Third meeting of Inter-Agency Commission on Gender Equality, Violence against Women and Corporal Punishment has been held under the management of Ms. Sophie Japaridze, Adviser to the Prime Minister of Georgia on Human Rights and Gender Equality at the Government Administration.
Commission discussed and endorsed the Communication Strategy and Action Plan developed for Violence against Women and Corporal Punishment. Key messages of the Government of Georgia have been incorporated in the submitted documents and specific communication measures have been elaborated for the prevention of violence against women and corporal punishment with an aim of effective protection of victims of such violence.
Ms, Natia Mezvrishvilli, Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs and Ms. Salome Shengelia, Division Chief of Human Rights of the Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia also presented information to the Commission Members on the current and planned measures within the scope of their agencies. Discussion was inter alia related to the legislative initiatives, current and planned actions to specialize their staff, along with the introduction of electronic monitoring system through the GPS-operated bracelets.
Officials of United Nations Women (UN Women) and UN Population Fund (UNFPA) presented Commission Members with findings of studies carried out in 2017 along with relevant recommendations (early/child marriages and female genitalia mutilation (FGM) malpractices in Georgia; violence against women in Georgia as studied and researched nationwide in 2017).
Inter-Agency Commission also discussed the importance of engaging civil society within the operation of the Commission and a need to establish an Advisory Group within its scope.
Inter-Agency Commission on Gender Equality, Violence against Women and Corporal Punishment was established in 2017. It is mandated to facilitate an effective implementation and coordination of the current policy on gender equality, violence against women and corporal punishment.