TBILISI, March 8 – Georgia’s Public Defender marked International Women’s Day on Sunday with a fresh warning that women in the country still face serious threats, from deadly violence at home to unequal treatment in working life.
In a statement issued for March 8, Ombudsman Levan Ioseliani said the day remains closely tied to the protection of women’s labor rights, stronger participation by women in decision-making, and the fight to eliminate violence. According to the statement, those issues have not lost relevance.
The Public Defender said Georgia has strengthened its legal framework over the past decade in the fight against violence against women and domestic violence. The statement said the country has introduced different protection and support mechanisms, improved services for victims, and increased coordination among the relevant institutions. It added that these reforms have had an important impact on the detection, prevention and response to violence.
But the ombudsman said serious problems remain.
Citing information from the Prosecutor General’s Office, the statement said that in 2025, authorities identified 12 killings of women and 21 attempted killings of women. The Public Defender also said that there are still cases in which the state had prior information about possible violence, but a woman’s killing or attempted killing could not be prevented.
The statement also pointed to economic inequality.
The ombudsman said that despite steps taken to support women’s economic empowerment, women still face major barriers in fully exercising their labor rights. The statement said women’s equal participation in economic life and equal pay for equal work remain important challenges.
In light of these challenges, the Public Defender called on the state to take systemic and effective steps to protect women’s rights, strengthen women’s position in society, and ensure equal participation in political and economic life. The ombudsman also expressed readiness to cooperate with state institutions in efforts aimed at achieving equality.
Ioseliani assumed office as Public Defender in March, 2023, and previously served as a member of parliament for the Citizens party, founded by Aleko Elisashvili.
