On 1 March 2019, Public Defender Nino Lomjaria met with social workers and discussed the problems in the country’s social service system.

The Public Defender personally listened to the problems and essential challenges faced by social workers when carrying out their activities in support of various vulnerable groups. In particular, they still have to use old methods and their financial and human resources are critically scarce. The social service centers are in a poor state and are not adjusted to beneficiaries.

The Public Defender considers that the state is obliged to timely reinforce response mechanisms and reform the social service system for ensuring its effective functioning. In addition, the state should resolve HR, technical, infrastructural and methodological issues for social workers. It is also necessary to provide minimal guarantees for social workers – safety, proper working environment and conditions, equal and fair treatment, decent remuneration and support.

The Public Defender once again showed support to social workers and expressed willingness to actively take part, in accordance with her mandate, in the process of changing the social system in the country.

The meeting was attended by Deputy Public Defender Ekaterine Skhiladze and other representatives of the Public Defender’s Office.