On 1 November 2022, the fifth Justice Coordination Council Meeting in Kakheti region was organised together with the Georgian Bar Association (GBA) about the criminal proceedings regarding victims of violence against women and domestic violence and to support coordination between the judges, the prosecution service and the Georgian Bar Association in this regard.

The meeting was opened by the GBA Chairperson, Judge of the Supreme Court of Georgia and the Deputy Head of the Department on Supervision of Prosecutorial Activities and Strategic Development of the Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia. Participants, included the first instance and appeal court judges, lawyers and prosecutors from Tbilisi and the Kakheti region. The attendees discussed social pressure and frequent rejection of earlier testimonies during hearings, the value of indirect evidence, risks of secondary victimisation during the investigation or court hearings and other practical aspects related to criminal proceedings regarding victims of violence against women and domestic violence.

The Justice Coordination Council is a formalised platform established in 2020 with the support of the Council of Europe Office in Georgia involving representatives of the judiciary, the prosecution service and the GBA. Its aim is to allow for discussions related to practical aspects of the implementation of justice. The secretariat of the JCC consists of representatives of all three agencies and is responsible for interagency coordination, dissemination of recommendations and follow-up actions.

This activity was organised within the framework of the Council of Europe Project entitled “Enhanced Access to Legal Aid Services for Marginalised Population” and implemented in Georgia.