The three-day training, "Psychological Aspects of interviewing child victim/witnesses of CSEA," organized by the Council of Europe's office in Georgia, was attended by judges, representatives from the General Prosecutor's Office of Georgia, and the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
The training module encompassed both theoretical instruction and hands-on exercises, including simulations, panel discussions, interactive lectures, and presentations. The module was based on the manual previously developed under the project.
The participation of judges added significant value to the training, with particular emphasis placed on discussion and simulation processes.
Within the framework of the training, topics such as trauma-informed interview in cases of child sexual abuse were explored. Additionally, the psychological aspects of planning and preparing an interview of a child victim of sexual abuse were covered. These insights, when applied in practice, will aid in determining the best interests of the child, mitigating stressors, and establishing effective communication. This approach aims to elicit comprehensive and trustworthy information from the child without re-traumatization.
The training was conducted as part of the Council of Europe's project: 'Ensuring Child-Friendly Justice in Georgia: “Preventing and Protecting Children from Violence, Including in the Digital Environment."