Batumi Shota Rustaveli State University (BSU) hosted representatives of Children’s Rights Centres from universities across Georgia. The two-day meeting was held at the Batumi State University Child Rights Centre and focused on defining a vision for the sustainable development of the centres, identifying priority areas and strategic directions, assessing strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and potential challenges, and developing tailored action plans for each centre.

The participants were welcomed by Jesper Møller, UNICEF Representative in Georgia; Professor Anzor Beridze, Vice Rector of Batumi State University; and Professor Lela Turmanidze, Dean of the Faculty of Exact Sciences and Education. They expressed their support for the initiative and wished the participants a productive and successful working meeting.

The meeting was facilitated by Natia Jokhadze, Education Specialist at UNICEF Georgia.

During the working sessions, Teona Kuchava, Child Protection Specialist at UNICEF Georgia, delivered a presentation on the requirements of the Code on the Rights of the Child of Georgia and the challenges currently existing in the field of children’s rights protection. Representatives of Children’s Rights Centres from different universities presented the results of their work, exchanged professional experiences, and identified priority areas for future cooperation.

The second day of the meeting was dedicated to developing strategic and operational plans for Children’s Rights Centres and establishing the Academic Network for Children’s Rights.

The meeting was organized with the support of the Embassy of France and aimed to promote the further development and strengthening of Children’s Rights Centres in Georgia.

With the support of UNICEF, Children’s Rights Centres have been established at seven public universities and several private higher education institutions across Georgia.