In order to raise the awareness of religious leaders, today in Borjomi, at Hotel "Borjomi Likani", the State Agency for Religious Issues and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), have launched a seminar on "The Role of Clergy in the Protection of the Rights of the Child”, Which aims to increase the role and importance of religious leaders in the protection of children's rights.

The representatives of religious organizations in Georgia are attending the seminar. The main topics are: the “UN Convention on the Rights of the Child”, the “Georgian Code of the Rights of the Child”, the rights of the child in different religions, and the role of religious leaders in protecting and promoting them.

The seminar was opened by the Chairman of the State Agency for Religious Issues, Zaza Vashakmadze, and the UNICEF Representative in Georgia, Dr. Ghassan Khalili, who stressed the importance of joint cooperation between the Agency and the UNICEF in the protection of children's rights in Georgia.

The topics of discussion of the first meeting of the seminar are: UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (and UNICEF Representative in Georgia, Dr. Ghassan Khalili, UNICEF Child Protection Specialist, Teona Kuchava); Stages of child development, the impact of violence on child development; Establishing a healthy lifestyle in young people to prevent depression, anger/anxiety and suicide; Prevention of gambling among young people (psychologist Ketevan Tavartkiladze, UNICEF Child Protection Specialist Nona Tsikhelashvili).

The role, importance and opportunities of religious leaders in the promotion of the rights of the child, the welfare and development of the child have been on the agenda since the adoption of the Code of the Rights of the Child by the Parliament of Georgia. The  Agency has acted as a mediator between religious organizations and the United Nations Children's Fund, which, in turn, promotes maximum protection of children's rights in Georgia.

In 2019, the State Agency for Religious Issues and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) in Georgia signed a Memorandum of Cooperation. Representatives of two religious organizations, the Georgian Patriarchate and the Administration of Muslims of all Georgia, met and conducted a seminar with UNICEF. The State Agency for Religious Issues and the United Nations Children's Fund also organized a special conference dedicated to the 30th anniversary of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. The main topics were the ”UN Convention on the Rights of the Child”, the “Georgian Code of the Rights of the Child”, the rights of the child in different religions, and the role of religious leaders in protecting and promoting them.

The seminar of the State Agency for Religious Issues and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) will continue tomorrow.