Georgia: A meeting held to raise awareness of women and domestic violence in the region

Georgia: In the month of June 2022, the employees of the Department of Gender and the Rights of Persons with Disabilities of the Office of the Public Defender of Georgia Gvantsa Kharatishvili, Mariam Gvidiani, Ana Lobzhanidze, and Nino Valikov held information meetings with women living in the municipalities of Kvemo Kartli, Ajara, and Imereti, including women with disabilities and with persons employed in the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia.

The purpose of the meeting was to raise the awareness of women living in the region about women and domestic violence, as well as sexual and reproductive health and rights.

The representatives of the Public Defender of Georgia provided the women participating in the meeting with information about the protection and assistance services for victims of violence operating in the country, reviewed the existing stereotypes regarding gender equality and the role of women in society, and introduced the mandate of the Public Defender of Georgia.

During the meeting with women with disabilities, they talked about stigma, challenges and obstacles in accessing sexual and reproductive health services and the current legal status of women with disabilities.

The issue of access to protection and support services for women victims of violence, including women belonging to various vulnerable groups, was discussed with the police officers. 

They also talked about what challenges the representatives of the law enforcement agency see in identifying, investigating and prosecuting cases of domestic violence against women, taking into account the specifics of the region.

During the meeting, the police officers talked about the challenges of cooperation of victims of domestic violence with law enforcement agencies. 

Also, they emphasized the need for economic empowerment of women victims of violence and the need to undergo a mandatory course of correction of violent behaviour for perpetrators, along with the investigation of violence against women and domestic violence.

The Gender Department of the Office of the Public Defender of Georgia continues to hold informational meetings in the regions on the topic of women and domestic violence.