Secretary General of the Council of Europe Marija Pejcinovic Buric has addressed the countries to ensure that children’s circle of trust is made as safe as possible.

“States must spare no effort to ensure that the places where children spend their lives – whether at home, school, sports and leisure facilities or care settings – are made safer for children,” she said.

The Georgian Public Defender’s 2021 report on the administration of justice on crimes of sexual abuse and sexual exploitation of children says that in the years 2014-2020, investigations were made into 1,743 cases of sexual abuse of children. However, the number of convictions was ‘almost twice less than the rate of criminal prosecution in cases of sexual abuse of children’.

The ombudsman’s office notes that it is ‘essential’ to raise public awareness on sexual abuse of children, especially among minors.