UNICEF and the Embassy of France launched a partnership initiative aimed at advancing child rights across Georgia. The program – Strengthening Child Rights in Georgia – is designed to build the capacity of specialists in child rights, support professionals in delivering quality services for children, and strengthening Child Rights Centers at state universities as key institutions for knowledge creation, dissemination, training and child rights-related activities.
The program will cover three interrelated directions to support the implementation of the Code on the Rights of the Child, deepen understanding of the rights of children and expand engagement for upholding these rights. Its key objectives include:
Strengthening Child Rights Centers
Enhancing the capabilities of Child Rights Centers at universities in the regions in building and disseminating knowledge on children’s rights among professionals, educators, lawyers, academia, local governments, civil society representatives, parents, youth, and children. The initiative will also focus on empowering young people to lead work at the Child Rights Centers
Developing a new Masters (MA) program on child rights
Supporting the development of a new MA program at partner universities to prepare professionals addressing diverse challenges faced by children. A dedicated inter-disciplinary MA program on child rights will provide in-depth knowledge and understanding of the specific legal, social, educational, psychological and policy issues concerning child rights.
Developing the concept of specialized child judge
The project will initiate a dialogue with the relevant stakeholders and elaborate a concept of a specialized child judge in close collaboration with the Supreme Court of Georgia and relevant partners. This will further strengthen the justice agenda for children and support implementation of the Juvenile Justice Code and the Code on the Rights of the Child.
To achieve the above results, UNICEF, in collaboration with the Embassy of France in Georgia, will work with a range of partners including the Parliament of Georgia, Supreme Court of Georgia, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Internal Affairs, General Prosecutor’s Office, Legal Aid Service, Ministry of Education and Science, National Center for Educational Quality Enhancement, High Council of Justice, High School of Justice, selected universities, bar associations, youth boards and organizations, civil society organizations, schools, and other relevant ministries and agencies.
The project will leverage the expertise and experience of specialists from France through diverse interventions, including workshops, training sessions, and practice-sharing sessions.
Advancing child rights is a priority of France which has been a long-standing partner of UNICEF all across the globe.
UNICEF has been active in strengthening the child rights culture in the country, as well as in creating and disseminating knowledge on child rights locally and nationally amongst the government, professionals, parents, youth, and children themselves. The Code on the Rights of the Child of Georgia further emphasized the role of the government in the realization of child rights, outlining the need for specialization of professionals in child rights to support the delivery of child-friendly services.
UNICEF supported the establishment of Child Rights Centers in a number of State and private universities. The Centers aim at promoting child rights and strive to become sustainable platforms for child rights teaching and promotion.
About UNICEF
UNICEF promotes the rights and wellbeing of every child, in everything it does. Together with its partners, it works in 190 countries and territories to translate that commitment into practical action, focusing special effort on reaching the most vulnerable and excluded children, to the benefit of all children, everywhere.
For more information about UNICEF and its work for children, visit www.unicef.org/georgia/
