[women-rights] Georgia: Amnesty International and non-governmental organizations of Georgia urge the government to promptly approve Action Plan on Domestic Violence

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL Public Statement 
AI Index: EUR 56/006/2007
7 June 2007 

One year ago, on 9 June 2006, the Law of Georgia on Combating Domestic
Violence, Prevention of and Support to Its Victims (Law on Domestic
Violence) came into force. It stipulated that the government of Georgia
should approve the Action Plan on Measures to Prevent and Combat Domestic
Violence (Action Plan) on 9 October 2006. Eight months later it has yet to
be approved. The signatories of this statement call on the government to
promptly approve and swiftly implement the Action Plan.

Thousands of women in Georgia are subjected to domestic violence on a
regular basis. They are hit, beaten, raped, and in some cases even killed.
Other forms of domestic violence include deprivation of economic
necessities and verbal and psychological abuse. Violence in the family is
also often directed against elderly people and children. The authorities
acknowledged the problem but have not done enough to combat it.

In a positive move, on 25 May 2006, Parliament adopted the Law on Domestic
Violence. One of its stated aims is to provide "access to justice to
victims of domestic violence". The law introduced for the first time a
definition of domestic violence into Georgian legislation and provided a
legal basis for the issuance of protection and restraint orders. It also
stipulated that temporary shelters for victims of domestic violence and
rehabilitation centres for batterers should be set up in 2008.

In addition, the law requested the government to approve a special plan
outlining measures and activities necessary to implement the law, within
four months after the law's publication, i.e. until 9 October 2006. In
this context the Action Plan covering the period 2006 to 2008 was drafted
with significant input by non-governmental organizations (NGOs). It set
out time frames for the implementation of activities and specified which
stakeholders, including government agencies and NGOs, would be responsible
for implementing strategies to raise public awareness, protect and assist
victims of domestic violence, prepare further legislation, and consider
budgetary implications.

The signatories to this statement are concerned that the failure to date
to approve the Action Plan has led to delays in implementing measures to
eradicate domestic violence. We call on the government to demonstrate its
commitment to combat domestic violence by:

* Promptly approving an updated version of the draft Action Plan on
Measures to Prevent and Combat Domestic Violence;
* Ensuring that all relevant government agencies including the Ministry of
Internal Affairs; the Ministry of Labour, Health and Social Affairs; the
Ministry of Education and Science; the Ministry of Justice; and the
Ministry of Finance swiftly move towards its implementation;
* Ensuring that sufficient funds are promptly made available to implement
activities necessary to end domestic violence in Georgia and provide
protection to the victims.


Background information: 

Although the Law on Domestic Violence stipulates that the authorities
should maintain statistics on domestic violence, there are still no
comprehensive statistics on the issue. A study by the non-governmental
Caucasus Women's Research and Consulting Network, published in 2006,
reported that 5.2 per cent of women experienced frequent physical abuse by
their partner, adding to the data produced by UN Population Fund studies
in Georgia in 1999 and 2005 which found that five per cent of women
reported physical abuse.

Among obstacles to eradicating domestic violence are the widespread
impunity enjoyed by its perpetrators, and insufficient measures and
services to protect victims such as temporary shelters, adequate, safe
housing, and a sufficient number of crisis centres.

Domestic violence severely restricts the enjoyment of a wide range of
human rights, such as, for example, the rights to mental and physical
integrity, the right to liberty and security of the person, the right to
health, and sometimes the right to life. Apart from its immediate negative
consequences for victims of domestic violence, such violence also has a
brutalizing effect on societies.

Georgia is a party to international and regional human rights treaties,
all of which require the government to protect, respect and fulfill the
human rights of those persons in its territory and subject to its
jurisdiction. Thus, Georgia is obliged under international law to act with
due diligence to prevent and investigate domestic violence and hold
perpetrators of violence accountable, and ensure protection and reparation
including compensation to victims.

Amnesty International 
Caucasus Women's Research and Consulting Network 
Centre For Protection Of Constitutional Rights 
Georgian Association for Psychosocial Aid "Ndoba" 
Georgian Young Lawyers Association 
Sakhli - Advice Center for Women 
Union "Saphari" 
Women's Centre 
Women's Information Center