Tbilisi. On March 19, 2021, Public Defender of Georgia Nino Lomjaria participated in the 5th Conference on the World Down Syndrome Day. This year's message for World Down Syndrome Day is "Connect", which responds to the pandemic situation in the world. “The online conference was dedicated to the importance of promoting the development of children with Down syndrome aged between 7 and 18 years. In Georgia, this age group still does not have adequate support in the form of public services. Current programmes are scarce, outdated and unable to meet modern challenges and individual development needs of such children”. Read more… Source: ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. HumanDoc Foundation, in collaboration with partner organizations: “Kartlosi” – Bridge of Friendship, Association “Merkuri” and Cultural-Humanitarian Fund “Sukhumi”, has released a publication: “Guide for teachers on violence against children”. An electronic version of the publication is available here... Read more… Source: The website of the organization in a social network

Georgian Women’s Movement launches a lengthy campaign on the case of a 14-year-old dead girl #NinisGamo (DueToNini) Read more…

Tbilisi. Civil society organizations express their concern regarding a hardest case of suicide of a 14-year-old girl in Kobuleti Municipality and call on state agencies to investigate the incident in a timely manner. “Within the framework of the investigation, there should be examined responsibilities of all possible bodies/officials that had an obligation to support the victim as well as to carry out an investigation in the crime committed against her.  This case demonstrates hardest social practices of violence against women as well as signs of criminal indifference and inefficiency of police and social institutions. Despite numerous tragic cases of juvenile suicide, the state has not shown its willingness to make radical changes in existing policies, it pays insufficient attention to development and implementation of a suicide prevention strategy in general. The system remains extremely indifferent in terms of elaboration of an adolescent care policy as well as social and psychological support mechanisms”, - is noted in the joint statement. Read more… Source: gyla.ge

Tbilisi. The Public Defender’s Office has launched an inquiry into a video showing an alleged offence. In particular, the video showing the engagement of a minor girl was spread via social networks on February 8, 2021. “Unfortunately, early and child marriages, as well as vicious engagement practices, are still common in Georgia. The cases examined by the Public Defender of Georgia show that the marriages are mostly forced and the result of illegal deprivation of liberty or an agreement between parents. The steps taken by the State, including in terms of prevention, fail to adequately respond to the challenges facing the country in this direction”. Read more… Source: ombudsman.ge

Imereti. Local Democracy Agency (LDA) is happy to announce a start of series of practical trainings "Capacity building workshops for youth from small towns and rural areas on the development of business ideas" in #AZ, #UA, #GE. Online trainings will help you to find yourself in a business world. Experts from PL, IT, FR will prepare interesting topics. Youth could work in smaller groups to better understand in be involved. The deadline for registration is February 15, 2021.  Follow the registration link... Read more… Source: The organization’s page on the social network

Imereti. Due to the information of USAID Georgia Nino Gudadze, Mariam Eziashvili, and Nato Parkosadze are in their second year of high school in the village of Koreli in Imereti. They are also active participants in the school civics club supported by “Momavlis Taoba” (“Future Generation”), a nationwide civics education program funded by USAID. In addition to learning about civics in the classroom, they carry out their own civic activities in the community, including helping their neighbors get through the COVID-19 pandemic. When the pandemic hit their village, Nino, Mariam, and Nato realized that many residents of the village could not afford to buy face masks and were not able to protect themselves. They decided to take the matter into their own hands and help vulnerable families. They brought the issue to the local self-governing body, asked for information about how to help the vulnerable families in the village, and managed to obtain the necessary amount of face masks to distribute to local residents. The students provided 11 families with a total of 250 face masks. They also carry out informative meetings for the village youths about dealing with Covid 19 pandemic. Read more… Source: The organization’s page on the social network

Imereti. EDEC in cooperation with UNDP, invites young people from Imereti, Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti, and Shida Kartli regions to participate in the project "Protecting IDP Rights during the COVID-19 Crisis in Georgia". „The project aims to support IDPs and conflict-affected youth to get involved in solving the challenges and problems created in their communities as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic“. Read more… Source: The organization’s page in the social network

Tbilisi. The Public Defender of Georgia is responding to the decision made by the Interagency Coordination Council on January 22, 2021, on the re-opening of kindergartens and the resumption of remote education in Tbilisi, Kutaisi, and Rustavi from March 1.  The Public Defender believes that the long-term prolongation of remote education should be the last resort, which should not hamper the effective exercise of the right to education. In addition, it is important that the infrastructure, access to water, and sanitation provide the necessary conditions for the prevention of the virus in schools where the learning process is ongoing or is planned to be resumed.  Read more…   Source: The web-page of the organization

Tbilisi. On December 10, 2020, Ekaterine Skhiladze, Deputy Public Defender of Georgia, took part in the opening of the "Start to Talk" campaign against sexual harassment and abuse of children in sports.  “In her speech, the Deputy Public Defender spoke about the challenges in the field of child abuse in Georgia, including the prevention and detection of sexual harassment, protection of and assistance to victims of sexual violence. She stressed the importance of similar campaigns for breaking taboos, sharing experiences and knowledge, changing attitudes and timely and effectively responding to abuse of children in sports”. Read more… Source: ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. On December 11-21, 2020, within USAID and UNAG’s #PITA Program, we are starting a Training for Trainers for a new cohort of the Mobile Task Force: Youth for Building Resilience - Promoting Media Literacy and Critical Thinking.  Read more… Source: The organization’s page in the social network

Tbilisi. The Children's hotline - 111, that was founded by UNICEF and the Government of Georgia, is strengthened further and from now hotline operators will support the children with disabilities and their parents on any problematic issues related to the COVID-19. Every case will be examined by the central online clinic of the Ministry of Internally Displaced Persons from the Occupied Territories, Labour, Health and Social Affairs. Read more… Source: The organization’s page in the social network

