Statement Regarding International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women

www.ombudsman.ge

On November 25 International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women is celebrated around the whole world. It is noteworthy that this day marks the beginning of international 16 day campaign for combating violence against women, which is aimed at fighting against all forms of gender-based violence through raising public awareness and demonstration of women’s solidarity towards victims of gender-based violence all around the world. 

Public Defender joins in the campaign for eliminating gender-based violence, as combating gender-based violence in Georgia and protecting and helping its victims is possible only through joint effort and cooperation between public sectors. 

In 2013, Gender Equality Department was created at the Office of Public Defender of Georgia. This department ensures integration of gender equality issues in the routine human rights protection activities of Public Defender, with the aim of strengthening gender equality in Georgia.  Thanks to this initiative, the Office of Public Defender is the first state entity that has created a structural unit with a focus on gender equality issues. 

Within this 16 day campaign, the Gender Equality Department of the Office of Public Defender and USAID Democracy Engagement Center will jointly organize regional trainings on the topic “Main Gender Issues and Fight Against Violence” in 10 territorial units (Rustavi, Marneuli, Sagarejo, Telavi, Gori, Akhaltsikhe, Zugdidi, Batumi, Ozurgeti, Kutaisi). 

Unfortunately, achieving gender equability in economic, social and political fields still remains a problem in Georgia. Despite numerous positive changes on legislative, institutional and civic society level, the number of family violence and gender-based violence incidents in social life remains high. This in turn violates the principles of equality and respect for human dignity and hinders full demonstration of women’s potential for the good of our society and our country. 

The Public Defender urges all governmental entities to take all necessary measure to eradicate gender-based violence and protect the victims; Enhance protection activities in both public and private sector; Make special emphasis on protection of women in locations public gatherings, public transportation and streets for prevention of gender-based harassment; To qualify cases of harassment and other types of violence against women as gender-based violence and to ensure adequate reaction upon them during investigations and on all stages of court proceedings. 

In 2012 the Public defender of Georgia has addressed the Parliament of Georgia to ratify the 2011 Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence (Istanbul convention) in timely manner. The Public Defender once again urges the Parliament of Georgia to take decisive steps towards ratification of the convention in order to empower the legal mechanisms for combating gender-based violence in Georgia.