Sexual Harassment Becomes Punishable

Sexual harassment is to be subject to a fine of GEL 300, and if the offense is repeated within one year, the violator will be fined a further GEL 500 or given correctional works of up to one month.

Sexual harassment of a juvenile, pregnant woman, disabled person, or in the presence of a minor will be subjected to a fine of GEL 500 to 800. If the offense is repeated within one year, the fine will be GEL 800-1000, correctional works up to one month or an administrative punishment (imprisonment) of up to 10 days.

The package of legislative changes has already been prepared, which reads that sexual harassment signifies making comments of a sexual nature, showing genitalia, or any verbal, non-verbal and other physical behavior of a sexual nature.

The changes also envisage regulating sexual harassment in the workplace. In addition, the definition of sexual harassment is to be written into the Labor Code, which reads that sexual abuse may be regarded as 'an undesirable behavior of a sexual nature aimed at infringing a person's dignity or creating a humiliating, hostile or insulting environment'.

The legislative package was prepared within the Parliament's Gender Equality Council and its initiators are MPs Tamar Chugoshvili, Tamar Khulordava, Dimitri Tskitishvili, Rati Ionatamishvili, Guguli Maghradze, Enzidela Machavariani, and Giorgi Tughushi.

By Thea Morrison