Introducing Forensic Nursing and Sexual Assault Nursing Exams in International Settings to address Gender-Based Violence

Monday, October 21, 2024

8:00 AM – 9:30 AM ET

Location: 258B

Submitter and Speaker(s)

Kara Rose

Senior Police Advisor
U.S. Department of State, Bureau of international Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL)
Washington, District of Columbia, United States

Speaker(s)

Tea Bakradze

Chief Specialist of Healthcare
Ministry of Internally Displaced Persons from the Occupied Territories, Labor, Health and Social Affairs of Georgia
Tbilisi, T'bilisi, Georgia
Rusudan Beriashvili, Dr.

Forensic Medical Expert
Tbilisi State Medical University
Tbilisi, T'bilisi, Georgia
Maritsa Hovhannisyan

INL Program Specialist
U.S. Embassy Yerevan
Yerevan, Yerevan, Armenia
Jennifer Pierce-Weeks

Executive Director
International Association of Forensic Nurses
Grand Bay, Alabama, United States

Forensic nurses are positioned to collect physical evidence, conduct forensic interviews, serve as expert witnesses, and improve health outcomes of victims of sexual and gender-based violence through collaboration and advocacy with intersecting systems and the criminal justice system. Although forensic nursing is established in the United States, efforts to introduce this practice in international settings requires planning, stakeholder engagement, legislative considerations, and training. Multinational stakeholders will discuss INL-supported efforts to introduce forensic nursing in Armenia and Georgia. Additionally, the International Association of Forensic Nursing will discuss the scope and standards of practice for forensic nursing, training, and certification.