On February 21, 2024, in connection with the International Mother Language Day, the Council of Ethnic Minorities of the Public Defender of Georgia, in cooperation with the State Language Department, held a meeting regarding the promotion of the protection and development of the linguistic diversity of Georgia.

Participants in the event discussed the challenges of protecting and developing the linguistic diversity of Georgia and the ways to solve them, as well as the issues of studying, researching and spreading minority languages, the state of teaching the languages of ethnic minorities and the current practice.

"We live in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic, multi-religious and multi-lingual country, it is this diversity that strengthens our country," Levan Ioseliani said in his speech, noting that one of the important factors in preserving the identity of representatives of different ethnicities living in Georgia is the protection and preservation of their native language.

The Public Defender’s Office focuses a lot of attention and actively works to establish a policy that will create a desirable environment for the preservation of the minority languages.

The Public Defender also emphasized the need to strengthen the knowledge of the official language, which will contribute to the integration of national minorities living in Georgia and their inclusion in all stages of the country's development.

The Chairman of the State Language Department, Giorgi Alibegashvili, the Deputy State Minister for Reconciliation and Civic Equality, Lia Gigauri, the Deputy Minister of Education, Science and Youth, Tamar Makharashvili, and the Deputy Chairman of Education, Science and Youth Affairs Committee of the Parliament of Georgia, Baia Kvitsiani, delivered welcome speeches.

The meeting was also attended by representatives of the Parliament of Georgia, Government of Georgia, higher educational institutions, non-governmental organizations and ethnic minorities.

At the end of the event, the Council of Ethnic Minorities of the Public Defender awarded outstanding teachers of different languages and literature.

The event was held at the initiative of the Council of Ethnic Minorities of the Public Defender of Georgia, with the support of the Unity Through Diversity programme of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), which is being implemented by the United Nations Association of Georgia.