The Georgian Interior Ministry launched investigations into 175 cases of early marriages in 2019, just five cases less than in 2018.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) says that police transferred under-aged individuals to shelters for victims of domestic violence if it was confirmed early marriages and coercion took place.
The rate of appeals to the police in cases of forced marriages in particular increased in 2019 compared to 2018. The MIA launched investigations into 14 cases of forced early marriage. Criminal proceedings were initiated against five individuals in 2019, while in 2018 only one person was brought to justice”, the MIA reports.
Lack of awareness and information still remain a challenge, which is why the police are often informed about the crime only a few months later.
An information campaign titled “Do not take my childhood away” was launched in the summer of 2019. Various events including meetings with local populations, government officials, schoolchildren and teachers were held during the campaign.
The minimum legal age for marriage in Georgia is 18.
Before 2016 young couples were able to get married with parental consent at the age of 16. However, the amendment made to the law in December 2016 made it impossible without the consent of the court ‘only for good reason’ – in the case of pregnancy or childbirth.