Code on the rights of the child drafted
By Gvantsa Gabekhadze
Wednesday, February 6
The draft Code on the Rights of the Child has been drafted by Georgian legislators with the technical support of UNICEF as the existing laws were unable to completely protect the children’s rights.
The Code was developed by the Human Rights and Civil Integration Committee of the Parliament with the support of UNICEF Georgia.
UNICEF says that code is a special law which introduces legal grounds, safeguards and guarantees the realization of rights and freedoms for children.
“It will guide all state agencies, local governments, other administrative bodies, the Common Courts, public and private organizations and individuals when working with, and making decisions about children,” UNICEF says.
“The Child’s Code will ensure wellbeing and protection of children in Georgia. Through the Code we strengthen families, but also consider State responsibilities to protect a child when their own family fails to provide adequate care. We are creating a system that supports children to be happy in all settings. We have been working on this reform for the last two years,” said the Chairperson of the Human Rights and Civil Integration Committee Sophie Kiladze.
She thanked the UNICEF mission head to Georgia Ghassan Khalil “for special support.”
“The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child encouraged Georgia to adopt a law on the rights of the child”, said Khalil.
“In 2017 UNICEF conducted a comprehensive analysis of the national legislation concerning children’s rights, which recommended the amendment of more than 30 laws and the development of a separate law on the rights of the child. We commend the efforts of the Human Rights and Civil Integration Committee and appreciate the leadership of its Chairperson, Ms. Sophie Kiladze, in this process. We continue to support the parliament in finalizing and raising awareness of the draft Code with the ultimate goal of its adoption” he said.
UNICEF says that draft Code on the Rights of the Child:
Covers all rights and freedoms of the child and provides stronger mechanisms for their protection and realization. This includes a special focus on rights to family, protection from all forms of violence, access to inclusive education and healthcare, social protection, and access to justice.
Addresses equity gaps in the realization of all rights and freedoms of the child through an enhanced system for child rights support and protection which considers the needs and individual circumstances of the child and their family.
Introduces stronger mechanisms for state accountability for the realization of the rights and freedoms of the child by introducing a child rights impact assessment tool, interagency coordination, multidisciplinary cooperation, data collection and analysis for the development of evidence-based policy, and specialization of professionals working with and for children.
After obtaining feedback from government agencies and civil society organizations, the draft Code on the Rights of the Child will be finalized and introduced to the Parliament for further consideration and adoption. It is expected that the code is adopted by Georgian Parliament in spring 2019.
