The Ministry of Internal Affairs, along with United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) held a working meeting with media representatives within the framework of the campaign directed against child marriage - "Do Not Deprive Childhood" on the issue of media coverage of child-related topics.
The meeting was opened with a speech, delivered by the Director of the Strategic Communications Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs - Keti Kovziashvili and the gender analyst of the United Nations Population Fund - Mariam Bandzeladze.
Participants of the meeting were also addressed by the representatives of Human Rights Protection and Quality Investigation Monitoring Department and Public Safety Command Center “112”, who reviewed the Agency's policies on the issues of child marriage and the legal mechanisms for fighting the mentioned category of crimes. Herewith, the audience was informed on the steps taken by the Ministry and the activities implemented within the framework of the campaign, as well as on the introduction of "112" application and the procedure, related to the use of electronic surveillance tool.
Director of the Agency for State Care and Assistance for the (Statutory)Victims of Human Trafficking – Meri Maghlaperidze also informed journalists on the implemented activities and services available in the state.
The meeting was attended by more than 20 representatives of various media outlets, as well as employees of all relevant units of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, working and responding to juvenile-related issues.
The participants of the meeting, together with the invited expert, discussed such important issues as: ethical coverage of child-related issues in order to protect the best interests of under-aged individuals, victim-oriented communication standards, the role of media in the fight against gender-based crimes.
The two-day working meeting was held under the initiative of Strategic Communications Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, with the involvement of the Ministry of Internally Displaced Persons from the Occupied Territories, Labour, Health and Social Affairs, in partnership with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), within the framework of the UN joint program - "For Gender Equality", with the financial support of Sweden.
It has been 4 years since UNFPA, together with the Ministry of Internal Affairs has launched a campaign related to child marriage, the main goal of which is to eliminate crimes against juveniles, raise public awareness and ensure timely reporting of this category of crimes to law enforcement officers.
