ESC youth participation and inclusion of minorities in Georgia

The Union of Democrat Meskhs as a human right organization was established in Akhaltsikhe (Georgia) in 1998. The goal of the organization is to support to human right protection, social-economic changes, establishment of strong civil society, advancing of integration of ethnic minorities. Later “The Union of Democrat Meskhs” opened its representations in Akhalkalaki and Ninotsminda municipalities have been working intensively since 2002. The offices of organization serve to each citizen of Samtskhe-Javakheti. In addition organization has a strong focus on advocacy including public debate component. The mission of organization is that each citizen will live in fair and legal state, where strong civil society will protect the right of each person, and everybody will be have an opportunity to be realized. In order to achieve the goal “The Union of Democrat Meskhs” works into four directions: 1. 1. Free legal assistance to the population 2. Civil Education 3. Integration of ethnic minorities 4. Development of local self-governance The Civil Society Organization has the longest and the most successful history in Samtskhe-Javakheti region. The team of professionals oriented on growth and development, with high level of public awareness and trust indicator. Union of Democrat Meskhs has 22 years history in developing democracy and caring on human right protection in ethnically diversified environment. It was the first organization working on human rights and self-governance issues in the region. By this time the organization has 15 staff and has offices in Akhaltsikhe and in Akhalkalaki. “The Union of Democrat Meskhs” has been opened to cooperate with every democratic institute. In addition to donor organizations, we actively cooperate with local and national level non-governmental organizations and media. The main donors we have been cooperating with are: EC, US Embassy, Eurasia Foundation, Open Society Georgia, UNAG, USAID, NED and others. The organization is implementing the youth program “Promote Integration Tolerance and Awareness” (PITA) in partnership with UNAG and financial support of USAID. PITA is a diversity-centered, grassroots-driven project that brought together the young people of Georgia, civil society organizations, minority communities, government, media and other stakeholders to join a consolidated and successful effort towards building a more informed, inclusive and engaged society in Georgia that rejects discrimination and embraces diversity. The project introduces NGO-based youth clubs throughout Georgia; furnishes local NGOs with advanced capacities to manage diversity and civic participation more effectively; exploits social media and social exchange to establish active connections between the young boys and girls of Georgia from different regions and ethnic communities; builds awareness and stimulates national debate through Our Yard weekly TV talk show and other media production on local and national television; and supports Public Defender’s Tolerance Center and the Civic Integration and Tolerance Council at the President of Georgia to advance sustainable capacities on local and national levels.