The Public Defender’s Office of Georgia, with the support of the Council of Europe, is conducting a monitoring initiative to evaluate measures aimed at preventing violence against women (VAW) and domestic violence (DV) in Georgia, as well as the implementation of the Action Plan of Measures to be Implemented in 2022-2024 to Combat Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence and Protect Victims (Victims). To this end, two separate reports will be prepared.

On 29 July 2024, to ensure the meaningful participation of all stakeholders in the said monitoring process, representatives from Georgian state agencies and local municipalities discussed the initiatives undertaken by the Public Defender’s Office at a joint workshop. Participants learned about the methodologies for preparing assessment reports and clarified their roles and contributions to monitoring efforts. The workshop also aimed to enhance collaboration and ensure a more results-oriented framework for the protection of victims of violence against women and domestic violence in Georgia.

“To protect and empower women’s rights, the involvement of local self-governments, in addition to the central government, is invaluable. As such, today’s meeting with all these agencies is of crucial importance to the Public Defender’s Office,” stated Irine Chikhladze, Deputy Public Defender of Georgia.

"Prevention is a key element in responding to violence against women and receives special attention from the State. The monitoring of the implementation of prevention measures by the Public Defender’s Office serves as an additional mechanism for state agencies to strengthen efforts aimed at preventing violence against women and domestic violence, and to fulfil the requirements stipulated by the Istanbul Convention,” - noted Eliso Shonia, Deputy Head of the Human Rights Department at the Administration of the Government of Georgia.

Participants were actively involved, sharing their perspectives on the methodologies for the two independent reports and offering ideas on how to improve the monitoring processes.

The event was organised in the framework of the project “Reinforcing gender equality and implementing GREVIO recommendations to combat violence against women and domestic violence in Georgia”. The Project is a part of the Council of Europe Action Plan for Georgia 2024-2027.