Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1697749915179.pdf (Georgia)
26.07.2017 The appeal of Civil Society Forum Georgian National Platform member organizations to the Georgian Authorities on the issue of abolishing the status of self-governing for the 7 Georgian self-governing city Carrying out decentralization strategy and establishment of local self-government that fits European standards was the core aspect of the Association Agreement with the EU and of the local self-government reform.
It was the first, important success of the self-government reform that the Self-Government Code was adopted and the first respectable progress was noted, with having 7 new self-governing cities that were in line with the reform strategy.

Self-Government reform was the single most successful reform that was liked and supported not only in Georgia, but among democratic institutions and states in Europe.
To support the reform, enhance its abilities and increase the effectiveness of population inclusion, European and American institutions have supported numerous projects and have spend sizeable resources.

Consequently, with the support of the Georgian society and Georgia’s strategic partners, the process of establishing a new tyoe self-government system that fits with democratic standards had began.
Further enhancment of self-government and bringing it closer to the population is only possible by pursuing it, increasing its intensity and depth.

It is alarming, that one of the most successful reforms of recent times and its results face existential threats, at the detriment of the interests of the Georgian population.
The decision of the Georgian Government and the Parliament, to stop or reject the continuation of the commenced reform, reject approximation of the self-government to the people and refusing to engage in dialogue with the population whether to abolish the status of the newly established 7 self-governing cities – cannot be supported and will be assessed as clearly a step backwards and in the process, it will also worsen the quality of democracy in the Country.
Furthermore, the Parliament planned hearing of President’s veto, who has rejected the law adopted by the Parliament on abolishing the 7 self-governing cities.

Given the above-mentioned, we call upon Georgian authorities to revise its decision on abolishing the 7 self-governing cities, to continue the reform and to present the public its decentralization and self-government reform strategy.

Signatory Organizations: 1.

Liberal Academy Tbilisi 2.


The Center for Strategic Research and Development of Georgia 3.

Georgian Young Lawyers' Association (GYLA) 4.

Europe Foundation 5.

Institute for Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI) 6. International Center of Geopolitical research 7.

Int.

Center for Civic Culture 8.

Association "Green Alternative" 9.

New Generation for Democratic Georgia 10.

Article 42 11.

Local Democracy Agency Georgia 12.

Institute for Euro-Atlantic integration and strategic studies ( 13.
Save Future Generation 14.

Multiethnic Resource Center for Civil Education 15.

The Greens Movement of Georgia /Friends of Earth 16.

Association School-Family-Society 17.

Free Choice 18.

Rural Communities Development Agency 19.

Association "MERKURI" 20.

Rehabilitation Centre for Victims of Torture, Violence and Pronounced Stress Impact – EMPATHY 21.

Caucasus Environmental NGO network (CENN) 22. International Center for Democratic Initiatives 23.

Georgia's Reforms Associates 24.


Association for the Farmers' Rights Defence 25.

Student Youth Council 26.

Caucasus Mosaic 27.

Teachers' Union "Education and Universe" 28.

Democracy Development and Civil Society Center 29.

Georgia International Development Agency 30.

Repatriates Union 31.

Georgian Tea Producers Association,, Georgian Tea” 32.

Association “Atinati” 33.

Youth Alternative 34.

Partnership For Road Safety 35.

Georgian Association Women and Business 36.

Railway New Trade Union 37.


Friendship Bridge- Kartlosi 38.

Georgian Press Association 39.

Georgian Press Association 40.

Center for Development and Engagement 41.

Association Peaceful and Business Caucasus 42.

Peaceful and Business Caucasus 43. International Business and Economic Development Centre 44.

Civil Forum for Peace 45.

Association “Imedi” for Refuge Women’s Peace Movement 46.

Public Development Academy 47.

Enterprise Innovation Development Center 48.

Association “Droni” 49.


Fund Caucasian Ecology 50. International Press Institute - Georgian national committee 51.

IDP Association "Consent"