On February 20, 2017, the Public Defender of Georgia addressed the Social Service Agency (LEPL) with a recommendation concerning the alleged violation of a juvenile’s right.

According to the information provided to the Public Defender of Georgia, E.K. who was in difficult social-economic situation, applied to the Social Service Agency’s relevant service center with regard to the enrolment in the Subprogram on Assistance to Families Having Children in Crisisin 2014, although the agency has not yet notified about any response to the case.

When studying the case, the Center for Children's Rights of the Public Defender's Office learned that the family is on the waiting list approved by the Director of the Social Service Agency with an order of June 2, 2016.

The Public Defender of Georgia considers that the measures taken by the state for protecting juveniles from poverty and inadequate living conditions should be timely and effective. The Public Defender calls on the Social Service Agency to ensure that the decision-making commission makes final decisions on the enrolment of families in the subprogram in a timely manner, in order to avoid reduction of the program effectiveness and the families in crisis to be timely rendered assistance through the subprogram, as well as to immediately consider a report on the applicant’s family by taking into view the child’s best interests and for the purpose of protecting them from irrelevant living conditions/poverty.