Freedom and Fear The public discussion held at the Heinrich Boell Foundation on 16 May was dedicated to the International Day of Fighting against Homophobia and Transphobia, which is denoted on 17 May.
Report of the Public Defender of Georgia on Human Rights and Freedoms – 2011 This discussion held in HBF’s office had fewer participants than other discussions. Both the moderator and speakers of the discussion presented their arguments regarding the public’s lack of interest towards human rights. “It seems that our society has a similar attitude towards human rights. Therefore, human rights are protected to the extent to which people pay attention to these issues according to the attitudes towards them. Or maybe public skepticism is so high that nobody believes that human rights will ever be protected here,” said Gogi Gvakharia to open this discussion.
Arguments Surrounding the Mosque of Azizie On April 19th, the Batumi Press Café hosted a public discussion entitled “Arguments Surrounding the Mosque of Azizie”, organized by the Heinrich Boell Foundation. Key speakers included Ruslan Baramidze, Professor of History and HBF scholarship holder 2004, Zaza Shashikadze, Professor of Historical Sciences, and historian Sulkhan Okropiridze.
Discrimination as a Grave Circumstance of a Crime: Amendments in the Criminal Code of Georgia In the past, offenders received a five-year prison sentence for property damage or destruction. Following the amendments to the Criminal Code, if it is determined that hatred towards the victim due to his/her ethnic, religious or other type of minority status motivated the crime, the offender will receive a heavier sentence than in the case of a motive such as revenge on the property owner.
Resolution 1325: Women, Peace and Security Peace and Security are important not only for women, but wars and unstable environments especially influence women and children. Women and peace, conflicts and safety, gender based violence, human rights, women’s role in conflict prevention and resolution, participation in peace processes, UN Security Council Resolution 1325 and Georgia’s National Action Plan
HIV-Infection/AIDS and Human Rights A public debate at the Heinrich Boell Foundation South Caucasus Regional Office held on 30 November 2011 was devoted to the issue ofHIV-Infection/AIDS and Human Rights.
Repatriation Issues for Muslim Meskhetians It has been 67 years since Meskhetians were exiled from Georgia by the Soviet Regime. In November 1944, the entire Muslim population living in Georgia’s south-eastern province of Meskheti, including the Karapapak, Kurds, Gipsy and Turks were forcefully evicted from their homes and were deported to Central Asia.
Inclusive Education in Georgia The first state-financed project of the inclusive education was launched in 2006 by the National Curriculum Center at the Ministry of Education and Science of Georgia. At the same period, wide discussion was initiated within the public on the issue of inclusive education.
Gender as an Issue of Academic Discourse in Azerbaijan On 27 September 2011, the Heinrich Boell Foundation South Caucasus Regional Office organized the public debate in Baku. The topic of the discussion was: “Gender as an issue of academic discourse in Azerbaijan”.
Integration of Persons with Disabilities into the Society Integration of persons with disabilities into the society, stereotypes that exist regarding persons with disabilities, ensuring their equal rights, including access to education and social security, functions and roles of governmental institutions and self-government bodies in protecting rights of persons with disabilities, concrete cases of human rights’ violations – these were main issues discussed at three public debates organized by the HBF in regional towns of Georgia.