EU, US ambassadors highlight work with Georgian authorities to combat gender-based violence on int’l day
“As a result of the joint efforts of Government, civil society and the Georgian people, the country has made great strides in addressing gender-based violence”, Dunnigan noted, citing Georgia had implemented important legislative and procedural changes to ensure the fulfilment of the Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence, which was ratified by the country in 2017. Photo via UN Women
Tweet 
Share
The ambassadors of the European Union and the United States to Georgia, Paweł Herczyński and Robin Dunnigan on Saturday highlighted their work together with the Georgian Government and other relevant authorities to combat gender-based violence in the country on International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.
In his statement, Herczyński stressed the EU’s “zero-tolerance policy” toward gender-based violence and called it “a grave violation of human rights and the EU’s core values”.
In Georgia, we work together with relevant authorities to combat gender-based violence by strengthening protection and prevention. We are contributing to establishing reliable support services, such as shelters and post-shelter assistance for survivors”, he noted.
Herczyński emphasised the EU was working on raising awareness, changing “improper attitudes and behaviour”, as well as “breaking gender stereotypes”, adding that violence against women was “an issue for the whole of society and all the people of Georgia”.
Robin Dunnigan said she believed the gender-based violence was preventable and for this, the US Embassy in Tbilisi “has long partnered” with survivors, local organisations, Georgian Government agencies and law enforcement to prevent and respond to such crimes.
The U.S. Embassy in Tbilisi joins 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, which is an annual international campaign that kicks off on 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. The purpose of the campaign is to raise public… pic.twitter.com/9WNc68Qmu8
— U.S. Embassy Tbilisi (@usingeo) November 25, 2023
As a result of the joint efforts of Government, civil society and the Georgian people, the country has made great strides in addressing gender-based violence”, Dunnigan noted, citing Georgia had implemented important legislative and procedural changes to ensure the fulfilment of the Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence, which was ratified by the country in 2017.
The US Ambassador said the Embassy was joining an annual international campaign - 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, which aims to raise public awareness and call for the prevention and elimination of violence against women and girls.
The United Nations General Assembly has designated November 25 as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women to prevent the “most prevalent” gender-based violence, with “almost one in three” women being subject to physical or sexual violence “at least once in their life”, the UN said.
The Georgian Government is working on a bill that would tighten legislation on violence against women, Deputy Interior Minister Aleksandre Darakhvelidze told Interpressnews on Monday.
Georgian deputy interior and health ministers Aleksandre Darakhvelidze and Tamila Barkalaia on Thursday met female survivors within the ongoing 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-based Violence international campaign to provide them with information on their rights and public support services.
The Georgian government on Friday said it had joined the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, the event marked worldwide since 1991 to raise awareness over the problem.
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 Georgian Government on Saturday said it joined the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, the event marked worldwide since 1991 to raise awareness over the problem.
The United Nations in Georgia, the European Union Delegation to the country, the OSCE and NATO Liaison Office, as well as the embassies to Georgia, on Saturday called for action “to end violence against women and girls in all its forms”, including sexual harassment and abuse to child marriage and femicide.
The Tbilisi TV tower, one of the iconic sights of the Georgian capital, is on Saturday illuminated in orange by the Tbilisi City Hall, in a symbolic move to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.
The Permanent Representation of Georgia to the Council of Europe on Sunday said the country was “proud to stand united” with other CoE member states behind the “landmark treaty” - Istanbul Convention - on Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence.