Georgian interior, health ministries join international campaign against gender-based violence

Georgia’s interior and health ministries have joined 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, an annual international campaign, with the aim of raising public awareness on the problem and promoting its prevention.

The two bodies have started a public information initiative for the effort, the interior ministry said on Friday, noting it would look to release information about policies designed to combat violence against women and empower and support them.

Photo: ministry of internal affairs

Prevention of gender-based violence and detection of unreported cases at an early stage are also among the goals, with citizens set to receive messages promoting the initiative. The domestic campaign will also see events dedicated to the issue.

The latter will include public information meetings with target groups in Tbilisi and other regions, as well as meetings involving women survivors of abuse, non-governmental organisations and the media.

Photo: ministry of internal affairs

In addition, with the support of the United States embassy, banners with information messages about sexual harassment will be placed in public places, the ministry said, adding it would look to reiterate the message that “the state has a strict policy against perpetrators of violence".

The 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence kicks off on November 25, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and runs until December 10, Human Rights Day.