On December 20, at 13:00, official meeting summarizing the 2 years achievements of Agency for the State Care and Assistance for the (Statutory) Victims of Human Trafficking was held in Hotel Ramada By Wyndham Old City. The meeting was organized with support of EU delegation in Georgia.

Tamila Barkalaia, Deputy Minister of Internally Displaced Persons from the Occupied Territories, Labour, Health and Social Affairs of Georgia opened the meeting with a welcome speech.

Meri Maglaperidze, Director of Agency for State Care and Assistance for the (Statutory) Victims of Human Trafficking  made a presentation about the activities carried out in the agency over the past 2 years, the results achieved and future plans. The summary report mainly focused on the deinstitutionalization process, social work, the 24-hour response mechanism, as well as announced about the opening of an integrated service (Barnahus) for child victims of sexual abuse in Georgia.

Maia Mgeliashvili, Head of the World Vision Georgia Child Protection and External Engagement  Department, presented the achievements of the project “Reinforcing the Child Welfare and Protection in Georgia”. In addition, the main focus was on the existing challenges in the child protection field and the results achieved. Within the framework of the project, World Vision Georgia with partner organizations carried out various activities to strengthen the Child Welfare System - supported the implementation of the code on the Rights of Child in Georgia, established child protection departments in local municipalities; developed various training modules; trained 316 foster parents, provided training to 130 municipal social workers and 250 social workers from state care agency.

"The project aims to address the need and challenges related to the child welfare system. Through EU-funded project “Strengthening Child Protection and Welfare System in Georgia”, World Vision Georgia aims to conduct systemic reforms, such as replacing large size childcare institutions with an alternative care services, increasing the number of social workers, developing relevant training modules for enhancing their qualifications. World Vision Georgia will provide continues support to State Care Agency and other partner organizations to implement child welfare initiatives in Georgia," - - said Maia Mgeliashvili, Child Protection and External Engagement Unit Lead of World Vision Georgia. 

The event was organized within the EU-funded project “ Reinforcing the Child Welfare and Protection in Georgia” which has been implemented by World Vision Georgia since 2019 and aims to support the Government of Georgia in developing a child welfare system and alternative child care services.

Deputy Ministers, representatives of governmental and non-governmental organizations, donor and partner organizations, members of the diplomatic corps, media representatives, and other honorary guests.