Legal Frameworks

Ratified International Conventions

NOTE: United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child = UNCRC

  • 1999 Convention of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Inter-country Adoption
  • 1997 Convention of 25 October 1980 on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction
  • 2005 Optional Protocol to the UNCRC on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution Child Pornography
  • 2010 Optional Protocol to the UNCRC on the Involvement of Children in armed conflict
  • 1994 Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC)
  • 2005 Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
  • 2002 Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women
  • 1994 Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women
  • 22.12.06 European Council Convention On Struggle Against the Human Trafficking
  • 2006 Convention of 5 October 1961 Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents
  • 11.04.06 Stockholm Convention On Steady Organic Pollutants
  • 11.04.06 Convention Abolishing the Request of Foreign Official Documents Legalization
  • 28.04.06 European Guide Convention On Trans-boundary Cooperation between Administrative Territorial Units & Governmental Bodies
  • 07.06.06 Convention On Struggle Against the Illegal Acts against Marine Navigation Safety
  • 07.06.06 Convention On Nuclear Material Physical Protection
  • 07.06.06 UN Convention Against the Transnational Organized Crime
  • 07.06.06 Protocol On Struggle Against the Illegal Conveyance of Migrants by Land, Navy and Air Means of Transport of the UN Convention On Struggle Against the Transnational Organized Crime
  • 07.06.06 Preventing, Avoiding the Punishing the Human, particularly Women and Children Trafficking of the UN Convention On Struggle Against the Transnational Organized Crime
  • 01.12.06 Rotterdam Convention 1998 On Pre-authentic Confirmation Procedure in the Sphere of Separate Hazardous Chemical Materials and Pesticides International Trade
  • 07.12.06 Geneva Additional Protocol 1949, August 12 On Additional Discriminate Emblem Acceptance (Protocol III)
  • 14.12.06 “Crime Corruption Convention”
  • 22.12.06 Convention On Cooperation in Joint Scientific Project Competition of South Caucasus -INTAS-, 2006 between the Government of Georgia and INTAS
  • 28.02.07 Convention On Privileges and Immunity of the Specialized Agencies
  • 11.03.08 Convention On International Exhibitions
  • 26.06.09 Protocol On Human Rights and Freedom Basic Protection Convention
  • 09.11.10 European Convention on Consular Functions
  • 09.11.10 Protocol to the European Convention "On Consular Functions concerning the Protection of Refugees”
  • 07.12.10 Convention of the Council of Europe on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters
  • 1995 Convention on the non-applicability of statutory limitations to war crimes and crimes against humanity
  • 1999 International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination

Regional Mechanisms

As per consultation with UNICEF, Georgia is not a signatory to any regional child-related / focused treaties or conventions.

National Laws for Children

National strategies and policies for implementation of child rights and child protection

  • National Plan of Action for Children 2008-2011
  • 2011-2012 National Plan of Closing Large State Institutions
  • National Strategy of Juvenile Justice
  • Consolidated Education Strategy and Action Plan
  • Education Strategy 2007-2011

Budget for implementation of UNCRC

There is no separate budget for UNCRC implementation; different State agencies and ministries implement programs and projects that UNCRC-based so the allocated budget is distributed among agencies/departments. In general child-focused budgets are those of the Ministry of Education and Science (special and inclusive education, for example) and by Ministry of Labour, Health and Social Affairs (services for children in care for a reason, such as abandonment or disability). The 2011 State budget for family and child protection programs is $144,633,000.

Independent Institution for Children (ombudsperson)

The Centre of Children’s Rights of the Public Defender of Georgia was established in 2001. The Centre’s activities are based on the principles of the UN Convention on Children’s Rights and are guided by the Georgian Constitution as well as relevant International conventions and treaties, the Organic Law of Georgia “Concerning the Public Defender”, “Regulation of the Public Defender’s Office of Georgia”, “Regulations of the Centre of Children’s Rights of the Public Defender of Georgia” and existing legislation of Georgia. The mission of the Centre is protecting children’s rights, encouraging changes in laws and procedural issues for children’s benefit, facilitating implementation of children’s universally recognized rights and freedoms, and also of educational activities to inform the general population about children’s basic rights and freedoms.

The Centre monitors child care organizations, examines/investigates specific rights’ violation cases and responds to them, develops recommendations for legislative and administrative authorities.
The Centre is obliged to examine applications and claims when an applicant disputes the decision of an administrative authority entered into legal force, or when an application/claim concerns the violation of a child’s rights and freedoms. In the case of revelation of the fact of violation of the child’s rights in the application, the issue will be studied by the Centre of Children’s Rights.

Service is free. Applications are received by the Department of Citizen’s Applications and Receipt of the Public Defender’s Office of Georgia.

Last updated 5 September 2011 - 2:14pm