Сombating online child sexual abuse and sexual exploitation in Georgia

With the financial assistance of the Council of Europe, the Public Health Foundation of Georgia is implementing the project “Hear Our Voice” - combating online child sexual abuse and sexual exploitation in Georgia.

A special event, involving children, to mark the European Day on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse, was organised in the framework of the project on 18 November in Tbilisi, Georgia. The purpose of the event was to empower children to prevent, recognise and report Online Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (OCSEA) and to raise awareness among children on how to stay safe online and offline.

The event was led by children from the Logos International Academy who made presentations dedicated to Online Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse and to sexual abuse prevention in general. Children draw attention of the audience on the online and offline dangers, which at first glance seem invisible. Children employed various interesting methods in the form of video appeal addressed their peers and society in general, created commix on OCSEA issue, delivered presentations to introduce the Lanzarote convention and the respective state obligations and actions undertaken for its implementation.

The event brought together representatives from the Council of Europe Office in Georgia, Human Rights and Quality Monitoring Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia and Guardianship/care and Social Programmes Department of the Social service Agency of Georgia. Children had the opportunity to learn what child protection measures are in place in Georgia to guarantee their safety and protection from OCSEA and to hear about their rights in general. More than 70 school students from age 12 to 18, their teachers and school administration, participated in the event.