Georgian Government launches website for citizens to submit initiatives

The Government of Georgia has launched a new website through which any citizen or a group of citizens can address the government with a petition.

The address of the new website is ichange.gov.ge and it was created within the Open Governance Partnership.

The project aims to make it easier for people to get involved in the process of decision-making.

"This project is one of the best and easiest ways for citizens to make their voices heard, reach the government and present their initiatives”, said the head of the Government Administration of Georgia, Maia Tskitishvili.

She explained that through the new website anyone can launch a petition and if the petition gains 10,000 signatures in a month’s time, the government will be obliged to discuss the initiative. The government will have to either accept the initiative or explain its reasons for refusal.

"This is a very good tool of inclusive governance and the demonstration of the openness that the Government of Georgia offers during the past several years”, Tskitishvili said.

The presentation of the website was attended by representatives of the government, civic society, international and non-governmental organisations.