Phases 1 to 2 - Georgia

Raising awareness on human rights among the general public

In Georgia, "Studio RE" organized a TV discussion show focussed on the violations of human rights during public assemblies (Article 25 of Constitution of Georgia).  26 participants took part of the TV programme including representatives of Georgian NGOs, authorities and the public.  The grant recipient reports that governmental authorities acknowledged the problem.

Phase 2

1. The Centre for Caucasian Research conducted research on the death penalty in Abkhazia. The work included countrywide research on the issue, two seminars with students, and one seminar with lawyers and representatives of NGOs and the authorities. The death penalty still exists under Abkhaz law although no executions are carried out. The project raised awareness among the participants who committed themselves to disseminating the results of the events in order to prepare public opinion for abolition of the death penalty.

Allocated grant: US$ 2,400

2. The Centre for Democracy and Human Rights organized three seminars on human rights in four high schools in three cities. In each school, two seminars and a competition among schoolchildren to write an essay on human rights were held. One result was that teachers now include human rights in school curricula.

Allocated grant: US$ 1,500

3. The Centre for Democracy and Human Rights supervised research by five scholars on the notions of common law and respect for the human being in traditional Abkhaz society. A round table was held to discuss the findings of the research.

Allocated grant: US$ 1,500

4. Between October 2000 and April 2001, the Tkvarcheli Region Youth Initiative organized 405 lessons for 250 fifth-, sixth- and seventh-grade pupils from schools in Tkvarcheli. During the classes, the pupils learned about the International Bill of Human Rights and about specific conventions such as the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the European Convention on National Minorities, etc. Role-playing, sketches and tests were integrated into the lessons. The grant recipient reports that the project showed a considerable lack of basic knowledge about human rights among children from the region; in these circumstances, the activities undertaken were greatly needed and very welcome.

Allocated grant: US$ 2,000

5. The Human Rights and Civil Society Foundation organized a week-long seminar for 29 high school students from 27 October to 1 November 2000. The seminar consisted of: interactive role-playing, lectures and briefings on international human rights treaties and conventions, as well as open discussions on specific issues such as conflict prevention, leadership, democracy, the role of NGOs, etc. The seminar was so successful that it was decided to disseminate the content and outcomes to other schools in Sukhumi.

Allocated grant: US$ 3,000

6. Ms. Nona Tachevna Pilia, a schoolteacher, wrote and illustrated textbooks for children aged 7 to 8 in the Russian and Abkhaz languages containing texts adapted from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; the illustrations represent characters from Abkhaz fairy tales. The books also contain an attachment AInvitation to the Future@, to be filled in by the children themselves. These are the first books on human rights to be produced for children in Abkhazia; 500 copies in each language will be published.

Allocated grant: US$ 1,700

7. Ms. Nadejda Yurievna Venediktova, a journalist, published a supplement on legal and human rights concerns entitled “Your Legal Adviser” to 26 issues of the newspaper Nuzhnaia Gazeta (the Abkhaz newspaper with the widest circulation – 5,000 copies). The project provided readers with basic human rights knowledge, taking into account the total lack of information from abroad on these issues. It should also strengthen the rule of law in the region.

Allocated grant: US$ 2,990.