On January 23, 2015, the Public Defender of Georgia addressed the Minister of Labour, Health and Social Affairs of Georgia Davit Sergeenko with a recommendation to ensure finding of psychologists for ethnic minority groups who speak in mother languages of those ethnic groups to adequately respond to cases of violence against children. Also, in the shortest period of time possible to develop a strategy to implement obligations envisaged by the Georgian and international legislative acts for children-representatives of ethnic minorities. These obligations also include ensuring provision of services existing for children-victims of violence necessary for their protection and harmonious development and establishment of this strategy in relevant agencies and structures in order to make it accessible for every child.

During the process of examination of a fact of sexual violence against a minor in the village of Kabala in Lagodekhi municipality the Public Defender’s Office of Georgia determined that due to a language barrier the victim was not able to undergo the programme of psychological and socio rehabilitation on the course of seven months.

The existing situation made it clear that Social Service Agency is experiencing difficulties with realization of activities envisaged by the law in regions populated with ethnic minorities; the language barrier significantly hinders the work process and also, it causes shortage of services. As a result, such vulnerable groups as children who are victims of violence are hurt the most.