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1@NGOPHRkj

January March 2015

PHR.HumanRights

Mission of PHR

Protecting the rights of various social groups such as: children, people with disabilities, elderly people and others enhancement of gender

equality and support womens civil and political

participation.

More women in ParliamentOn March 8th PHR joined rally for women

rights

World Down Syndrome DayMarch 21, 2015

Seminars in GoriProtection of Older and Disabled IDP women

against discrimination.

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Training in OzurgetiInvolvement of persons with disabilities in the work of local self government bodies

2On October 24 and November 28, 2014 representative of PHRNana Abashidze held a meeting with parents and teachers ofSurami public school 2.The purpose of the meeting was empowering parents, bullying inschools and parental involvement in school processes.Meetings was held within the framework of a joint project ofSurami Public School 2 and "Partnership for Human Rights". Thecurrent project represents sub-project of EU project "Democracy inSchools", which aims to empower society, through teachingdemocratic citizenship and human rights.

On January 16, 2014, PHR conducted a meeting/discussion with theinternational organization Disability Rights International on thetopic ,,inclusive education in school'', that was attended by parentsof children with disabilities and representatives of the Ministry ofEducation and Science Tamar Isakadze and Eka Dgebuadze.Representatives of the Ministry provided parents with theinformation about actual issues of inclusive education.On the discussions, several important issues have been raised bythe parents. One of them was the fact that as it seems parents havenot been expressing their protest to avoid offence of theadministration. On this meeting, they were informed that theycould feel free to address the Ministry with complaints on any kindof legal violation and the Ministry will react properly. The discussionshowed that it is necessary, to open as many integrated classes forthe children with autism, as possible.

Violence continues ...Anna Arganashvili in the program Gender News''

Domestic violence Anna Arganashvili in the program Focus

Patriarch's Christmas EpistleAnna Arganashvili in the program ,,Moambe

Violence against women with disabilitiesAna Abashidze in the program ,,Gender News ''

3Raise awareness of Combating discrimination against Older and Disabled IDP women in Georgia

On January 21 and 23, 2015, representatives of PHR held ameeting in Gori and Tbilisi with Internally Displaced elderlywomen and women with disabilities.Internally displaced women got familiarized with the self-government issues, rights and responsibilities of local self-government bodies in protecting the rights of persons withdisabilities. On the seminar was emphasized the importance ofcitizens' participation in the activities of self-government bodies.

The seminar was held within the framework of the projectCombating discrimination against Older and Disabled IDPwomen in Georgia. The aim of the project is to fight against theOlder and Disabled IDP womens discrimination and contribute toproblem solving by the identification and advocacy ofdiscrimination.The project is financed by thr EU and UN Women.

PHR- representative Anna Arganashvili for Public Broadcasting program

Communicator ''

Head of PHR- Ana Abashidze for Tabula TV program Theorem ''

Closing conference of the joint project of GYLA and PHR

On January 27, 2015 organization "Partnership for Human Rights'' with "Georgian Young LawyersAssociation" presented a final report of the project Empowering Women against LaborDiscrimination and Combating Gender-based Violence.On the closing conference organizations presented results of the activities carried out within theframework of the project to the representatives of NGOs and government officials who wereparticipating in the Conference. The project is supported by the EU.Within the framework of the project were developed the following studies:1. The analysis of the action plans in terms of promoting women's employment;2. Discrimination of women representatives of minorities in labor relations;3. Brief overview of gender audit results of three programs of labor and employment department ofthe Ministry of Labor, Health and Social Affairs;4. Analysis of vocational education reform in terms of gender.

4Ana Arganashvili, representative of the organization Partnership for

Human Rights on TV channel Rustavi 2, in the progarm The

other Midday,,

Ana Abashidze, the head of the organization Partnership for

Human Rights on GorgianPublic Broadcaster program -

,,Communicator ''

Joint meeting of GYLA and PHR in Zugdidi

On January 28, 2015, GYLA and PHR have held a joint meetingwith the local self-government bodies and the representativesof civil society.The organizations have presented the following studies withinthe framework of the project Empowering Women againstLabor Discrimination and Combating Gender-basedViolence:1. Analysis of action plans on promoting women's employment;2. Discrimination of women representatives of minorities inlabor relations;3. A brief overview of the results established by gender audit ofthree programs of Labor and Employment Policy Department ofthe Ministry of Labor, Health and Social Affairs;4. Analysis of vocational education reform in terms of gender.On the meeting representative of PHR Nana Gochiashvilitalked about the research - ,,Discrimination of minority womenin labor relations.The project is supported by the European Union.

Training on gender equality in the workplace

On January 30-31, 2015 was held a training on "promotinggender equality in the workplace" in the Trade union office.Training was conducted within the framework of project"promoting gender equality in the workplace". In the trainingwere involved employers.The main focus of the training was increasing genderequality and women's economic empowerment in Georgia.On March 11, 2014, the organization "Article 42 of theConstitution" stareted the project promoting genderequality in the workplace". The project is being implementedby USAID with the support of four partner organizations:Georgian trade unions; Tbilisi State University Center forSocial Sciences (CSS); New Media Advocacy (N-Map);JumpStart Georgia.

5On January 30, 2015, on Imedi TV station in the program Kronika'' and on Rustavi-2 TV station in theprogram Kurieri' leader of Democratic Movement United Georgia" Nino Burjanadze mentioned downsyndrome in a negative context, thereby insulted people with Down Syndrome.On January 31, 2015 through the Liberali was spread an appeal by citizens toward Nino Burjanadzeand broadcasting TV companies Rustavi 2 and Imedi TV.,,People with Down syndrome, parents of children with Down syndrome, their families and non-governmental organizations insist Nino Burjanadze, administrations of TV Imedi "and TV Rustavi 2 toapologize immediately and publicly to people with Down syndrome and their families with the samemedia stations'' - said in the letter.On February 1, 2015, Nino Burjanadze apologized in the program Kronika'' on the Imedi TV station.

On February 6-7, 2015, PHR conducted a training of disabledpersons and their family members in Ozurgeti.The main objective of the training was strengthening thecapacity of people with disabilities to involve in advocacyprocess of disabled people carried out by self-governmentbodies.On the training persons with disabilities got familiarized withthe concept of local self-governance, forms of local self-government bodies, citizens' participation in local self-governance and the role of self-governance in protecting therights of persons with disabilities.The training was conducted within the framework of projectof the EU and Open Society Georgia Foundation -Supporting the right and opportunity of the persons withdisabilities to participate through the bodies of the local self-governments in Georgia.which is eliminated by PHR incollaboration with Article 42 of the Constitution andAccessible environment for everyone.

Ana Abashidze, the head of the organization Partnership for

Human Rights in radio station Freedom- program ,,Gender

Issues

Ana Arganashvili, representative of the organization Partnership

for Human Rights in radio station Freedom - prgram

,,Gender Issues

Ana Abashidze, the head of the organization Partnership for Human Rights on TV channel

Rustavi 2 in the program "Kurieri"

6In Ozurgeti municipality there is no program, which slightlyalleviates the situation of my son "- said the parent of a 4-year-olddisabled child. On February 8, 2015, PHR representatives NanaGochiashvili and Nana Abashidze have held a meetings withdisabled persons and their parents in Ozurgeti. The purpose of themeeting was legal consulting.The meetings revealed the particularly problematic areas of disabledpersons: nonexistence of inclusive pre-school education and earlychildhood development programs, lack of accessability torehabilitation centers, absence of adapted physical environment andunemployment.The visit was conducted within the framework of the projectCombating discrimination against Older and Disabled IDP womenin Georgia, which is supported by the EU and UN Women and theproject of Open Society Georgia Foundation - Supporting theright and opportunity of the persons with disabilities to participatethrough the bodies of the local self-governments in Georgia whichis eliminated by PHR in collaboration with Article 42 of theConstitution and Accessible environment for everyone.

On February 12, 2015, head of PHR Ana Abashidzeattended the session of the Human Rights and CivilIntegration Committee. On the meeting wasdiscussed issues of violence against women anddomestic violence. The meeting was attended byCommittee members, representatives of NGOs whowork on women's rights and domestic violenceissues.

