Kvemo-kartli. As part of Association Anika’s ''Community Based Services for Children with Disabilities'', which was implemented with the financial support of Save the Children in Georgia, Association Anika, Save the Children Georgia and the #1 School of Kazreti signed a memorandum setting into motion the establishment of a day care center for children with disabilities in Kazreti. This will be a pilot project based on an innovative model to advance the development of inclusive education in Georgia. In full… Source: Organization’s web-page in a social page

Tbilisi. 7 April, 2017, Tbilisi. The presentation of the National Maternal & Newborn Health Strategy (2017-2030) and a 3-year Action Plan (2017-2019) is being held today at the Tbilisi Marriott Hotel. ''The Strategy envisages that by 2030, there will be no preventable deaths of mothers and newborns or stillbirths, every child will be a wanted child, and every unwanted pregnancy will be prevented through appropriate education and full access for all to high quality integrated services. The Strategy is guided by the internationally accepted principles such as Human Rights, Gender Equality, Life-Course Approach to Reproductive Health, Quality of Care'', is noted in the statement. In full… Source: unicef.ge

Are you a creative, active person? Would you like to do something fun and inspirational that can help promote healthy living and beat cancer? And would you also like the chance to win cool prizes? Then why not enter our competition to promote the European Code Against Cancer by posting creative picture that will help people understand how they can prevent cancer. Participants snap photos of themselves or others taking part in any type of healthy activity benefiting their health and share them with us for a chance to win a prize. In full… Source: Social Page

Tbilisi. World Autism Awareness Day is marked on April 2. In 2017, the theme of this day is ''Toward Autonomy and Self-Determination''. ''No tangible changes were made in Georgia in terms of protection of the rights of people with autism spectrum disorders last year. The problems of children are particularly severe. Availability of healthcare adjusted to their needs and rehabilitation/habilitation services, as well as inclusive education, represents a challenge. The state cannot provide necessary programs and services for persons with autism, as well as their proper engagement in the inclusive education process'', is noted in the statement. In full… Source: ombudsman.ge

Imereti. On 29 March 2017 a new Specialized Family-Type Service for Children with Severe Disabilities has been established in Kutaisi by the Ministry of Labour, Health and Social Affairs with the support of USAID and UNICEF. U.S. Ambassador Ian Kelly, Minister of Labour, Health and Social Affairs David Sergeenko, USAID Mission Director Douglas Ball and UNICEF Representative in Georgia Laila Omar Gad visited Kutaisi to open the new service. The Specialized Family-Type Service is the first unit in Georgia with the community-based care for young children with severe and profound disabilities and health problems. In this Service, children transferred from large state-run institutions receive a 24-hour nursing care, physical rehabilitation, and community integration services. Read more… Source: unicef.ge

Adjara. Readers Club meetings are held at the Batumi Youth Center every week. The Center has already organized seven meetings at the American Corner in Batumi. The Readers Club aims at promoting reading and creating a free space for expressing an opinion. Any up to 25 years old youngster can become a member of the Club, club members gather every Monday and discuss a pre-read novel or short story. The activity is carried out within the framework of the "Promoting Integration, Tolerance and Awareness” [PITA] program, which is implemented by the United Nations Association of Georgia (UNAG) with the financial support of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Source: Batumi Youth Center

Samegrelo. An association "Atinati” is implementing a program called "Future generation”, in the framework of which and through the partnership with Lazika Capital, partner schools to the program (Kulishkari, Jikhashkari, Chakvinji and Grigolishi schools) have been provided with Colchis box tree seedlings. "The program called "Future generation” is implemented by an American organization PH International through the funding of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and with the support of the Ministry of Education and Science of Georgia. In Samegrelo region the program is implemented by the association "Atinati” – is stated on the website of the organization in a social network. Read more… Source: The website of the organization in a social network

Tbilisi. On 17 March, 2016 International Law Students Association Georgia (ILSA Georgia) held its first student scientific conference regarding ''The Contemporary Challenges in International Criminal and International Human Rights Law'' at Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University, Academic Building I, Room 115. ''Conference was organized by ILSA Georgia in cooperation with International Law Institute of Tbilisi State University, the Ministry of Justice of Georgia and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia. Winners and participants were awarded with English language Certificates and encouraging prizes from ILSA Georgia. Besides, winners were awarded with practical courses at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia and outstanding participants Omar Mtivlishvili, Ana Tabagari and Tamar Oniani were also awarded with free courses at LEPL Levan Mikeladze Diplomatic Training Center by Irine Bartaia, Director of the International Law Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia and Professor of TSU International Law Institute, . Furthermore, Buba Baghdavadze was named as winner of Best Speaker nomination by the Ministry of Justice of Georgia'', is noted in the statement. In full… Source: The web-page of the organization in a social network

Tbilisi. On March 14, 2017, the Public Defender of Georgia addressed the Government of Georgia with regard to the availability of safe and harmless water for minors, protection of sanitary and hygienic standards and creation of a monitoring mechanism. ''The situation of access to safe and harmless water in children’s institutions, communities and regions, as well as protection of sanitary and hygienic conditions do not comply with national and international standards and are contrary to the basic principles of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. The problem is especially acute in the mountainous regions and villages'', is noted in the statement. In full… Source: www.ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. The Public Defender delivered a speech at the 34th session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva on March 8, 2017, where the topic of discussion was the report of Maud de Boer-Buquicchio, UN Special Rapporteur on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography, about his visit to Georgia. ''In his speech, the Public Defender emphasized the steps taken by the Government of Georgia in terms of protection of child's rights and positively evaluated the legislative changes, though he noted that it is necessary to strengthen the enforcement mechanism of the existing regulations and to improve the capacities of the responsible agencies'', is noted in the statement. In full… Source: www.ombudsman.ge

