On June 16, 2016, in the St. Andrew the First-called Georgian University of the Patriarchate of Georgia a forum was held on “Religions and the Issue of Early Marriage in Georgia”. Besides clergymen of Georgian Orthodox Church, the representatives of Georgia’s different religious communities, Georgian MPs, Deputy Ministers, representatives of the Office of Public Defender (Ombudsman) of Georgia, the UNFPA Georgia office, and different NGOs were participating in the Forum.

With the blessing of His Grace Bishop Vazgen Mirzakhanyan, Primate of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia, the Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Holy Church in Georgia was represented by Very Rev. Father Khoren Hovhannisyan, assistant to the Primate of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia, and Michael Avagyan, Head of Legal Affairs and Cooperation Department.

Professor Sergo Vardosanidze, the Rector of the St. Andrew University the First-called Georgian University of the Patriarchate of Georgia, gave opening remarks. Representative of Patriarchate in International Organizations and Interreligious Affairs, Professor of the Georgian University Tea Gogotishvili, stressed the importance of the forum.

The Vice-Speaker, Manana Kobakhidze, the Head of UNFPA Georgia Office, Lela Bakradze, the Chair of Human Rights and Civil Integration Committee, Eka Beselia, and others made speeches.

The discussion was summarized by Professor Tea Gogotishvili.