Civil Society unites against toughening the legislation
On July 14, on initiative of Open Society Georgia Foundation, a working group was set up at the meeting of representatives of civil Society in Courtyard Marriott; the group will ensure conduction of a wide-scale campaign against the legislative initiative of Parliamentary majority. Main goal of the group will constitute mobilization of civil society and international organizations against adoption of legislative package which supports politically and judicially unjustifiable changes to the law on Meetings and Manifestations, On police and Administrative Code of Georgia.
Meeting participants adopted the joint
Statement
On July 11, 2009 the Parliament of Georgia approved with the first hearing a package of amendments to the Law on Assembly and Manifestations, Law on Police, and the Administrative Offense Code of Georgia.
We see this package as a step back in the path to democracy as it
Adoption of the amendments under current political circumstances indicates that the Government does not make an effort to overcome internal crisis through a dialogue, cooperation or compromise, but rather stirs up the confrontation and creates risk of escalated violence.
We call upon the Georgian Government not to adopt amendments with the current formulation in a speedy manner
We call upon the Georgian public to stand against the attempt to restrict civil liberties
We call upon the international organizations to actively engage in the legal assessment of legislative initiative
We call upon media to insure broad coverage of the issue for the public-at-large
Tbilisi
July 14, 2009
Signatories:
Young Lawyers Association of Georgia
Open Society Georgia Foundation
European Integration Forum
Multiethnic Georgia
Transparency International – Georgia
Ganatlebis erovnuli kavshiri
