The Public Defender of Georgia expresses her sorrow over the tragic case of a 14-year-old girl’s suicide that took place in Kobuleti on February 10. The Ombudsman’s Office will examine the responsibility of each state agency for possible delayed or ineffective response to the case.

“It is important to note that the above tragedy is not a single case and represents a result of systemic inaction, lack of qualifications and absence of proper rehabilitation services for child victims of violence, which are the challenges that have been indicated by the Public Defender"s Office for years. This case once again shows that the responsible agencies are not able to respond to the cases of sexual abuse of children in a timely, effective or coordinated manner, which requires an urgent response from the State and implementation of systemic changes”, - reads the statement.

The Public Defender emphasizes the need for public involvment in the cases of sexual violence of minors. Timely reporting of the crime and creation of a supportive environment for victim are crucial. Education institutions have a special role to play in the timely detection of cases and implementation of referral procedures.