Adjara. Today, the President of the Georgia Red Cross Society, Natia Loladze, visited Medical Association “Tana” to distribute clothes and sweets with Adjara’s First Minister of Healthcare, Ramaz Jincharadze. “The Batumi branch of the Georgia Red Cross Society is actively involved in different charity events. We were able to give presents to the children with the support of Ltd “LC Waikiki”. We will continue to support the members of the association in the future”- Natia Loladze. Read more… Source: The organization’s page in the social network

Tbilisi. Pandemic-related restrictions and increased unemployment brought new challenges to vulnerable children and their families. To support the protection and realization of children’s rights in Georgia the EU and UNICEF launched a new three-year project. This joint initiative will ensure a safe and caring family environment for every child in Georgia and better access to child-friendly justice. Learn more here... Find out more about the Human Rights campaign here... Source: The EU’s page in the social network

Adjara. One of the largest cities of Georgia – Batumi - has pledged to join 3000 cities and local communities in over 40 countries in the Child Friendly City Initiative (CFCI), supported by UNICEF. “The Child Friendly Cities Initiative (CFCI) is a UNICEF-led initiative that supports municipal governments in realizing the rights of children at the local level, using the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child as its foundation. It is also a network which brings together government and other partners, such as civil society organizations, the private sector, academia, media and, importantly, children themselves who wish to make their cities and communities more child-friendly”. Read more… Source: www.unicef.org

Samegrelo. UNICEF Representative in Georgia, Dr. Ghassan Khalil visited Shota Meskhia State Teaching University of Zugdidi. “One year ago UNICEF and the university established the partnership to incorporate child rights into curricula. Today the results of this partnership and future plans were discussed at the meeting. We are glad that the Child Rights course is integrated into the University curricula.” Read more… Source: The organization’s page in the social network

Tbilisi. New UNICEF-ITU report says 15 per cent of Georgia’s school-age children have no internet access at home. “Around 661,500 children are still affected by COVID-19 school closures in Georgia, forcing students to rely on virtual learning. For those with no internet access, education can be out of reach. Even before the pandemic, a growing cohort of young people needed to learn foundational, transferable, digital, job-specific and entrepreneurial skills to compete in the 21st century economy. The digital divide is perpetuating inequalities that already divide countries and communities, the report notes. Children and young people from the poorest households, rural and lower income states are falling even further behind their peers and are left with very little opportunity to ever catch up”, is noted in the statement. Read more…  Source: www.unicef.org

Kakheti. To better understand these challenges and the needs of local children and youth and solve some of those challenges, UNICEF had several visits there and this is just a beginning of our continued involvement in Pankisi. Promotion of child rights’ education and community discussions in the region will be one of the directions that the organization is planning to develop. Read more… Source: www.unicef.org

Samtskhe-Javakheti. UNICEF organized another field visit to Akhalkalaki. The working meeting was held with the participation of Axalkalaki Local Action Group and Georgian Institute of Public Affairs about the child rights and child labour issues. Representatives from UNICEF visited a day centre for children with disabilities, that we support in the implementation of art therapy and other rehabilitation programmes.  A meeting was held between the representatives of UNICEF and local government. The main topics of the meeting were the situation of children in the region in terms of education, healthcare and social protection. Read more… Source: The organization’s page in the social network

Tbilisi. “Bloggers from Zemo Racha” is one of the volunteer initiatives that won the "Ideas Competition for Voluntary Initiatives" announced by the Center for Education Development and Employment (EDEC) in the frameworks of the program “Georgian Civil Society Sustainability Initiative”. Within the initiative, the initiative group from Upper Racha invites young people from Oni municipality aged 15-18 to take part in a program “Bloggers from Upper Racha”. The program aims to assist vulnerable groups, promote their integration into society, support formal and non-formal education, address local community issues, and promote volunteering”. The program “Georgian Civil Society Sustainability Initiative” was developed and is implemented by the consortium lead by the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung in cooperation with four Georgian Civil Society Organizations: Civil Society Institute (CSI), Center for Training and Consultancy (CTC), Center for Strategic Research and Development of Georgia (CSRDG) and Education Development and Employment Center (EDEC). The project is funded by the European Union and co-funded by the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung. Read more… Source: The organization’s page in the social network

Tbilisi. On September 23, 2020, Ghasan Khalili, Representative of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) in Georgia, met with Madona Basiladze and Tamta Chechelashvili at the Western Georgia Division of the Public Defender's Office. "The situation of children's rights in the regions of western Georgia and the role of the Public Defender in the context of the pandemic (COVID-19) were discussed at the meeting. Particular emphasis was placed on the child’s right to education and the challenges relating to remote learning. The growing number of cases of domestic violence against children, child poverty, difficult social conditions of families and the situation in these areas in the regions of Georgia were other topics of discussion". Read more... Source: ombudsman.ge

Imereti. The importance of civic engagement, Civil Society Organizations, International volunteering platform "Time Bank" – That’s issues Local Democracy Agency Georgia talked to youth in Baghdati municipality. The information meeting, which is implemented within the project, "Civil Society Development Initiative", was held at the youth center of the village Rokhi.  The project „Georgian Civil Society Sustainability Initiative” is implemented by the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS) in cooperation with the Civil Society Institute (CSI), the Consultation and Training Center (CTC), the Center for Strategic Research and Development of Georgia (CSRDG), and the Education Development and Employment Center (EDEC). The project is funded by the European Union (EU) and co-funded by the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS).  Read more…  Source: The web-page of the organization