Public Defender urges Gov’t to implement “strict policies” on violence against women

Levan Ioseliani, the Georgian Public Defender, on Friday called on the country’s Government to implement “systemic, consistent measures and strict policies” towards individuals who commit violence against women and domestic violence.

Ioseliani expressed “deep sorrow” over the murder of four women in Georgia this month, noting “these horrific acts of violence not only take away our children, mothers and sisters, but also undermine the values of safety, respect and equality that we strive to uphold”.

He “unequivocally condemned” the violence by saying femicide was the “most serious form of gender-based violence and a violation of the right to life” and added “each incident is a stark reminder of the pervasive challenges women face every day”.

In order to prevent similar tragedies from happening again, we must step up our efforts by strengthening the legal framework, ensuring consistent enforcement of existing laws and provision of support services to the survivors of violence”, he noted.

Ioseliani also said discriminatory views on the role of women in society “still remain the basic cause of femicide”, and noted it was necessary for the Government to implement “complex and comprehensive measures relating to education, economic empowerment and fight against harmful stereotypes” while promoting gender equality.

He pointed out the importance of the engagement of men and boys as “allies” in the effort and recognising “their role in fostering a culture of respect and equality”.

The official added his Office would continue policies that promote gender equality and protect women's rights, adding it had “constantly monitored cases of gender-based violence, and closely cooperated with relevant institutions”.