Tbilisi Municipal Assembly

On February 15, 2015, PHR participated in the meeting with Tbilisi Municipal Assembly of Health and Social AffairsCommission. The meeting was attended by the older internally displaced persons with disabilities. On the meetingwas discussed the draft resolution of approval of statute of Tbilisi Municipal City Halls council, who work ondisability issues.On February 19, 2015 PHR with a non-governmental organization ,,accessible environment for everyone "participated in the meeting with Tbilisi Municipal Assembly of Human Rights and Civil Integration committee.On the session was discussed the issue of violation of the rights of persons with disabilities who were attended onPaata Burchuladze's 60-year anniversary in the Sports Palace on February 12, 2015. As well, taking into theconsideration, protection of rights of the persons with disabilities during the process of implementing and planningactivities done with the support of local self-government bodies.The activity was done within the framework of the project elimination of discrimination of elder internallydisplaces women and women with disabilities, which is supported by the EU and UN Women and the project ofOpen Society Georgia Foundation - Supporting the right and opportunity of the persons with disabilities toparticipate through the bodies of the local self-governments in Georgia which is eliminated by PHR incollaboration with Article 42 of the Constitution and Accessible environment for everyone.

7On February 24, 2015, PHR conducted a seminar for internally displaced women, living in Tbilisi.Internally displaced women got familiarized with the problems of gender equality. During theseminar, the main attention was paid on the issues of domestic violence, national and internationalmechanisms of protection women against violence.The Seminar was held within the framework of the project Combating discrimination againstOlder and Disabled IDP women in GeorgiaThe aim of the project is to fight against the Older andDisabled IDP womens discrimination and contribute to problem solving by the identification andadvocacy of discrimination.

Ana Abashidze, the head of the organization Partnership for

Human Rights on GorgianPublic Broadcaster, program -

"Apples of Paradise"

Ana Abashidze, the head of the organization Partnership for Human Rights on TV channel

Maestro

Training for the self-government bodies on the rights of persons with disabilities

On February 21, 2015, with the invitation of internally displaced Women Association Consentrepresentative of the PHR conducted a training on the UN Convention on the SS (UN CRPD). Themeeting was attended by the representatives of council of Gori, Zugdidi, Tskaltubo and Gardabani, alsorepresentatives of the city hall and the municipal administration.The main topic of the training was conducting activities, determined by the UN Convention, on thelevel of self-government bodies to make rights equal for the persons with disabilities. Also, analysis ofimplementation of the objectives outlined in the National Action Plan and the future involvement ofpersons with disabilities in the decision making process.

On December 1, 2014, PHR was addressed by a socially disadvantaged, singlewoman whose 4-year-old son could not register in Rustavi municipalkindergarten because of gaps in the system of electronic registration and ofinstant replenishment of all places in the kindergarten. On December 19, 2014PHR asked City Council to study the case and to provide necessary assistance.According to the Rustavi Municipality Commission of social affairscorrespondence (1/113) of January 14, 2015, applicants child got enrolled in thekindergarten. PHR thanks Rustavi Municipality Commission of social affairs foreffective cooperation.

8Training of Ozurgeti local self-governments

On February 27-28, 2015 PHR conducted a training of OzurgetiMunicipal Assembly stuff, Ozurgeti Municipal City Hall stuff, OzurgetiMunicipal local administration staff.On the training participants got familiarized with the role of self-governance in protecting the rights of persons with disabilities,standards and mechanisms of using the UN Convention on the Rightsof Persons with Disabilities (UN CRPD).The training was held within the framework of the projectCombating discrimination against Older and Disabled IDP womenin Georgia which is supported by the EU and UN Women and theproject of Open Society Georgia Foundation - Supporting the rightand opportunity of the persons with disabilities to participate throughthe bodies of the local self-governments in Georgia which iseliminated by PHR in collaboration with Article 42 of theConstitution and Accessible environment for everyone.

PHR- representatives Ana Arganashvili and Ana abashidze on Guria TV, program Early marriage

and its gender aspects

On March 4-5, 2015, with the invitation of the organization, women - for regional development"representatives of PHR conducted a seminar on early marriage - prerequisite of girls developmenthindrance."The seminar was held in Lanchkhuti, Ozurgeti and Chokhatauri and it was attended byrepresentatives of the local self government bodies from the City Council and City Hall, teachers,students, administration and social workers of the public schools. The initiative is implimentied bythe Heinrich Boell Foundation.

