Discrimination and sexual harassment in the workplace are still relevant issues. Considering this, the Labour Inspection Office started the current year with a new division. In the Department of Supervision of Labour Rights, a new division of supervision on the issues of workplace discrimination, prohibition of sexual harassment and gender equality, was allocated. It is very important to strengthen the capacities as a whole of the Labour Inspection Office and also of specifically the staff of this new division so that they can better identify victims of discrimination and sexual harassment and establish proper communication with them, facilitate participation in cases of discrimination and sexual harassment to obtain information, and avoid secondary victimisation.

On July 3-4, a workshop was held for 20 employees of the Labour Inspection Office on the topic of sexual harassment and mechanisms of response to it. This training aimed not only to increase the knowledge of labour inspectors, but also to familiarise them with international standards, in particular-the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence (the Istanbul Convention) and national legislation regulating the issue, as well as prevention mechanisms; Promoting sensitivity and awareness of sexual harassment, introducing the principles and methods of investigating cases, as well as a victim-oriented approach.

As a result of the training, the participants acquired knowledge about sexual harassment (concept, attitudes, prevalence), international and national legal frameworks, practices related to sexual harassment and mechanisms to combat it.

The strategies, resources and materials used during the meeting were selected and prepared for the employees of the Labour Inspection Office of Georgia.

The event was jointly organised within the framework of the Council of Europe Projects “Strengthening Protection of Social and Economic Rights in Georgia” and “Promoting an Integrated Approach to End Violence against Women and Enhancing Gender Equality in Georgia.” The Project is part of the Council of Europe Action Plan for Georgia 2020-2023.