Georgian Public Defender: electronic registry for persons convicted of pedophilia, sextortion “in line with int’l standards”

Levan Ioseliani, the Public Defender of Georgia, on Friday said a new initiative by the country’s Special Investigation Service on establishing electronic registry and monitoring mechanisms for the individuals convicted of pedophilia and sextortion was “another step forward” in ensuring national legislation was in compliance with international standards.

Ioseliani featured in a conference discussing matters of combating pedophilia and ensuring children's safety, with the Service introducing the initiative of the registry and the monitoring mechanism for protecting the rights of victims and reviewing existing international practice, the Defender’s Office said.

The official noted his Office would be “actively involved” in legislative discussions and the registry’s further implementation, while also pointing out challenges of protecting minors from violence both in Georgia and around the world, including gaps in timely detection of violence, ensuring effective and coordinated response, and raising awareness of the public, especially among minors.

The Office added it was looking into over 100 cases of violence against children, including sexual violence, annually.