Responding to child sexual exploitation and abuse in Georgia, phase I

The project aims at strengthening the capacity of authorities and professionals to prevent and protect children from sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and other forms of violence and to promote child-friendly practices in Georgia. Through the project, the state response towards child sexual abuse is enhanced and the development of a child-friendly justice system further supported in Georgia.

context

Georgia ratified the Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of children against sexual exploitation and sexual abuse, also known as the “Lanzarote Convention” in 2014. The Lanzarote Convention is the most ambitious and comprehensive international legal instrument aimed at preventing and protecting children from sexual exploitation and sexual abuse and prosecuting perpetrators. It requires the state parties to criminalise all kinds of sexual offences against children and adopt specific legislation and policy measures to prevent sexual violence, protect victims and prosecute perpetrators.

The Council of Europe Guidelines on child-friendly justice (2010) recall, promote and reinforce many universal and European standards. The Guidelines give a concrete regional dimension to children’s rights standards designed internationally, in particular the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989) and the United Nations Guidelines on Justice in matters involving Child Victims and Witnesses of Crime (2005). They strengthen these tools while offering to go further. Moreover, the guidelines are based on the European Convention on Human Rights and the jurisprudence of the European Court of Human Rights whose judgments are binding.

Expected outcomes

Legislative and policy framework is harmonised in line with key Council of Europe legal standards, guidelines and recommendations.
Knowledge-base is improved on child sexual exploitation and abuse in Georgia
Awareness of key stakeholders on the Lanzarote Convention and their commitment to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse is increased in Georgia
Capacities of authorities and professionals working for and with children are strengthened.

The action is designed with longer term objectives in mind. Key project activities during the phase I of the project (November-October 2018) include:

Self-assessment of national stakeholders to follow-up on the findings of the first monitoring round of the Lanzarote Committee on the protection of children against sexual abuse in the circle of trust.
Adaptation, launch and online training of the HELP course on child-friendly justice for prosecutors and lawyers.
Support for legislative and policy review through technical assistance

Development and production of awareness raising materials to prevent child sexual exploitation and abuse in Georgian.

The project is implemented in the framework of the Council of Europe Action Plan for Georgia (2016-2019) by the Children’s Rights Division of the Council of Europe.

Council of Europe resources

Lanzarote Convention

Lanzarote Convention
1^st implementation report of the Lanzarote committee on the Protection of children against sexual abuse in the circle of trust: The framework (2015)
2^nd implementation report of the Lanzarote committee on the Protection of children against sexual abuse in the circle of trust: The Strategies (2018)

Strategies and guidelines

Materials for children, parents and professionals

Kiko and the Hand (for parents and children aged 3-7years)
About one in five children falls victim to abuse. You can help prevent this happening to your child. Teach your child “The Underwear Rule”.
- Video
- Children’s book
- Guidelines for parents
Tell someone you trust (for parents and children aged 9-12 years)
- Video
- Brochure
Parenting in the digital age
- Brochure
- Series of online video tutorials on:
Start to talk: Campaign to combat child abuse in sports

Other resources

Juvenile Justice Code of Georgia

Child protection referral mechanism

Human Rights Action Plan of Georgia (2018-2019)

Short version

Project news

Back Strengthening responses to child sexual exploitation and abuse in Georgia: Experts visit Tbilisi

Council of Europe experts will visit Tbilisi, Georgia on 25-29 November 2019, to gather information on national legislation, policies and practice in preventing and fighting online and offline child sexual violence.

The Council of Europe delegation will meet with key stakeholders and national authorities to discuss the situation in Georgia, identify gaps in legislation, policies and practice, and gather the views and recommendations of participants. Key topics of discussion include:

- Substantive and procedural criminal law

- Victim support and offender management

- Crime disruption and harm reduction

- Prevention and awareness-raising

- Co-ordination, monitoring and evaluation

- Relevant training and resources.

A resulting gap analysis report will provide a baseline of child sexual exploitation and abuse in Georgia, including in the online dimension, and the recommendations for priority actions to be taken by national authorities and professionals in this area. It aims to contribute toward planned reforms of child protection and cybercrime underway in Georgia, in particular those supporting the implementation of the recently adopted Child Rights Code.

The visit is carried out under the project on Responding to child sexual exploitation and abuse in Georgia, phase I. It will also contribute to a regional Council of Europe project to End online child sexual exploitation and abuse@Europe (EndOCSEA@Europe). The resulting report will be finalised by the experts at the end of 2019; results are expected to be shared with all participating stakeholders in early 2020.