RESOURCES

  Public Participation

Public Participation

 

In order to deepen the process of civic integration, it is very important to create premises for active participation of ethnic minorities in society and the state.

 

In addition to direct participation (elections), employment in state institutions and participation in decision-making, there must be much wider participation – consultation and monitoring. The basis for this was created by the signing of a Memorandum between the Civil Integration and Tolerance Council and the Ethnic Minorities Council within the Ombudsman’s Office.

 

 

Signing of the Memorandum

 

On June 26, 2008 the Civil Integration and Tolerance Council and the Ethnic Minorities Council signed a Memorandum on mutual assistance and cooperation.

The Memorandum was signed by Ms. Tamuna Kintsurashvili, Head of the CITC and the President’s Advisor, on behalf of the Civil Integration and Tolerance Council, and Mr. Sozar Subari, the Ombudsman, on behalf of the Ethnic Minorities Council.

The Memorandum declare that “both sides commit themselves to cooperate for the developing and strengthening of a tolerant environment in Georgia, protecting ethnic minority rights and increasing the level of their integration into public life.”

The Memorandum involves minority representatives in defining national policy and includes their recommendations in the National Integration Strategy and Action Plan being developed by the CITC.

The signing of the Memorandum was attended by members of the Ethnic Minorities Council and the Civil Integration and Tolerance Council, NGO representatives and journalists.

The signing was followed by the presentation of the TV documentary series – Multi-ethnic Georgia –  that was prepared by the GPB as part of the National Integration and Tolerance Program of the UN Association of Georgia with the financial support of USAID.

 

Public Meetings

The Civil Integration and Tolerance Council and the Ethnic Minorities Council have conducted public meetings in Tbilisi and minority regions. The meetings were devoted to the discussion of the priorities of the National Integration Strategy and Action Plan.

 

Akhaltsikhe

July 10

On July 10 members of the Civil Integration and Tolerance Council met with local NGOs, people in government and education, and journalists at the Adult Education Center of Akhaltsikhe.

The meeting was attended by President’s Advisor Ms. Tamar Kintsurashvili, Deputy Minister for Education and Science Ms. Anna Zhvania, Director of the Reforms and Development Foundation Mr. Giorgi Pataridze, Chairman of the Ethnic Minorities Council Mr. Koba Chopliani and Founder of the UN Association of Georgia Mr. Ramaz Aptsiaruri.

The members of the Council presented the draft Strategic Vision on National Integration and Tolerance and listened to the participants’ views and feedback.

The main issue discussed was education, which was thoroughly explained by Deputy Minister Ms. Zhvania. The Director of the Reforms and Development Foundation presented the presidential program developed for minorities.

The participants – the Armenian Youth Union, Union Democrat Meskhs, Local Self-Government Development Association, Tolerant, Meskheti University and student self-government – expressed their readiness to further cooperate with the CITC in the process of developing the National Strategy and Action Plan.

 

Marneuli

July 16

On July 16 the presentation of the draft Strategic Vision on National Integration and Tolerance was held in Marneuli. The Council presented the document for discussion by local NGOs – the Media Center of Marneuli, Mtredi Youth Center, and Young Democrats Union – and to those working in the education field, the town council and local government.

One participant said if Georgian were to be learnt, then it had to be taught at kindergarten.

Participants included: President’s Advisor Ms. Tamar Kintsurashvili, President’s Advisor on Kvemo Kartli Regional Development Issues Mr. Mubaris Garayev, Deputy Minister for Education and Science Ms. Ana Zhvania, Chairman of the Tolerance Center Mr. Beka Mindiashvili and members of the CITC Mr. Levan Ramishvili and Mr. Ramaz Aptsiaruri.

 

Tbilisi, Religious Minorities Council

July 30

On July 30 the Council met with the Religious Minorities Council from the Ombudsman’s Office. In attendance were Ombudsman Mr. Sozar Subari, President’s Advisor Ms. Tamar Kintsurashvili, Chairman of the European Integration Parliamentary Committee Mr. Davit Darchiashvili, and Deputy Chairman of Education Parliamentary Committee Ms. Chiora Taktakishvili. The main issues discussed were legal regulations and future cooperation with the Council.

It was generally agreed that instead of a special law it would be better to develop a package of legal changes to regulate problems faced by religious organisations.

Ms. Taktakishvili presented a new draft law to the Religious Council, according to which the procedural side of conducting rehabilitation work on cultural heritage monuments has been eased.

 

Tbilisi, Ethnic Minorities Council

July 31

A meeting with the Ethnic Minorities Council within the Ombudsman’s Office on July 31 was devoted to reflecting on legal and educational issues in the National Startegy.

Participants discussed the possibility of developing a package of legal changes and for this purpose agreed on cooperation between the working group functioning under Ombudsman and the one functioning under the President’s Council.

Deputy Minister for Education and Science Ms. Ana Zhvania spoke about the bilingual teaching program and a program of higher education for representatives of ethnic minorities.      

 

Akhalkalaki

August 1

On August 1, in Akhalkalaki, President’s Advisor Ms. Tamar Kintsurashvili, Ombudsman Mr. Sozar Subari, and NGO representatives presented the draft Strategic Vision on National Integration and Tolerance at the offices of the European Center on Minority Issues.

The participants raised the question of providing translators in the courts, which according to the President’s Advisor will be reflected in the package of legal changes.

It was decided that local NGOs would elaborate a set of recommendations concerning the draft Strategic Vision and that it would be discussed at a regional conference in September.