New children’s rights code comes into force

The code was adopted in its third and final reading on September 20, 2019. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge.

Agenda.ge, 01 Sep 2020 - 14:13, Tbilisi,Georgia

A new code of children’s rights has come into force today on September 1 to protect, develop and improve the life of children in Georgia.

The code was adopted in its third and final reading on September 20, 2019.  

What is really important about this code is that it puts the best interest of children, of Georgia’s children first, and it does that in the framework of the UN Convention on Children and it does that in the framework of families, and the importance of families in any society, especially here in Georgia. So, I am very pleased to be here as part of this initiative. Thank you,” said US Ambassador Kelly Degnan.

Since September 2019, structural child care and protection units have been established in 64 municipalities and about 200 social workers and 64 code coordinators have been retrained for the municipalities.

Meanwhile, judges, lawyers and legal aid officers as well as about 400 public servants have been retrained.

Moreover, a child aid call center, reachable at the number 111, has been developed.  

Three years ago, we launched the reform to play a crucial role in the protection and development of every child, as well as to improve of democracy and society,” said the Chair of the Human Rights and Civil Integration Committee, Sofo Kiladze.

I congratulate Georgia on the adoption of the code and hope that it will significantly improve the life of the children in the country”, UNICEF Georgia Representative Ghassan Khalil said.