UNICEF welcomes the establishment of the Child Rights Council at the Parliament of Georgia
TBILISI. 19 February. 2010. UNICEF welcomes the initiative of the Parliament of Georgia to establish the Child Rights Council and congratulates Council members on its first meeting being held today. The main goal of the Child Rights’ council will be to monitor the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, including the recommendations of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child. The Council will also work out the legislative initiatives and policy recommendations on children in compliance with the Convention on the Rights of the Child and international standards. “UNICEF welcomes the initiative of the Human Rights and Civil Integration Committee of the Parliament of Georgia to create the Child Rights’ Council. This establishes an effective coordinating mechanism for monitoring child rights as per one of the major recommendations of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child”, said Roeland Monasch, UNICEF Representative in Georgia. “We appreciate the efforts of the Parliament in advancing the rights of children in Georgia and this initiative is an important step forward in this regard. UNICEF is ready to provide the support needed for the work of the Council. Together we can do a lot to enhance positive changes for children of Georgia”. Over the last years Georgia has made a significant progress in improving the welfare of children, as noted by the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child. The progress is particularly evident in reforming the child welfare system, development of alternative care services and juvenile justice system reform. Nevertheless, significant challenges remain, manifested in considerable rates of child poverty, violence against children and weak child protection mechanisms.
In its latest concluding observations the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child noted that there was no mechanism in Georgia responsible for coordination and evaluation of the implementation of the Convention in Georgia. The Committee recommended to allocate principal responsibility for the coordination and evaluation of implementation of the Convention to a single mechanism and to provide regular and adequate financial and human resources in order for it to comprehensively coordinate children’s rights. The establishment of the Child Rights Council at the Parliament of Georgia will be an important contribution towards enhancing coordination, bringing legislation in line with International standards and in particular, with the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
*** UNICEF is on the ground in 150 countries and territories to help children survive and thrive, from early childhood through adolescence. The world’s largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. ### For further information, please contact: Maya Kurtsikidze, Communication Officer, UNICEF Georgia
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