Public Defender and Council of Europe hold joint online conference on sexual violence against women. Besides, Ombudsman’s Office with the support of the Council of Europe presented the findings of the first-ever study in Georgia on “Administration of Justice on Sexual Violence Crimes against Women in Georgia”. First ever in Georgia, the study examines the effectiveness of criminal justice response to sexual violence crimes against international human rights standards.

The research analyses legislative gaps as well as barriers in investigation, prosecution and judicial proceedings of sexual violence crimes in Georgia after the ratification of the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence and its entry into force in 2017. It proposes recommendations for improving the legislation and the criminal policy.

The event was organized in the framework of the Council of Europe project “Promoting an Integrated Approach to End Violence against Women and Enhancing Gender Equality in Georgia” and forms part of the global campaign of 16 days of activism to end violence against women.