GREVIO, Baseline Report on Georgia, 2022

The 2022 GREVIO Baseline Evaluation Report on Georgia assesses the country’s implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (Istanbul Convention). It acknowledges Georgia’s progress, including legal reforms and national action plans, while highlighting areas needing improvement, such as legal definitions of sexual violence, support for vulnerable groups, and resource allocation. The 2022 GREVIO Baseline Evaluation Report on Georgia evaluates the country’s adherence to the Istanbul Convention. Key findings include:

• Achievements: Georgia has made significant strides by adopting the 2018–2020 National Action Plan on Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence, criminalizing sexual harassment, and enhancing public awareness initiatives.

• Legal Reforms Needed: The report emphasises the necessity to amend the legal definition of rape and other sexual offenses to align with the Convention’s requirement of “freely given consent.”

• Support for Vulnerable Groups: GREVIO urges improvements in access to support services for women facing intersectional discrimination, including ethnic minorities, rural residents, women with disabilities, refugees, and LGBTQ+ individuals.

• Resource Allocation: The report calls for increased funding for state and NGO actors and greater involvement of NGOs in policy development.

• Judicial Considerations: It recommends that courts consider all incidents of domestic violence when determining custody or visitation rights.

The report serves as a roadmap for Georgia to enhance its legal and institutional frameworks to better protect women and combat domestic violence.