Activities

“At the heart of every civilised and progressive society lies respect for human rights. This pocket database is designed to be carried close to the heart of every Georgian lawmaker” wrote HM Ambassador Donald McLaren of McLaren in the preface of the guide book on human rights which was prepared by the Union “Century 21”.

Legal experts worked out the basic issues according to the choice of MPs. The guide book covers the basic human rights and freedoms provided by the international and national legal acts.

On International Human Rights Day - December 10, the Guide Book was disseminated among the members of the Parliament of Georgia. It was sent to the President of Georgia as well as to the representatives of various governmental structures.

The publication was made possible with support of the British Embassy, Tbilisi.

From June to December 2006 the Union “Century 21” assisted to the Accused persons displaced in prisons in Kutaisi, Zugdidi and Batumi which are in need of qualified legal aid and due to financial hardship are not able to get such assistance. The project was supported by the OSCE Mission to Georgia.

The overall purpose of the project was to protect the rights of accused persons provided and guaranteed by national and international legal documents. The project envisages the legal consultations, legal representation at Courts, and preparation of monthly activity reports and situational analysis to be disseminated among relevant governmental structures, international and national non-governmental organisations working in the field of human rights protection as well as among intergovernmental organisations.

The project envisaged legal practice of students and recent graduates within the project.

At this moment we have the following results: Seventeen (17) cases are already completed and nineteen (19) cases are in proceeding.

By distributing the cases according to the regions we have the following situation: In Kutaisi Prison № 2 – 13 cases (6 cases are already completed and 7 cases are still in proceeding), Zugdidi Prison № 4 – 14 cases (8 cases are already completed and 6 cases are still in proceeding), Batumi prison № 3 – 9 cases (3 cases are already completed and 6 cases are still in proceeding).

In December 2005 has started the project "Free of Charge Legal Aid to the Vulnerable Groups of Population in Tbilisi and in Kakheti, Shida Kartli and Kvemo Kartli Regions" in cooperation with the Parliamentarian Committee on Human Rights and Civil Integration and Public Defenders Office. The project envisages joint legal assistance with the representatives of these structures based on regular visits to Kakheti, Shida Kartli and Kvemo Kartli regions.

The socio-economic situation in regions is worse than in Tbilisi. Inactivity of relevant governmental structures and in many cases their inadequate responses create favorable conditions for human rights violation. One of the reasons for such aggravated situation is that in Tbilisi operate more international and local human rights organizations than in regions and most of human rights violations stay out of response.

In regions we will cooperate closely with local human rights organizations, local governmental and self-governmental bodies and majoritarian MPs.

By the end of the project will be produced and disseminated booklets on legal issues covering various topics in relevance to the needs of local population. The booklets will be disseminated free of charge.

In 2004-2005 the Union "Century 21" in cooperation with the Parliamentarian Committee on Human Rights and Civil Integration implemented the project: "Free Legal Aid for the Vulnerable Group of the Population Who Apply to the Parliamentarian Committee on Human Rights and Civil Integration".

The project was supported by the British Embassy in Tbilisi.

For free of charge distribution were published three booklets on legal issues: "The Rights of Suspected Persons", "The Rights of Accused Persons" and "The Rights of Prisoners". All interested people can obtain the copies at the resource center of the organisation.

In 2002-2003 the Union Century21 implemented the project - Free Legal Aid and Legal Clinic for the Vulnerable Groups of Population supported by Horizonti foundation. The project envisaged free of charge legal aid and representation for the vulnerable groups of population. During the project realization the lawyers employed at the organisation had 18 criminal and civil cases at courts. The consultations were provided to more than one hundred people.