On February 10, school-based civics club students of the village Tsikhisdziri public school of Mtskheta-Mtianeti region organized a conference about early marriage. The problem of early marriage is critical for this community as ethnic Azeri people represent majority of the village residents.
Civics club students interviewed over 40 local residents through public opinion survey. Students presented results of the survey, together with other information materials at the conference.
Up to 70 individuals took part in the conference, including students, local administration officials, NGO representatives, representatives from the local EU monitoring mission and a local doctor. Participants took part in the discussion and covered the negative aspects of early marriage, the problem of violence and the need for human rights protection.
“Early marriage is a very serious problem in the community, we welcome young people’s involvement in informational campaign… it is important to … attract public attention to the problem” – said doctor Lali Mchedlishvili, from the village Tsikhisdziri. Civics club students plan to continue the campaign and involve more youth in it. The conference was organized in the framework of USAID-funded Momavlis Taoba Program, which is implemented by PH International.