UN Child Welfare Survey highlights Georgia’s “substantive progress” in reducing child poverty - Deputy Health Minister

Georgian Deputy Health Minister Tamar Barkalaia on Thursday said a recent survey on Child Welfare, conducted by the National Statistics Office of Georgia with the support of UNICEF, highlighted the country’s “substantive progress” in reducing child poverty.

According to the survey, the Georgian Government has “substantially increased” the scope of child benefit programmes and financial support, which has a “positive impact” on the socio-economic situation of vulnerable groups of children, Barkalaia noted. 

In 2022, the financial assistance for socially vulnerable children increased by 50 ₾ [about $20] and amounted to 150 ₾ [about $60], and from July 1 about 232,000 children will receive the increased assistance amounting to 200 ₾ [about $80]. The social support for children with disabilities increased up to 275 ₾ [about $109] in 2022, and from 2023 the financial assistance will amount to 340 ₾ [about $135], the Health Ministry said.

• UNICEF welcomes Georgian Gov’t initiative to further increase benefits for socially vulnerable children

The Deputy Minister noted that after the pandemic child poverty increased in the world and the poverty rate was decreasing in Georgia owing to the Government’s policy. “Child wellbeing is one of the priorities of the state and the changes implemented over recent years aim to increase their welfare and improve the socio-economic situation”.

The survey, presented earlier today, was conducted in July-September 2022 for collecting data on child welfare in Georgia, including children’s access to healthcare, education and social assistance, adequate nutrition, etc.

It reported that absolute child poverty had decreased from 29.9 percent to 22.7 percent from 2013 to 2021, but noted that “multiple challenges” remained. “This decrease is partially attributable to significant increases in the level and the coverage of child benefits”. 

The Government has pursued a fundamental reform of the state care system, resulting in deinstitutionalisation of thousands of children and development of contemporary forms of alternative care”, the survey said, indicating that “since 2013, every child in Georgia is entitled to public health insurance”.

The Government’s “stronger reactions” to reported cases of domestic violence against children and women were also emphasised in the survey.