Khanum Jeyranova vs Georgia – Joint Application of Human Rights Center and Sapari to CEDAW

In September 2018, Human Rights Center and Union Sapari, in cooperation with the European Human Rights Advocacy Center (EHRAC), appealed the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) over Khanum Jeyranova’s case.

Four years ago, neighbors from the village of Lambalo in Sagarejo municipality physically and psychologically abused Khanum Jeyranova that ended up with the suicide of the woman. According to the investigation, the woman committed a suicide but they never examined whether it was staged suicide or not; no gender-based discrimination was identified in the process of investigation, which became trigger of the harassment against the victim woman. The environment, where the tragedy happened, belongs to the community, where stereotypic, discriminative approach to the women is strong that is a serious challenge for the state. 

The fact that the case is still not investigated demonstrates the passive role of the state to eliminate the violence against women. Although, the public punishment of Khanum Jeyranova had numerous eye-witnesses.

No investigation started into degrading and inhuman treatment of Khanum Jeyranova. From the very beginning investigation started with wrong qualification, namely under the Article 115 of the Criminal Code of Georgia, which applies to bringing a person to the point of suicide. The investigation has been underway for four years already and regardless the testimonies of the witnesses and numerous strong evidence, no person was brought to justice so far. Those people personally participated in the harassment of Khanum Jeyranova; in front of her little children they were stoning and degrading her publicly.

For years, HRC and Sapari have been requesting effective and timely investigation into the case but all in vain. The state has completely ignored the fact of discrimination and inhuman treatment of Khanum Jeyranova.

Considering the four-year-long inactivity of the state institutions, HRC and Sapari, in cooperation with EHRAC, appealed the CEDAW. 

It is essential that the international bodies determined motive of gender-based discrimination in the ruthless physical assault of Khanum Jeyranova. She was victim of femicide. The state failed to execute its internationally acknowledged obligation and did not determine gender-based discrimination as a motive of the tragedy. No legal consequences were identified in response to the death fact, which comes in conflict with the Articles 2 and 5 of the European Convention on Human Rights. It demonstrates the weakness and lack of willingness of the state to oppose the stereotypes in the society and ensure safety of the women.

Human Rights Center 

The press-release was prepared within framework of the project “Promote access to justice for women, religious and ethnic minorities in the regions of Georgia.”  This event is made possible by the generous support of the American people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and EWMI/PROLoG.