9Training of legal aid lawyers

On March 8, PHR participated in the in a rally for women's rights.

The rally was organized by the women's movement and it was joind by politicians and human rights

activists.The gathering was held simultaneously in 25 cities.

On March 7, 2015, PHR conducted a training of the Legal Aid Service bureaus of Mtskheta-Mtianeti,Kvemo Kartli, Samtskhe - Javakheti.This time, the participants of the training, had an opportunity to familiarize with prohibition ofdiscrimination European Convention on Human Rights standards; UN Convention on theElimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW); , the Law on Gender Equality,the Law on Domestic Violence; Human rights situation of elder displaced women and displacedwomen with disabilities - positive obligations of the state.The training was held within the framework of the project Combating discrimination against Olderand Disabled IDP women in Georgia. The aim of the project is to fight against the Older andDisabled IDP womens discrimination and contribute to problem solving by the identification andadvocacy of discrimination.

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Reception in the Presidential palace

On March 6, 2015, representative of PHR Mari Korkotadze participated in the presidential palacereception, which was held in regard of gender equality week.Mari Korkotadze who is the member of parents of children with disabilities movement and humanrights activist spoke with the President about the issues of children with autism, asked him to getinvolved in activities regarding the international day of autism awareness on April 2.Mari also spoke with the first lady Maka Chichua, who has declared her support for parents of childrenwith disabilities in the implementation process of future initiatives.

Meeting of Tbilisi City Halls representatives with parents of persons with disabilities

On March 11, 2015 representatives of the TbilisiCity Hall held a meeting with the parents ofpersons with disabilities on the program ,,resortrehabilitation of persons with disabilities''. Themeeting was attended by the representative ofPHR Mari Korkotadze.Representative of the Tbilisi City Hall RatiIonatamishvili and the head of Social ServiceDepartment Gela Chiviashvili discussed variousissues, including the quality of the services andconditions of the program. City Hall officialspublicly gave parents a promise that during theimplementation of the program all requirementswill be taken in consideration.

On March 23, 2015, with the initiative of PHR was helda meeting of service provider and right defenders ofpersons with disabilities in the office of organization ,,child, family, community.The purpose of the meeting was exchanginginformation about current activities and planningstrategic cooperation.The participants of the meeting shared information onvarious subjects, including: zero project, mental healthproblems, realization right to education for personswith Down syndrome, family-type service for personswith disabilities.The meeting was attended by the representatives ofnon-governmental organizations as well as publicofficials. The participants of the meeting planned thefuture strategic cooperation.

Advocacy on the rights of persons withdisabilities

On March 4, 2015 PHR was addressed by parent N. B. who needed insulin and a day care center voucher for her child. PHR referred the information to the Ministry of Labor, Health and Social Affairs and Social Services Agency. 10 days later PHR was informed by the parent, that the Commission has approved giving an insulin for his son and also voucher of the day care center which can be used from April 1st.

Advocacy Case #9

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On March 13-14, 2015, PHR conducted a training of OzurgetiMunicipal Assembly stuff, Ozurgeti Municipal City Hall stuff,Ozurgeti Municipal local administration staff.The main objective of the training was building the capacity forthe people with disabilities in the process of working on advocacyissues carried out by self-governing bodies.On the training participants got familiarized with the concept oflocal self-governance, forms of local self-government bodies,forms of the citizens' participation in the process of implementinglocal self-goverance and the role of self-governance in protectingthe rights of persons with disabilities.The training was held within the framework of the projectCombating discrimination against Older and Disabled IDPwomen in Georgia, which is supported by the EU and UNWomen and the project of Open Society Georgia Foundation -Supporting the right and opportunity of the persons withdisabilities to participate through the bodies of the local self-governments in Georgia which is eliminated by PHR incollaboration with Article 42 of the Constitution and Accessibleenvironment for everyone.

