The Campaign “Swim Safe” has resumed its activities for summer season!, which was commenced by Ana Dolidze, Human Rights Center, CENN and Progress Center last year.
The campaign is supported by the Open Society Georgia Foundation with the project- “Support prevention of mortality in water bodies - advocacy, monitoring and awareness raising.” HRC will implement the project together with partner organizations.
Campaign “Swim Safe” unites civil societies and activists who want to combat mortality on water bodies in Georgia. The Campaign aims to increase the responsibility of the Government and to raise public awareness.
In the frame of the project the following activities are planned: to elaborate and pilot the early-warning system models; to meet the pupils in public schools and summer camps; to organize protest actions in particularly risky places in Tbilisi and regions; to have dialogue with executive and legislative government, local self-governments (the member organizations of the EaP Civil Society Forum Georgian National Platform will take active part in this process); Studio Monitor will produce investigative film about the causes of unimplemented responsibilities of the State undertaken under the EU-Georgia Association Agreement; Professor of the Tbilisi State University Maka Nutsubidze will continue survey on the topic and will prepare policy documents.
During the summer time, dozens people die in the sea, in artificial water reservoirs, lakes and rivers in Georgia. The problem is created by spontaneously arranged recreation zones near the water bodies, where the help of rescue teams is not provided and safety of people is not ensured. The places, where swimming is prohibited, are particularly dangerous but the State and private companies do not protect them with solid barriers and often neither warning banners are erected there.
On May 28, at 12:00 pm, the Campaign member organizations will hold action near the so-called waterfall in the Tbilisi Sea, which is one of the most dangerous places in Georgia.
Campaign Swim Safe calls on the Government to timely take concrete steps to improve the legislation and to ensure the safety of citizens on water bodies.
Contact person: Lana Giorgidze, cell phone: 598 467070