Adjara. The Child Protection Referral Prcodeures, with the UNICEF support and financial assistance of the European Union, will be introduced to Adjara as well.   "The Child Protection Referral Procedures were aapproved on 12 September 2016 by the Order of the Government of Georgia, which holds the local self-governance bodies, along with the ministries and other state agencies, also responsible for the referral procedures on violence against children. In particular, the referral mechanism already applies to all state bodies, offices of resource officers, public and private educational institutions, medical and children’s specialized institutions, and municipalities", is noted in the statement. In full… Source: unicef.ge

Tbilisi. On 25-26 February, national rounds of Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court were held in the Supreme Court of Georgia. Students of Free University, Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University and Georgian Institute of Public Affairs participated in the competition. By the Public Defender's decision, Ana Jabauri, the best speaker from the Free University, was presented with a bookstore voucher, while two other best participants will have the opportunity to attend the training on International Protection of Refugee, which will be organized by the Human Rights Academy of the Public Defender on March 27-29, 2017”, is noted in the statement. In full… Source: www.ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. The nation-wide communication for social change campaign to address negative attitudes towards children with disabilities is being launched today and aims at catalysing social change through awareness raising, experience sharing and mutual understanding. The campaign is carried out by UNICEF with the support of the European Union and USAID with active engagement of children with disabilities and their parents.    In full…  Source: unicef.ge

Tbilisi. With the help of a new project "Anika” will introduce a personal assistant service for children with disabilities in Tbilisi, which considers provision of support to persons with disabilities and their families in different ways. "For this purpose "Anika” will elaborate an assistant service concept, adapted for Georgia, prepare respective specialists and deliver the service to a pilot group” – is stated on the website of the East-West Management Institute. In full… Source: ewmi-access.org

Tbilisi. UNICEF welcomes the establishment of the Interagency Council on the Implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child at the Administration of the Government of Georgia. ''The main objectives of the Council are: development of a comprehensive plan for the implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child that will be part of the Government’s Action Plan on the Protection of Human Rights; coordination and monitoring of implementation of Georgia’s international and national obligations in protecting child’s rights; ensuring compliance of the Georgian legislation with the Convention and other international standards; collection of relevant data and information and ensuring implementation of the concluding observations of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child'', is noted in the statement. In full… Source: unicef.ge

Tbilisi. Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center (EMC) presented to the State Constitutional Commission part of its opinions in regard to amendments to be made into the Constitution. ''The proposals mainly relate to strengthening independence of the judiciary system, as well as to developing and operating principles of the Prosecutor’s Office and law enforcement agencies'' – is stated on the website of the organization. In full... Source:emc.org.ge

Tbilisi. The children's hospice is a family-type facility, which will provide palliative care for children with chronic and incurable illnesses. ''The hospice will work in three basic directions: 24-hour service for simultaneously 10 children and their parents; daytime center, where children and their parents will stay from morning to evening to receive necessary services; home care service, which exists for already one year and which provides services to 26 children, will continue to operate'', is noted in the statement. In full… Source: www.osgf.ge  

Tbilisi. For the first time in Georgia, with the support of the ''Open Society Georgia Foundation'' a Children's Hospice is in the process of establishment, which will carry out palliative care. The purpose of the center is to provide help to children with terminal illness, to assist family members. The Children's Hospice will be open soon, become a Santa and support the hospice via donation. In full… Source: The website of the organization in a social network

Tbilisi. ''Young Barristers'' won a precedential case against the International Education Center. ''The center will not have a basis any longer to reject participation in the competition for International Master’s and Doctoral Degree Programs of those contestants, whose application refers to funding a partial academic occupancy (so-called part-time) programs'' – is noted in the statement of the organization. In full… Source:barristers.ge

Tbilisi. On December 9, 2016, Public Defender awarded the winners of the competition Me - Ombudsman 2016. ''Me-Ombudsman is a competition organized by the Public Defender for students aged 13-18. Ombudsman is a person who acts as an intermediary, representative and human rights defender between the citizens and the state. In some countries Ombudsman is called Public defender'', is noted in the statement. In full… Source: www.ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. The Public Defender of Georgia has started to check the quality of water at public schools of Georgia following the appeal of the Young Teachers’ Union and the Management System Development Center. ''According to the reply received from the National Food Agency, they examined 129 samples of public school water in 2015-2016, 45 out of which failed to meet the requirements of the Decree No 58 on the Drinking Water Technical Regulations adopted by the Government of Georgia on January 15, 2014, which is caused by ineffective disinfestation of water and refers to the epidemic unsafety'', is noted in the statement. In full… Source: www.ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. In Tbilisi the first children's hospice has been built. The hospice is a house where children with chronic illness will spend the rest of their life, and where it will be ensured that their pain is managed, spiritual and physical aspects are taken care of and family members are supported. A ''Children’s Hospice Friend'' competition has been announced to facilitate improvement of the children's hospice. Any interested individual or organization is encouraged to provide an assistance. In full… Source:The website of the organization in a social network