Participants of the 2024 meeting of the Network of Children’s Rights Centres of Georgian Universities, together with child rights advocates, signed the Declaration on the Establishment of the Academic Network for Children’s Rights.
The newly established academic network aims to create a supportive environment for academic inquiry, research, and advocacy focused on strengthening the realization of children’s rights. Members will use the network as a platform for exchanging ideas, practices, perspectives, experiences, and resources in the fields of children’s rights promotion and protection.

A debate dedicated to International Children’s Day was held at the Child Rights Centre of the Faculty of Exact Sciences and Education at Batumi Shota Rustaveli State University. The debate focused on the topic “What Do We Know About Children’s Rights?”
The event aimed to increase awareness of the Children’s Rights Centre and encourage the active involvement of students and school pupils in developing the Centre’s future vision and activities. The debate brought together Batumi State University academic staff, students, teachers, and pupils from Batumi Public Schools No. 3, No. 6, and No. 15, as well as students and teachers from the private school “UG School.”

A closing event of the UNICEF-funded grant project “Strengthening University Capacity to Support Inclusive Preschool and General Education” was held at Batumi Shota Rustaveli State University.
The project results were presented and summarized by the project coordinator, Professor Lela Turmanidze, Dean of the Faculty of Exact Sciences and Education, together with Associate Professors Nana Mamuladze and Nato Sherozia. Professor Lela Tavdgiridze and Lali Japaridze presented the activities, implemented projects, and future development plans of the Children’s Rights Knowledge Centres at Batumi State University and Makhinjauri Public School.

A meeting with representatives of UNICEF was held at the Child Rights Centre of Batumi Shota Rustaveli State University.
During the visit, Ghassan Khalil, UNICEF Representative in Georgia, and Professor Merab Khalvashi, Rector of BSU, reviewed the Centre`s achievements since its establishment and discussed its strategic priorities and future development. The programme also included a discussion on the Centre`s long-term sustainability and institutional development.

In 2022, within the framework of a UNICEF-funded grant project implemented at the Child Rights Centre of Batumi Shota Rustaveli State University, a research study entitled “Assessment of Young People’s Access to Quality Mental Health Services” was conducted. The aim of the research was to examine the mental health conditions and needs of young people aged 18–24 in order to identify the challenges they face and determine appropriate support mechanisms.