**Georgia‘s Environment for Women‘s Rights Deteriorates**
On March 8, International Women’s Day, Georgia is facing a difficult situation for women’s rights. The Georgian Young Lawyers‘ Association (GYLA) says the environment has worsened significantly since November 2024.
According to GYLA, there have been many cases of law enforcement officers being aggressive towards women who were peacefully protesting. This includes sexual harassment, gender-based insults, and physical violence. These actions are a serious concern for human rights.
**The State’s Role**
Ensuring equality between men and women is a responsibility of the state in Georgia. However, instead of improving this situation, the government has made things worse. It has changed laws that protect women’s rights and encouraged behaviors that are harmful to them.
GYLA says the country is moving away from international standards for protecting women’s rights. This includes the Istanbul Convention, which is an important agreement for fighting violence against women.
**Challenges in Protecting Women’s Rights**
In 2024, GYLA did a study on how Georgia handles gender-based violence. The research showed that there are many problems with laws and policies related to this issue. For example, it is hard for women who experience violence to get justice, and they often face secondary victimization.
Unfortunately, the government has not addressed these issues. Instead, it has made things worse by removing terms like “gender” from legislation and moving away from international standards.
**The Police Role**
The police should be a key part of fighting gender-based violence. However, in Georgia, the police have become perpetrators of this kind of violence. This is particularly alarming because it affects not just those directly involved but also creates a sense of vulnerability among all members of society.
GYLA concludes that the situation for women’s rights in Georgia is extremely concerning and requires immediate attention.