CoE in Georgia marks Int’l Day for Elimination of Violence against Women

The Council of Europe office in Georgia on Monday marked the start of International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women,  an annual 16-day period of activism against gender-based violence.

In his statement for the occasion, Alain Berset, the Secretary General of the CoE, highlighted the need for governments “to do more to stop violence against women by using the Istanbul Convention’s definition of rape”.

He said European countries needed to “better counter online sexual harassment, stalking, or psychological violence, which have become growing problems across Europe”.

The Group of Experts on Action against Violence against Women and Domestic Violence, a body of independent experts monitoring the implementation of the CoE Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence, recommended Georgia to amend its Criminal Code provisions on rape and other sexual violence offences and ensure “full incorporation” of the concept of freely given consent as defined by the Istanbul Convention.

The report also “strongly encouraged” Georgian authorities to introduce guidelines and training programmes for “all relevant professionals in the criminal justice system, which would reflect the understanding of rape as defined above”.

Organised by the United Nations General Assembly, the date will be marked until December 10.