Georgia: Follow up to GGA43342.E on resources available to women who are victims of spousal abuse; state protection
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 11 March 2005 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | GGA43420.E |
| Reference | 7 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Georgia: Follow up to GGA43342.E on resources available to women who are victims of spousal abuse; state protection, 11 March 2005, GGA43420.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/42df60ea2f.html [accessed 28 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
The People's Harmonious Development Society (PHDS), which is dedicated to raising awareness of human rights matters, including gender-related and human trafficking issues, is a Georgian non-governmental organization (PHDS n.d.; Civil Society April 2000). In 17 February 2005 correspondence to the Research Directorate, the Chairperson of the PHDS provided the following information:
There exists one shelter in Tbilisi for women who are victims of domestic violence. It contains enough space for five women. The shelter's resources are "very limited" because it does not receive financial assistance from the government but must instead rely on grants from international organizations. The chair of the PHDS indicated that the organization was planning to establish its own shelter for victims of trafficking, but was waiting to receive the necessary funds from the government and foreign organizations. The chair of the PHDS further stated that "there was no state protection offered to women who are victims of spousal abuse" and that pertinent legislation was still in the development stage.
According to the Website Stop Violence Against Women (SVAW), in January 2004 the Anti-Violence Network of Georgia established a telephone hotline and a shelter for women and children who are victims of domestic violence (21 June 2004). In its first nine months, the shelter apparently welcomed 73 victims of violence and provided legal, medical, psychological, and social care to those in need, and the Anti-Violence Network of Georgia allegedly claimed to maintain relations with Georgian police (SVAW 21 June 2003). In addition, an advice centre run by Oxfam also provided the services of psychologists and social workers to over 350 women per year, according to Oxfam (n.d.).
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection.
References
Civil Society. April 2000. "People's Harmonious Development Society."
Oxfam. n.d. "Opening Doors."
People's Harmonious Development Society (PHDS), Tbilisi, Georgia. 17 February 2005. Correspondence from the Chairperson.
_____. n.d. "Our Anti Trafficking Activity."
Stop Violence Against Women (SVAW). 21 June 2004. "History of Anti-Violence Network of Georgia."
