Web Portal on Human Rights in Georgia

Four-year-old Mariami attracted our interested after we saw her being physically assaulted by her drunken ’adopted mother’. Witnesses say Lili Chugoshvili, from Gurjaani, has been continuously insulting the child, making her do whatever she wants and forcing the girl to obey. Despite local police being informed about the situation in detail, no legal action is being taken. Chugoshvili’s neighbours explain that whoever remarks about the situation to the woman will be physically assaulted by her.

In June 2006, the ‘Children’s Social Adaptation Centre’ was opened in Tbilisi. The aim of the centre was to take care of orphans and street children, integrating them into society. However, the director of the centre was fired within three months after a scandal. The same almost happened with the new director as well. The public thinks that centre is not working for the children and the heads of the organization care only about money. The fact is that state policies do not address the issue of what will happen to street children in the future, proving the doubts people have.