On February 11, 2013, Ucha Nanuashvili, the Ombudsman of Georgia, Giorgi Margvelashvili, Minister of Education and Science of Georgia and Mr. Philip Dimitrov, Ambassador of the European Union to Georgia awarded the winners of the competition “Me-Ombudsman 2012”.

The competition was organized in cooperation with the Ministry of Education and Science and financed by the EU project “Support to the Public Defender’s Office”

Brothers, Tornike and Tato Gurgenidze, pupils of the Secular School “Opiza”, are the first prize winners of “Me Ombudsman 2012”; second prize winners are Mary Djulakidze (Tbilisi #178 Public School) and Nino Shonia, the Secular School “Opiza”. The third prize is awarded to Ketevan Zukakishvili (#21 Tbilisi Public School) and Mariam Nanobashvili (Sighnaghi district, Anaga Public School).

“Me-Ombudsman” is a competition organized by the Public Defender’s Office for school children at the age of 13-18. The Ombudsman is a person who acts as a mediator, representative and human rights’ defender between citizens and the state. In some countries (for example: Georgia, Spain, etc) the Ombudsman is referred to as the Public Defender. The Office of the Public Defender is a constitutional institution that supervises protection of human rights and freedoms on the whole territory of the country, reveals human rights violation facts and helps to restore such rights. The word “Ombudsman” is an old Norwegian expression, it derives from the word "umbuðsmann" and means “representative”.

For years, International Organizations have been striving to set international standards to help the nations to realize the basic rights and responsibilities that influence their everyday lives. Despite numerous efforts, violation of human rights still is a global issue. High culture of human rights protection, along with the other mechanisms, is the main prerequisite of a full-pledged democratic state.

The event organized by us is an integral part of promoting this culture. In order to achieve the overarching goal, first of all, there is a need to increase awareness in the sphere of human rights as this will foster a more effective establishment of the rule of law and human rights in the country.

The competition was organized in cooperation with the Ministry of Education and Science and financed by the EU project “Support to the Public Defender’s Office.

The competition was based on network technologies and was implemented via internet.

In September 2012 we launched the information campaign - distributed flyers in schools, spread information via radio, printed and electronic media. On September 30, 2012, the first tour and registration of teams began. In September 2012, we registered 340 teams from different regions of Georgia, including 86.5% of teams from the regions (including high mountainous regions of Georgia too). Only 32 teams of initially registered 340 passed the first tour. On November 1, 2012, the second tour was launched and 10 finalists were selected from the 32 teams. On the 8th of January 2012, the final round with the participation of 10 teams was held at the National Library of the Parliament of Georgia and Kutaisi Regional Office of the Public Defender. Three winning teams were selected.

The works of the final round were evaluated by the jury consisting of three independent experts.

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Some 340 teams were registered during 2012 competition. Almost all regions of Georgia participated in the competition:

Tbilisi- 45 teams

Imereti- 104 teams

Shida Kartli – 53 teams

Kakheti – 28 teams

Achara – 28 teams

Guria – 7 teams

Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti – 41 teams

Kvemo Kartli – 20 teams

Samtskve-Djavakheti – 5 teams

Racha-Lechkhumi – 4 teams

Mtkheta-Mtianeti – 5 teams

Tbilisi – 13, 5% and regions- 86,5 %.

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The first prize winners shall receive personal computers; the second prize winner-teams shall receive tablet computers, while the third prize winners receive photo-cameras. Books and certificates will be issued too.

The remaining six teams shall receive certificates of participation, two books, EU publications and souvenirs .

The year 2012 was the third year of the competition “Me - Ombudsman”.

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In April-May 2010, a company “Pixel” produced a special program model for the competition (ordered by the Public Defender’s Office), which was integrated into the main web-page of the Public Defender.

A total of 700 teams participated in the competition “Me - Ombudsman 2010”. All three prizes were carried off by Imereti public school pupils. The first prize went to Ana Kldiashvili and Irina Babunashvili, Kutaisi #30 Public School; second prize was gained by Meri Chachava and Mari Kukhianidze, #37 Public School pupils, while the third prize was carried off by Irma Chighladze and Gvanca Tsukhishvili, Public School of the Village of Chikha of Sachkhere district.

The competition “Me - Ombudsman 2011” involved 329 teams. The first prize was awarded to Tinatin Aslamazashvili and Tamar Nozadze, #112 Tbilisi Public School; second prizes was given to Ekaterine Djaniashvili and Diana Endeladze, #173 Tbilisi Public School and the third prize went to two teams: Sophiko Khachidze and Eka Gogoladze from #1 Surami Public School and Kakha and Giori Bregvadze, Public School of the Village of Gogni of Terjola Municipality.