizations and to the staff of the Georgian Ombudsman in methods strengthening results in protection against discrimination, especially through strategic litigation and situational testing. Local NGOs will be trained in order to create local know-how in active fight against discrimination in practice. The project will be implemented through workshop for local NGOs and representatives of Georgian Ombudsman, followed by one week study trip for 5 Georgian human rights defenders to the Czech Republic. Afterwards, there will be carried out 5 pilot testings on discrimination which will be evaluated on a subsequent round table; acquired experience of local activists with the method of situational testing will be passed on to other Georgian human rights organizations. Finally, the publication and specialized websites about fight against discrimination will be made.