View of the capital of Georgia, Tbilisi. Georgia reported to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child Human rights
Today the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child completed its consideration of the periodic report of Georgia. Experts welcomed the adoption of the Code of Children’s Rights and raised questions about measures to combat sexual violence against children and child marriage.
One of the Committee’s experts said that the prevalence of sexual violence against children was alarming. He called on the Georgian government to strengthen child protection, as well as increase the number of social workers.
Another expert of the Committee asked how the State party is combating forced marriage and abduction of girls. , that in 2019 the Parliament of Georgia adopted the Code of Children’s Rights, according to which all forms of violence, including corporal punishment, are expressly prohibited. He said a national data collection and analysis plan had been developed and assessment of the impact of legislation and policies on children’s rights had become mandatory. The government spokesman added that the Code is monitored by the Parliamentary Standing Council for Children.
Speaking about measures to combat sexual violence against children, he noted that the Law on Combating Sexual Offenses has created a register of convicted persons. In addition, the government continuously conducts awareness-raising campaigns to prevent sexual violence. increased by 86 percent.
At the same time, the authorities are introducing various initiatives aimed at solving the problem of the shortage of social workers, and the wages of this category of civil servants have been doubled since 2020 .
Members of the Georgian delegation noted that the country is taking strict measures to prevent child marriage. Persons who facilitated the conclusion of such marriages are punished with imprisonment for a term of two to four years.
During the reporting period, the Ministry of Internal Affairs investigated about 700 cases related to child marriages and more 500 people were convicted. The government’s campaign to end child marriage has reached more than two million people. child. It also monitors compliance with the Optional Protocols to the Convention on the involvement of children in armed conflict and the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography.
The Committee will provide concluding observations on the report of Georgia following the its 96th session on May 24.