On February 4, 2015, the Public Defender of Georgia Ucha Nanuashvili, Minister of Education and Science of Georgia Tamar Sanikidze, Ambassador of the European Union Janos Herman and Human Rights Officer at the EU Delegation to Georgia Eva Pastrana presented awards to winners of the competition “Me – Ombudsman”.

Initiator of the competition, former Adviser to the Public Defender and currently Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs of Georgia Archil Talakvadze was invited to the award ceremony.

In 2014, the competition “Me- Ombudsman” was held for the fifth year running. Information campaign started in September. Posters were distributed in schools, information - disseminated through press and electronic media. On October 6, the first stage and registration of teams started. At the first stage, around 500 teams passed registration. 35 teams – 70 pupils managed to get to the second round, while 17 teams and 34 pupils found themselves in the third and the final round. Works of the third round were assessed by a panel of judges that consisted of three independent experts.

The Public Defender congratulated school students with the win and noted that the competition “Me – Ombudsman” significantly increases knowledge of young generation of protection of human rights.”By participating in this competition you have already won, since acquired knowledge and interest will help you achieve great success in the future. I see future human right defenders in you”, - said Ucha Nanuashvili.

“You are members of the civil society club, you are already leaders”, - Minister of Education and Science of Georgia Tamar Sanikidze congratulated pupils with these words and generally stressed rise in pupils’ activity in the country.

Ambassador of the European Union Janos Herman spoke about importance of the competition. He noted that such activities promote more comprehensive knowledge of human rights in the country and raise awareness of work of the Public Defender. “The Public Defender is a completely independent and highly competent institution and we are proud to cooperate with it”, - said the Ambassador.

Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs, initiator and founder of the competition “Me – Ombudsman” Archil Talakvadze congratulated young people on participation in the competition and noted that the most precious gift for pupils who had got to the final, is knowledge, and self-confidence they acquired and perception that it is possible to achieve a desired result in our country through knowledge, work and purposefulness and win.

The first place in the competition “Me – Ombudsman” was won by pupils of Batumi N1 public school - Tatia Bolkvadze and Nino Beridze (team “Beatles”); the second place was awarded to pupils of Tbilisi N36 public school Luka Ashkhatoev and Mariam Gogichaishvili (team “Libertasi”); while the winners of the third place were pupil of Khashuri N3 public school Mariam Nozadze and pupil of Kvemo Alvani public school Tamar Kakhoidze (team “Mex”).

Children who won the first place received laptops computers (HP), the second place-winners - tablet computers (iPad Air) and the third place winners received mini tablet computers (iPad mini).

All pupils who managed to reach the final - Mariam Tkebuchava, Mariam Tsivilashvili, Mariam Imerlishvili, Tamar Khatisashvili, Marina Kapanadze, Natia Chighladze, Lana Sirbiladze, Tamta Shavainidze, Mariam Antadze, Elene Koiava, Elisabed Shurgaia, Veriko Metaksa, Giorgi Dolbaia, Ana Bartia, Tinatin Gvazava, Giorgi Chankseliani, Anastasia Panatoti, Giorrgi Iakobashvili, Khatia Chighladze, Ana Khitarishvili, Tinatin Khitarishvili, Lali Chighladze, Rati Nadiradze, Luka Tsurtsumia, Tamuna Papaskiri, Otar Bendeliani and Ani Khaindrava received certificates and backpacks filled with stationary supplies.

The competition was carried out with support of the Ministry of Education and Science of Georgia and financially supported by the EU project “Support to the Public Defender”.

“Me – Ombudsman” is a competition organized by the Public Defender for 13-18 year-old students. Ombudsman is a person who acts as a mediator, representative and defender of human rights between a citizen and the state. In some countries, ombudsman is called public Defender.

The Public Defender of Georgia is a constitutional institution that supervises protection of human rights and freedoms on the territory of the country, identifies facts of their violation and promotes restoration of the previously violated rights.

Despite numerous attempts, human rights violation remains a global problem. Along with other mechanisms, presence of high culture of protection of human rights is one of the main pre-requisites of existence of fully-fledged democratic state. The Public Defender-organized event is one of the constituent parts of spread of this culture. To achieve the common goal, first of all, we need to raise awareness in human rights sphere that will result in supremacy of law and more effective realization of human rights.