This shadow report outlines the challenges in the criminal justice system and the legislation of Georgia in addressing sexual violence crimes and provides recommendations for improving access to justice for sexual violence through improving legislation and criminal justice procedures. 

The authors of the report submit that developing effective criminal law mechanisms for the elimination of sexual violence is a fundamental step toward achieving substantive and transformative equality for women and girls in Georgia. 

Over the past few years, Georgia has made significant steps in combating violence against women and domestic violence, especially with respect to improving the criminal justice response to such crimes. In 2017, Georgia ratified the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence (‘Istanbul Convention’) and has made efforts to align its legislation in accordance with its obligations under the Istanbul Convention. 

At the time of writing this report, Georgian legislation continues to fall short of the requirements of the Istanbul Convention and international human rights standards with respect to the definition of rape and other crimes of sexual violence, and substantial challenges remain in relation to reporting, preventing and the overall response by the criminal justice system to sexual violence. 

This shadow report is submitted by: Equality Now, Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association (GYLA), Partnership for Human Rights (PHR), Union Sapari, Women’s Initiatives Supporting Group (WISG), Women’s Information Centre, Anti-Violence Network of Georgia (AVNG), Georgian Democracy Initiative (GDI), Coalition for Independent Living, Human Rights Centre, Women Engage for a Common Future (WECF) and Taso Foundation.

NGO Shadow Report on the implementation of The Istanbul Convention in Georgia - Sexual Violence