Ombudsman: Domestic Violence in Georgia Claims Lives of 13 Women This Year
TBILISI – In connection with the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, usually marked on November 25 throughout the world, Georgia’s Public Defender (Ombudsman) Ucha Nanuashvili held a special press-conference and stated that this year, domestic violence in Georgia has claimed the lives of 13 women.
Nanuashvili stressed that despite an increased rate of detection and response to domestic violence cases from state agencies, more efforts are needed to appropriately react to each case due to the size and severity of the issue.
Nanuashvili said that police have carried out protective measures more than 2000 times, however, there were cases that the crime could not be prevented on time.
“Our studies revealed that in many cases assessment of repetitive risks and development of individual security action plans are not carried out by law enforcement agencies. It is important that effective measures be taken in all cases,” he said, calling on the authorities to do more to prevent and eliminate violence against women and domestic violence.
The Public Defender said that he joins the 23 November 2015 address of UN Special Rapporteur Dubravka Šimonović on the causes and consequences of violence against women, according to which all states must commit to preventing gender-related killing of women and establish a ‘Femicide Watch’ or a ‘Gender-Related Killing of Women Watch’, while every year, on 25 November, they must present a detailed analysis of the cases of violence against women.
The United Nations (UN) special representative in Georgia, Erika Kvapilova, also delivered speech at the media meet, calling on the government of Georgia to take into consideration the recommendations of Public Defender and create a femicide monitoring system.
“Such a system would increase women’s awareness about violence, strengthening the response of the state to the facts, and would prevent such crimes,” she stated.
In connection towith the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, the Independent Group of Feminists of Georgia hosted a poster drawing and held a march “Take Back the Night”.
Another organization, the Georgian Women’s Movement, organized a protest march from PushkiniSquare to the police station located at 27 Tabukashvili Str.
“We call on the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia to create a special unit which will have the proper competence and knowledge and will work on gender-motivated crimes,” the statement of the organization reads.
Why is this day International?
November 25 was officially declared the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women on December 17, 1999, on the basis of Resolution 54/134 adopted by the United Nations General Assembly.
Celebration of this Day aims to raise public awareness on violence against women, which is a matter of particular significance in Georgia.
According to the United Nations:
- Violence against women is a human rights violation.
- Violence against women is a consequence of discrimination against women, in law and also in practice, and of persisting inequalities between men and women.
- Violence against women impacts on, and impedes, progress in many areas, including poverty eradication, combating HIV/AIDS, and peace and security.
- Violence against women and girls is not inevitable. Prevention is possible and essential.
- Violence against women continues to be a global pandemic.
By Thea Morrison