5th Georgian Internet Governance Forum GeoIGF 2019 - Council of Europe Office in Georgia

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On Wednesday, 13 November at 10.00-17.00, in the hotel Rooms Tbilisi (Kostava str. 14) the 5th Georgian Internet Governance Forum GeoIGF 2019 took place. The forum concerned current challenges in Georgia in the field of internet.

The forum has been opened by Nikoloz Alavidze - Deputy Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development; Cristian Urse – Head of Council of Europe Office in Georgia; Frederick Donck – Director Europe Internet Society (ISOC); Vahan Hovsepyan – Foreign Office of the Network of European IP addresses (RIPE NCC); Natalia Mochu - GSE Manager, Eastern Europe & Central Asia at the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN).

GeoIGF2019 has been attended by up to 200 participants from, governmental, non-governemntal, private and international organisations. International experts as well as representative of Georgian stakeholders in teh filed of internet governance were speakers at the forum.

The folowing topics have been discussed during GeoIGF2019: the challenges of broadband coverage for Georgia and implementation of 5G technology; Content and Intellectual property rights online; online media regulations and protection of children from harmful influence; so called internet of things (IoT), personal data protection, etc.

The event has been organised by the Council of Europe (CoE) in the framework of the project ‘Supporting Freedom of Media and Internet in Georgia”, as well as by ISOC, ICANN, RIPE NCC and Internet Governance Forum Support Association (IGFSA).

Background: GeoIGF is an annual event, which takes place in Georgia from 2015. It contributes to the discusssions moung stakehodlers around most presisng issues in internet, to more informtion and involvement. Main aim of GeoIGF is protection of human rights online.

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The Council of Europe project “Supporting Freedom of Media and Internet in Georgia” is built upon achievements of two previous EU-CoE projects in Georgia “Promoting Freedom, Professionalism and Pluralism of the Media” and “Protecting Internet Freedom through Legislation and Arrangements for multi-stakeholder Dialogue” under the Partnership for Good Governance (EU-CoE) that where implemented during 2015-2017. Those two projects’ achievements included strengthening the capacities of the broadcasting regulatory authority (National Communications Commission), journalistic self-regulatory body (Charter of Journalistic Ethics), addressing challenges linked to freedom of expression on-line, establishment of multi-stakeholder dialogue with regard to the Internet and promotion of the CoE standards on the internet and human rights.

Project Objectives

Supporting national authorities in bringing legal and policy framework and practice on audio-visual services and media literacy in line with the CoE and European standards;
Further improvement of professionalism, responsibility and respect of ethical rules among journalists;
Supporting national authorities in further development and proper implementation of Internet related legal framework and regulations;
Strengthening the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms through the reinforcement of the protection of individuals with regard to their right to privacy and right to data protection.

Project activities

Expert assessments, opinions and recommendations on the multisectorial cooperation, legal and policy framework governing the media and internet, as well as countryspecific studies and publications;
Workshops, training sessions, conferences and study visits;
Development of the GNCC webpage on Media Literacy;
Development of the handbook on Ethical Journalism

Project Partners and Beneficiaries

Georgian National Communications Commission;

Georgian Charter of Journalistic Ethics;

Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia;

State Inspector's Service of Georgia;

Small and Medium Telecom Operator’s Association of Georgia;

Civil Society;

Academia: Faculties of Journalism of Universities.

Length of the Project

The project runs from 1 February 2019 until 31 January 2021