Specialized prosecutors provide procedural guidance over the cases of crimes against sexual freedom and inviolability in the agencies of the Prosecution Service of Georgia. The specialized prosecutors were awarded certificates. The Prosecutor General Irakli Shotadze, Deputy Prosecutor General Natia Merebashvili, Head of the Council of Europe Office in Georgia Natalia Voutova, and Acting Representative of UN Women to Georgia Tamar Sabedashvili attended the event.

The importance of an effective fight against sexual crimes and the preparation of specialized employees to this end were emphasized at the event.

As the Prosecutor General Irakli Shotadze stated, the Prosecution Service of Georgia conducts an extremely strict criminal justice policy for the criminal cases of this category. He added that specializing prosecutors in sexual crimes will enable the institution to cope with the challenges it is facing today. “It is our goal to increase the quality and effectiveness of prosecutorial activities on the criminal cases of said category and we believe that specialization is an important step taken towards this. We will continue working in this direction with our international partners in future as well”, - Irakli Shotadze said.

The Prosecutor General thanked the Council of Europe and UN Women for supporting specialization in the crimes against sexual freedom and inviolability.

Head of the Council of Europe Office in Georgia Natalia Voutova stated that such a training module is very important to the Council of Europe. “We are not only creating international legal instruments. The manner in which said legal instruments are implemented in practice is significant. I"m glad that the Prosecution Service of Georgia is actively involved in the process of renewal and trainings”, - Natalia Voutova said.

Acting Representative of UN Women to Georgia Tamar Sabedashvili noted that a crime against sexual freedom and inviolability is a considerable violation of rights and the fight against it remains a challenge. “It is of importance that we, the representatives of law enforcement authorities, address these issues with increased sensitivity and professionalism”, - Tamar Sabedashvili said.

Under the framework of a four-day intensive training, the participants were familiarized with international standards for combatting sexual crimes, legislation, investigative and prosecutorial work standards, victim-oriented approaches, and the psychological aspects of interaction with a victim. At this stage, 59 prosecutors and prosecution service investigators were trained as part of the specialization course.

With the support from the Council of Europe and UN Women, the Prosecution Service of Georgia has implemented specialization in crimes against sexual freedom and inviolability. Since April 10 of this year, only specialized prosecutors and investigators provide procedural guidance over the cases of such crimes in the agencies of the Prosecution Service of Georgia.

Fighting sexual crimes is a priority for the Prosecution Service of Georgia. The process of raising qualifications in the field will actively continue in future as well.