With the financial support of the EU, two UN agencies – UN Women in partnership with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) – launched the project “Ending Violence against Women and Girls in Georgia” (EVAWGG).

As InterPressNews was informed, the project kicked off within EU Human Rights Week in the framework of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, being marked globally from 25 November to 10 December.

The three-year project will be implemented throughout Georgia with special focus on the regions of Guria and Kvemo Kartli. The project aims to develop policies and legislation needed to prevent and respond to domestic violence and violence against women, as well as to build the capacity of relevant institutions. At the same time, the project will aim to change negative gender stereotypes, social norms and attitudes within society, to support women’s rights and to promote gender equality.

"Gender equality is a straight-forward concept in theory, but still difficult to put into practice. No society can yet claim to having fully achieved this, while some countries clearly have come further than others. As long as women are subject to domestic violence - one of the most ugly faces of gender inequality, and totally unacceptable in any form – and given that one in seven women in Georgia report having experienced domestic violence, the European Union will continue working vigilantly alongside partners here in Georgia to assist in advancing gender rights at all levels", - stated EU Ambassador, Carl Hartzell.

"UN Women looks very much forward to the implementation and final outcomes of the project ‘Ending Violence against Women and Girls in Georgia. It is symbolic that we launch the project within the 16 days of activism against gender-based violence. It is a much-needed initiative, especially in the context of COVID-19-imposed challenges", - noted UN Women Country Representative in Georgia, ad interim, Tamar Sabedashvili.

The Head of the UNFPA Georgia Office, Lela Bakradze, remarked: “I am happy that UNFPA and the EU continue their collaboration towards the elimination of harmful practices against women and girls, and within this cooperation, two UN agencies – UN Women and UNFPA – are launching this new joint initiative that proves that our joint efforts continue towards empowering women and girls and fostering a more gender-equal society".

According to the organization, to reach the project goals, UN Women and UNFPA will work together with state institutions, service providers, women’s rights activists, civil society organizations, the media and local governments in project target regions.