UN Women, UNFPA launch project to prevent violence against women, domestic violence

The UN Women and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) have launched a project titled “Ending Violence against Women and Girls in Georgia” (EVAWGG).

The goal of the project is to develop policies and legislation needed to prevent and respond to domestic violence and violence against women. Moreover, the project aims to change negative gender stereotypes, social norms and attitudes within society, support women’s rights and promote gender equality.

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The project started within the EU Human Rights Week in Georgia and the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, marked globally from 25 November to 10 December.

The three-year project will be implemented throughout Georgia but will focus mainly on the regions of Guria and Kvemo Kartli.

Gender equality is a straight-forward concept in theory, but still difficult to put into practice. No society can yet claim to have fully achieved this, while some countries clearly have come further than others.”

As long as women are subject to domestic violence – one of the ugliest faces of gender inequality, and totally unacceptable in any form – and given that one in seven women in Georgia report having experienced domestic violence, the European Union will continue working vigilantly alongside partners here in Georgia to assist in advancing gender rights at all levels,” said EU Ambassador Carl Hartzell.

The UN Women and UNFPA will work together with state institutions, service providers, women’s rights activists, civil society organizations, the media and local governments in project target regions.

The project is financed by the European Union.