www.pog.gov.ge Prosecution Service of Georgia Protecting Women’s Rights and Fighting Violence Against Women Main accomplishments and challenges www.pog.gov.ge

Executing the Process of Specialization 129 Specialized prosecutors and investigators Only the specialized prosecutors and investigators of Prosecution Service of Georgia are working on the cases of domestic violence To improve the quality of prosecution service To protect the interests of the victims www.pog.gov.ge

The Witness and Victim Coordinator Service The functions of the witness and victim coordinator service of the Prosecutor's Office of Georgia have increased Main goals of the reforms: To protect the interests of the witnesses and victims associated with criminal law To give emotional support To avoid secondary or reoccurring victimization. www.pog.gov.ge

Putting the Process of Specialization to Work Special preparatory courses have been constructed 3-5 days of intense preparatory courses Educational program includes: International standards National legislation Psychological part Theory+ Practice Discussion and various practical tasks are included

www.pog.gov.ge Legal Part Domestic violence - definition, forms, peculiarities, cycles and dynamics of domestic violence Causes of domestic violence Motives of gender discrimination Myths and facts, actual causes and factors contributing to domestic violence, including, social and cultural factors Maintaining conversation with a domestic violence victim, witness and an abuser International and Regional Legal Framework on Women's Rights, Violence Against Women and Girls Implemented legislative amendments and practices The prosecution's role in women’s access for justice; Family crime trends, investigation gaps, recommendations www.pog.gov.ge

www.pog.gov.ge Psychological Part Victim and abuser Psychological portrait of a victim and an abuser; "learned helplessness" syndrome in victims; Stockholm syndrome Domestic violence against children Historical retrospective phenomenon of child abuse in families; Forms, main causes and consequences of child abuse in a family; Psychological portrait of child victims of domestic violence; Signs of violence in parents Domestic violence and stress Mental trauma and stress caused by domestic violence; Mechanism for the formation of traumatic stress; Stress Reaction Phases; Fear as a responsive reaction; Dissociation; Traumatic psychological crises Grounds for co-existence of victims with the abuser and refusal to help; Hiding or denying domestic violence by victims and witnesses; Thoughts and feelings of domestic violence victims and witnesses Psycho-emotional aspects of working with the witness and abuser of domestic violence Relationship skills and style; Barriers in a relationship; characteristics and ethical principles of a relationship with victims of domestic violence; Peculiarities of conducting a conversation with victims/witnesses and abusers of domestic violence; Development of ascetics. www.pog.gov.ge

Key Achievements www.pog.gov.ge The existence of the law consistent to the international standards The increased index of criminal prosecution The index of requesting detention as a preventive measure was 14% in 2014, while in 2017 the number has risen to 83% Increased reporting by the female victims of domestic violence 550 reports were documented in 2014, while the number increased to 1986 in 2017 Improved mechanisms for identifing violence against women and domestic violence Criminalization of stalking Specialized prosecutors and investigators. www.pog.gov.ge

The Main Challenges and Goals ? Necessity to rise public awareness about women's rights, violence against women and domestic violence Increasing the number of addressing the law enforcement authorities in case of inflicted violence Protecting their own rights and cooperating with law enforcement agencies by the victims Changed testimonies from victims Implenting specialized system in other governmental structures Improvement of an indicator of psychological and other forms of violence The existence of appropriate services for victims and abusers Raising the qualification of law enforcement officers and introduction of international standards in daily practice Stereotypes, social and economic issues. ?

Donor and Partner Organizations: The European Union The Council of Europe United Nations Women's Organization (UN WOMEN) US Department of Justice www.pog.gov.ge

Thank You for Your Attention! Office of the Chief Prosecutor of Georgia   Gorgasali str. N24 www.pog.gov.ge