UN in Georgia: safety of children placed in care settings should be monitored by national institutions
The UN in Georgia recommends the creation of an appropriate mechanism to oversee the constitutionalization process in line with international standards to ensure that children’s well-being and rights are fully guaranteed. Photo: video grab.
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Safety, well-being, exercise of rights by and development of any child placed in care settings should be thoroughly monitored by national institutions, including by the Public Defender’s Office, reads the United Nations Country Team in Georgia responding to recent incidents in a Patriarchate’s boarding house in Ninotsminda.
????????The United Nations Country Team in Georgia condemns any form of violence and other abuses against #Children and calls for greater protection for children and #deinstitutionalization.
— UN in Georgia (@ungeorgia) June 11, 2021
Read the full statement: https://t.co/J7fCT0lqYi
Earlier in June Georgian Public Defender Nino Lomjaria stated that the country’s Prosecutor’s Office is investigating several cases of violence in the Patriarchate’s Ninotsminda boarding school where top clerics have not allowed inspectors to conduct mandatory monitoring.
- Interior Ministry: several minors from Patriarchate’s boarding school have already been interrogated
The UN in Georgia says that limiting a constitutional entity, such as the Public Defender’s Office, in implementing its mandate contradicts Georgia’s aspirations and obligations towards human rights and ensuring the rule of law.
We [UN in Georgia] note the judicial decision to remove children with disabilities from the Ninotsminda boarding school to their biological families, foster care or small group homes… Considering the best interest of a child, we urge all actors to respect the right of all children and their families to privacy at all stages of the constitutionalization process in line with Article 16 of the Convention”, reads the statement.
The UN in Georgia recommends the creation of an appropriate mechanism to oversee the constitutionalization process in line with international standards to ensure that children’s well-being and rights are fully guaranteed.
Another recommendation of the organisation is to create a case management team of social workers and health professionals, including psychologists and therapists, to support the development and implementation of individual case management plans so that children are fully supported throughout this process.