PHR- representative Mari Korkotadze for the radio Imedi,

program ,,We are here''

Training of representatives of local self-governments in Ozurgeti

Issues of employment of persons with disabilitiesOn March 24, 2014 in Redison Blu was held a workshop onincreasing capability of persons with disabilities, organized byTbilisi City Hall.The meeting was attended by the representatives of the TbilisiCity Hall, the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Labour,Health and Social Affairs. The meeting was also attended by therepresentative of PHR Mari Korkotadze.On the meeting was discussed the problems and challenges inthe field of employment of persons with disabilities, as well aspossible ways to eliminate barriers in this direction.

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World Down Syndrome day

On March 21, 2015 due to the World Down Syndrome day was held a procession from Vake Park to theTbilisi State University. PHR was also involved in the gathering. The purpose of the walk was risingpublic awareness of Down syndrome and support of people with Down syndrome.

World Down Syndrome day and the rights of persons with Down syndrome

Head of the organization PHR Ana Abashidze, in the Morning

Show at Imedi TV

Meeting at the Presidential Palace

On March 22, 2015 the President of Georgia Giorgi Margvelashvili and the First Lady Maka Chichuahosted, up to 50 kids with Down syndrome and their parents. On the event were also invitedrepresentatives of PHR Nana Abashidze and Mari Korkotadze who are actively involved in the protectionof the rights of persons with disabilities.

Gori Municipality Assembly

On March 24, 2015, PHR with internally displacedwomen, took part in the joint session of Gorimunicipal assembly Budget and Finance Committeeand the Health, Education, Sports, Culture and SocialAffairs committee and on March 27 in theextraordinary session.On March 24, on the session was discussed a report ofBudget 2014, approval of the budget 2015 and otherissues. On March 27 on the meeting was discussed adraft resolution of " amendments in the city'sMunicipal Council Resolution # 40 2014 of December23 2014.The activity was done within the framework of theproject Combating discrimination against Older andDisabled IDP women in Georgia, which is supportedby the EU and UN Women.

Head of the organization PHR Ana Arganashvili in Public

Radio show Right and Freedom

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PHR- representative in the UN Commission on the Status Women

Ana Arganashvili, representative of the organization Partnership forHuman Rights speech on 59th season of UN Commission on the Statusof Women

Universal Periodic Review

PHR has prepared four shadow reports within the framework of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR).Reports are about protection of the rights of vulnerable groups, including the gaps in the system ofprotection the rights of persons and children with disabilities.Also, reports were prepared on the problems and challenges in the field of health care, the protection ofwomen against violence and gender discrimination in labor relations, protection of women among themthose with psycho-sociological needs, gender discrimination and violence.The first report is on the protection of the rights of persons with disabilities in Georgia. It focuses on themain challenges in this regard.The report will be discussed on the 23th session of Human Rights Council, on November 10, 2015, wherethe Council will discuss the state of fulfillment the obligation, taken by the republic of Georgia, to protectthe human rights.In the preparation process of the shadow report of UPR on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities have participated the following NGOs:1. Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center (EMC);2. Partnership for Human Rights (PHR);3. Accessible environment for everyone;4. Georgian Young Lawyers Association (GYLA).The second report is on childrens rights. In the preparation process of the shadow report on childrens rights have participated the following local NGOs and international organizations:1. Women's Initiatives Support Group;2. Georgian Coalition for Children and Youth Welfare;3. Rehabilitation Initiative for Vulnerable Groups;4. Save the Children;5. The Georgian Center for Psychosocial and Medical Rehabilitation Center for Torture Victims;6. The Global Initiative on Psychiatry;7. Children of Georgia.The third report concerns the problems in health care. In the coalition report PHR prepared the part aboutthe gaps in field of mental health and multiple discrimination of this group.The fourth periodic report concerns the protection of women's rights, their participation in politics,gender-based discrimination and protection against violence.All four report will be discussed on the 23th session of Human Rights Council, on November 10, 2015,where the Council will discuss the state of fulfillment the obligation, taken by the republic of Georgia, toprotect the human rights. PHR thanks all the organizations involved in the preparation of the reports forthe effective cooperation.

