On December 9, 2023, a meeting of the USAID Rule of Law Program supported Child’s Rights Practice Group was held bringing together judges of various courts to discuss critical aspects of legal representation of children and children’s rights in Georgia.

Lisa Kovack, Deputy Director of the Office of Democracy, Rights, and Governance at USAID Georgia, opened the meeting by emphasizing the importance of judges collaborating to address challenges related to the protection of children’s rights. 

Following Ms. Kovack’s presentation, individual judges took turns leading the discussion of the various pieces of Georgian legislation that regulate children’s legal representation in court as well as the challenges courts face in protecting children’s rights.  The discussion focused on the delineation of the functions of the lawyers and representatives of the Agency of State Care and Assistance of Victims of Trafficking ("State Care Agency”) in case of disputes between parents and the issue of conflict of interest when a parent hires a lawyer for a child, as well as the relationship between private and Legal Aid Service lawyers.

The second half of the meeting was dedicated to discussing aspects of the Benchbook on Children's Rights in Civil and Administrative Proceedings. Two judges presented draft chapters of the Benchbook on the right to be heard and its practical implementation in the course of civil proceedings.

The judges agreed there is a need to continue working together with the Georgian Bar Association, Legal Aid Service and State Care Agency to address the practical problems of representation of children at courts.