Although laws on women’s rights and violence against women in Georgia have improved in the past few years, and a lot of work is yet to be done to ensure justice for sexual violence, put in place gender-sensitive criminal procedures and support measures, and change social attitudes to prevent violence. 

That’s why we’re working with UN Women, the Council of Europe, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the General Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia to improve the response to sexual violence crimes in Georgia.

A Manual for Investigating, Prosecuting and Adjudicating Sexual Violence Cases

In 2021, in collaboration with the Council of Europe and UN Women, as well as the Ministry of Internal Affairs and General Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia and international and local experts, we launched a manual, intended for practical application by law enforcement officials in Georgia.

The manual is aimed at supporting the timely and effective handling of criminal cases to achieve the best possible outcomes and improving access to justice for victims of sexual violence in a safe and supportive environment.

The manual is a rights-based tool offering techniques and methodologies drawn from international human rights law and good practices, including the Istanbul Convention, for the investigation and prosecution of cases of rape and other acts of sexual violence against women in Georgia. 

“In Georgia, there had been no effective training tool and guidance for improving access to justice for sexual violence at all levels of criminal proceedings. Therefore, this manual, tailored to the Georgian context, was like a beacon.

It provides valuable guidance on how to investigate sexual violence in accordance with international human rights standards, victim-centered and gender-based approaches.”

Iza Kasrelishvili, Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia

Training investigators and prosecutors

In partnership with the Council of Europe, UN Women, Ministry of Interior, and General Prosecutor’s Office, we’ve developed training modules based on the manual. After completing this training, investigators and prosecutors are granted a specialization on the topic of sexual violence.

By the end of 2021, this training will be delivered to over 370 criminal police officers and prosecutors, building their capacities in handling sexual violence cases.