On 19 March 2024, the Council of Europe launched its new Project “Reinforcing gender equality and implementing GREVIO recommendations to combat violence against women and domestic violence in Georgia.” The project will significantly benefit Georgia by advancing gender equality and reinforcing measures to prevent, protect, and prosecute all forms of violence against women (VAW) and domestic violence (DV), in line with the standards set forth in the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence, also known as Istanbul Convention. The project is part of the Council of Europe Action Plan for Georgia 2024-2027.

The results of the previous Council of Europe project, "Promoting an Integrated Approach to End Violence against Women and Enhancing Gender Equality in Georgia" were presented and participants expressed their commitment to further co-operate in implementing recommendations of the Group of Experts on Action against Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (GREVIO) outlined in the baseline assessment report for Georgia published in November 2022.

The Georgian authorities committed to work towards alignment with GREVIO findings and the Istanbul Convention Committee of the Parties by:

1. Introducing legal and policy measures.
2. Developing and piloting programmes for sex offenders in cooperation with the Penitentiary Services and the Ministry of Justice.
3. Effective implementation of victim protection and support services by relevant state agencies and civil society organisations.
4. Enhanced quality and coordination of investigations and prosecutions related to sexual violence crimes and digital violence against women, contributing to the combating   gender inequalities.

In his opening remarks, the Deputy Head of the Council of Europe Office in Georgia, Svetislav Paunović stressed that the planned activities will contribute to the implementation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), in particular Goal 5 on gender equality, by aiming to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls in the public and private spheres.

The event brought together a diverse group of participants including state partner organisations, professionals involved in the administration of cases of VAW and DV, alongside representatives of civil society. “To effectively address gender-based violence, it is crucial to ensure mandatory specialisation within the law enforcement, prosecution, and judicial sectors. In the absence of comprehensive gender education and sensitivity, coupled with pervasive stereotypes, such specialisation stands as the most viable solution,” noted Babutsa Pataraia Director of Sapari.

“The Georgian government and the Council of Europe have enjoyed successful cooperation over the years. The previous project serves as an excellent example, with numerous important measures having been implemented within its scope. With the support of the Council of Europe, GREVIO recommendations were introduced to the general public and discussed in an inter-agency format. The new project also aims to promote the implementation of GREVIO recommendations, which is in full agreement with the government’s priorities,” noted Ms Eliso Eshonia, the Deputy Head of Human Rights Department of the Government Administration of Georgia.

The event was organised in the framework of the project “Reinforcing gender equality and implementing GREVIO recommendations to combat violence against women and domestic violence in Georgia”. The Project is a part of the Council of Europe Action Plan for Georgia 2024-2027.