Traditionally, on June 1, on "International Children's Day" the Ministry of Internal Affairs launched information campaign - "Do Not Deprive Childhood".
At the opening event held in the Telavi Historical Museum the guests were addressed by the Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs - Aleksandre Darakhvelidze, Advisor to the Prime Minister on Human Rights Protection - Niko Tatulashvili, Member of Parliament and Chairman of the Parliamentary Council for the Protection of Children's Rights - Baia Kvitsian, First Deputy Minister of Education and Science - Tamar Makharashvili, the deputy Minister of IDPs from the occupied territories, Labor, Health and Social Protection- Irine Tsakadze, Deputy Minister of Regional Development and Infrastructure - Mzia Giorgobiani.
Students, teachers and principals of Telavi public schools attended opening event of the campaign along with representatives of various agencies. The representatives of Human Rights Protection Department under the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Public Safety Command Center "112" provided the public with information on measures implemented to effectively fight against early child marriage, statistical data on child marriage, and activities planned within the frames of campaign. The guests were also informed about the different methods of contacting police, including112 mobile application, Silent Alarm (SOS) function, SMS and video call services.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs has been conducting “Do Not Deprive Childhood” campaign for the fifth year, and its main goals include prevention of crimes related to early marriage, raising public awareness and providing timely notification to law enforcement officers about such category of crimes.
At the opening event, a video summarizing the activities carried out over the past 5 years and a series of "police files" prepared on real cases of forced marriage were shown.
The information campaign will last for one month and include a number of events, as well as meetings with different target groups in the regions of Georgia. The mentioned meetings will be held by the employees of Human Rights Protection Department and local police units. Within the framework of the meetings, children will be given branded material made with the support of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). As part of the campaign, an essay contest will also be held.
