Women's Initiatives Supporting Group (WISG) together with partner organizations Equality Now, Partnership for Human Rights, Sapari, Georgian Young Lawyers' Association, Georgian Democracy Initiative, Women's Information Center, Democracy and Governance Center, Rights Georgia and Women Engage for a Common Future jointly submitted a coalitional shadow report to the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women.

The report addresses:

· the inconsistency of the definition of crimes of sexual violence and the incompatibility of the related punishments with international human rights standards;

· the inappropriately high standard of evidence required in sexual assault cases;

· gender stereotypes and discriminatory procedures in the process of investigation of sexual violence cases;

· Early/child marriage and the practice of abduction for marriage purposes;

· the intersectionality of multiple forms of discrimination faced by lesbian, bisexual and trans women;

The report contains recommendations relevant to the challenges outlined in it. Recommendations address legislative, as well as practical and procedural changes.

Read the full submission:

Georgia CEDAW joint submission by Equality Now & partners (January 5, 2023)