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On March 30, 2015, PHR with partner organization Disability Rights International held a workshop on internationaland national standards of human rights. The meeting was attended by persons with disabilities, their familymembers and the staff of mental health centers.The main objective of the meeting was providing information about the standards of United Nations Conventionon the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, also familiarizing participants with the issues of living independently forthe persons with disabilities and their integration in society. Also, the participants were informed about thereform of the incapability institution and the policy documents in this field.The meeting was conducted within the framework of a joint project of PHR- and DRI- ,, inclusion of differentgroups of persons with disabilities in Georgia '', which aims ensuring the inclusion of disabled children and youngpeople in Georgia, through the capacity building of the stakeholders working in this field.

Members of "Partnership for Human Rights" attended the discussion ongender equality and womens participation in the process of joiningNATO.The speaker was NATO Secretary Generals special representative forWomen, Peace and Security, Ambassador Marrit Schuurman. The maintopic of the discussion was UN Security Council Resolution 1325 andother resolutions on women, peace and security issues. On thediscussion representatives of PHR asked Marrit Schuurman to speakon sexual violence against women, which is a very serious problem ofarmed conflicts and is often used as an instrument of war.Marrit Schuurman spoke about the meaning of gender-sensitivemechanisms that are used in the situations of the rape and sexualabuse against women. In her opinion, the NATO member and partnercountries should have the high standard of responding to violenceagainst women, that will be effective against all forms of gender-basedviolence and includes a wide range of professionals and agencies,including law enforcement officers, social workers, judges and otherprofessionals.

Discussion with NATO's special rapporteur

On January 23, 2015, Georgian Young Lawyers Association in collaboration with its partnerorganizations European Human Rights Advocacy Centre (EHRAC) and Partnership for Human Rights(PHR) has appealed the case of Salome Jorbenadze in the European Human Rights Court in Strasbourg.19-year-old Salome Jorbenadze, was killed on July 25, 2014 in Zestaponi. The murder suspect is her ex-husband, Zestaponi district police officer, Sergo Satseradze. He killed Salome with a hand gun. Salome isone of more than 25 women, who were killed in 2014 by their partners or ex-partners. Salome had 3-year-old son.The complaint in ECHR is based on the, Article 2 (right of life), Article 3 (prohibition of torture), Article 8(respect of private life) and Article 14 (prohibition of discrimination) of European Convention on HumanRights. In case of completing the case successfully, it will be the first case from Georgia, in regard to theissue of violence against women examined by the European Court.

Case of Salome Jorbenadze who was killed by her ex-husband was sent to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg

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Mainstreaming Disability into National Action against Gender Based Violence

The project is implemented with financial assistance of the European Unionin Tbilisi, Imereti, Samegrelo and Samtskhe-Javakheti regions. The aim ofthe project is to identify and manage the cases of different forms of violationagainst women with disabilities, among them those with psycho-socialneeds; sensitization of the state policy and mobilization of womens groups.

Protecting women from violence in psychiatric hospitals and women who are in needs of psychosocial help

The project is implemented in Tbilisi and regions with the support of theWomens Fund in Georgia. The aim of the project is to provide legalassistance to women with disabilities, among them those with psycho-socialneeds.

The project is implemented in Tbilisi and regions with the support ofthe European Union and UN Women. The aim of the project is tofight against the Older and Disabled IDP womens discrimination andcontribute to problem solving by the identification and advocacy ofdiscrimination.

The project is implemented with financial assistance of the EuropeanUnion, in Tbilisi, Samtskhe-Javakheti and Adjara regions. The aim of theproject is to protect womens labor rights.

The project is implemented with financial assistance of the European Unionand Open Society Georgian Foundation in Tbilisi, Kvemo Kartli and Guriaregions. The aim of the project is to empower the community of personswith disabilities.

Empowering Women against Labor Discrimination and Combating Gender-based Violence

Supporting the Right and Opportunity of People with Disabilities to Participate through the Bodies of Local Self-government

Combating discrimination against Older and Disabled IDP women in Georgia

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16info@phr.ge

Partnership for Human Rights

Tbilisi 0193, Aleksidze 1; Block #5 , Apt. 17Tel: + 995 032 2 33 13 56E-mail: info@phr.ge

42 ARTICLE OF CONSTITUTION

Anti-Violence Network in Georgia

Georgian Young Lawyers

Association

Accessible Environment for

Everyone

Youth Center for Independent Living

Disability Rights International

P a r t n e r s

EUROPEAN UNION UN Women

D o n o r s

Open Society Georgia Foundation