Gov’t creates multi-agency group to fight violence

A multi-agency group has been established in Georgia following an order of the country’s Prime Minister to tackle the country’s escalating violence problems, including domestic violence.

The group, involving Justice, Interior, Economy, Corrections, Health and Education Ministers, will hold its first meeting with Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili tomorrow, the PM’s press office said.

In the first phase, state agencies will be involved in the working process of the group while in the following phase civil, non-governmental and international society representatives will get engaged.

Meanwhile, the state will introduce its unified national strategy on violence prevention on October 24. The PM’s office said this would be a draft version of the document. Recommendations from the non-governmental sector and international organisations would be reflected in the final document.

Furthermore, Parliament’s Human Rights Committee was scheduled to convene tomorrow to discuss the country’s domestic violence issue. Committee member Tamar Kordzaia today said changes were planned to criminalise forced marriages as well as hiding information about domestic violence.

"For example, if a teacher knows a pupil is forced to get married, she or he should inform [the authorities] about this fact,” Kordzaia said.

Meanwhile, Georgia's Public Defender Ucha Nanuashvili spoke today about current "non-efficient policy" against violence and recommended Parliament to summon Government members to the country's main legislative body to talk about concrete steps to end domestic violence.

Read an article about domestic violence in Georgia here.