On December 14-18, 2016, the Human Rights Academy of the Public Defender held training for 40 police officers from the capital and the regions of Georgia in the city of Telavi. The theme of the training was: Domestic Violence and Response Mechanisms. Various forms of domestic violence, protection of victims and relevant response mechanisms were discussed at the training.

The training was led by Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University Professor Mariam Meskhi and the Head of the Patrol Police Department of the Professional Training Division of the Interior Ministry’s Police Academy, Nodar Saakashvili. Certificates of the Human Rights Academy of the Public Defender were handed over to the participants at the end of the training.

The participants were acquainted with the Georgian legislation on domestic violence, the circumstances for which victims refrain from cooperating with the law enforcement agencies, stereotypes concerning the woman's role in the family, methods of identification of victims and abusers, recommended provisions during communication with victims, and legal characteristics of interviewing and protection of victims, including minors. Other topics of discussion were: the method of filling in a form of restrictive or protective order; supervision over the protection of the court-approved documents and legal consequences of non-execution of the documents; investigation, prosecution and data protection; importance and goals of the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women, including domestic violence, as well as related challenges; the state's obligations.

The training participants had the opportunities to take part in the discussions, listen to arguments and develop their own reasoning.

The event was held by the financial assistance from the UN Women.