On March 17, 19 and 26, 2021, the Public Defender’s Office, in cooperation with the Council of Europe Office in Georgia, held meetings with representatives of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Prosecutor’s Office and Lawyers’ Association on issues relating to the administration of justice on sexual violence against women.

Recommendations and key findings of the Administration of Justice on Sexual Violence against Women in Georgia, a report drawn up by the Public Defender’s Office (with the assistance of the Council of Europe) were introduced to the prosecutors, investigators and lawyers. Participants talked about their practices and challenges relating to the investigation of cases of sexual abuse, criminal prosecution and consideration of such cases in the court.

Welcome speeches were delivered by Ekaterine Skhiladze, Deputy Public Defender, Mariam Jajanidze, representative of the Council of Europe Office in Georgia, Giorgi Osadze, Head of the Department of Human Rights and Investigation Quality Monitoring of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Giorgi Chekhani, Executive Director of the Lawyers’ Association, and Linda Bichikashvili, Deputy Head of the Department of Supervision of Prosecutorial Activities and Strategic Development of the Prosecutor’s Office. The meetings were led by expert Tamar Dekanosidze.

The Public Defender hopes that discussion of the challenges identified as a result of a study with persons working on cases of sexual abuse will contribute to the effective response to similar cases and protection of victims from revictimization at the stages of investigation, criminal prosecution and trial.