The Permanent Parliamentary Council for Gender Equality heard a report prepared by the Committee on Legal Affairs and the Committee on Human Rights and Civil Integration on the Enforcement of Norms Prohibiting Sexual Harassment in the Workplace and Public Spaces.
According to Rati Ionatamishvili, a member of the Gender Equality Council, sexual harassment is an important issue today, which is faced by our citizens, especially women, both in public and in labour relations, and in many cases by a law that can be fully harmonized with international standards. Not be sufficient to ensure a proportionate and legal process on these issues.
He said the main challenge is the very low turnout rate.
“Although the legislative changes that we have made, even in the Parliament of the 9th convocation, which has been positively assessed, including by stakeholders, it is a fact that the appeal remains a major challenge today. This is due, on the one hand, to the fact that public awareness is low in this regard, a certain stigma is strong, and because of this, it is not overcome. On the other hand, it is our obligation not only to respond to specific facts but also to work to the point where the appeal increases so that any victim who feels humiliated or degraded will inevitably defend their rights. We must give the appropriate guarantees to the people that if he removes his voice and tries to take legal action, it will not further complicate his situation but vice versa. It will be a step forward not only for him but also for other potential victims,” ​​Rati Ionatamishvili said.
He said the ombudsman’s office, the common courts, the Interior Ministry, the Labor Inspectorate, the Coalition for Equality, experts and civil society were involved in the investigation, and the process was supported by the USAID-funded East-West Management Institute program. “Supporting the Rule of Law in Georgia”.
