Equal human rights protection for all citizens is one of the cornerstones of Georgia’s democratic, social, and economic development. To advance this goal, USAID is advocating for stronger human rights protections and providing legal services to the people who need it most.
Human rights protection in Georgia recently took an important step forward with support from the Strengthening Child Access to Justice in Georgia project, a collaboration between USAID’s Promoting Rule of Law in Georgia (PROLoG) program and the Partnership for Human Rights, a Georgian civil society organization.
With USAID funding, the Partnership for Human Rights provided legal representation to the family of a child with intellectual disabilities, petitioning Tbilisi City Court to order the appointment of qualified therapists to provide the child with professional care until community-based rehabilitation services are available.
Prior to this, the child had been unable to receive appropriate professional care at home and, as a result, had been hospitalized for more than three months, creating isolation and hardship for the family.
Now, the child is back at home with his family and able to receive the care he needs.
The Tbilisi City Court’s ruling has changed the lives of a child and a family. It also led to bigger changes that will benefit many more people in Georgian society.
Acting on the precedent established by the ruling, the Government of Georgia approved the 2021 State Program of Social Rehabilitation, a USAID-supported package of legislation that will modernize how Georgia provides services to persons with disabilities. Under the new law, children with disabilities will have access to personalized professional care both in day centers and in home care programs.
USAID looks forward to continuing to partner with the Government of Georgia and with civil society to strengthen human rights protections for all Georgians, including persons with disabilities.
