Ombudsman calls for measures after man beats 3 children

(Interpressnews.)

TBILISI, DFWatch–The Public Defender warns that children are victims of domestic violence in Georgia, after a 25 year old man allegedly severely beat three children.

The children, one of whom was his own and two were step-children, were taken to hospital.

According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, a man from Gurjaani, eastern Georgia, beat his one and three year old step children and his own four year old child. One of the victims was seriously injured, and was taken to Tbilisi.

Police detained the father, who admitted guilt. An investigation has been launched on suspicion of domestic violence.

The actual reason for the violence is not known, but some of the neighbors say the family is in a difficult social condition, which in the end enraged the man.

The Public Defender is studying this case and calls on the Health Ministry to timely and effectively carry out phsyco-social rehabilitation of the three year-old victim child and if necessary provide an alternative guardian. He also calls on the government to take preventive measures in order to eliminate physical violence towards minors.

“The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) in its paragraphs of the Concluding observations on the Rights of the Child adopted on June 23, 2008 indicates to Georgia’s obligation to take every measure to combat violence against minors, especially domestic violence,” Ombudsman writes.

“Unfortunately, effective implementation of the above obligation cannot be conducted and numerous children are still victims of physical and psychological violence in Georgia.”