Public Defender demands compensations for victims of violence, strengthening of electronic surveillance and mandatory inclusion of abusers in correction program

The Public Defender of Georgia demands compensations for victims of violence against women and domestic violence, strengthening of electronic surveillance and mandatory inclusion in the program for the correction of abusers, Deputy Public Defender Ekaterine Skhiladze told InterPressNews.

As Skhiladze noted, the state does not have a preventive policy towards violence against women and domestic violence.

"Although the rate of response by the law enforcement to violence against women and domestic violence has increased in recent years, the number of murders of women has not decreased. For example, the number of attempted killings of women in 2020 was 27, while in 2021 it was 31. The number of killings in 2021 was 22, while in 2020 it was 24. In fact, the situation has not changed. The main reason for this is that the state does not have a preventive policy towards violence against women and domestic violence. There are only reactive mechanisms, i.e. the police only respond to incidents. As for the prevention policy, we mean both education and public awareness, as well as the existence of support or social services that help victims leave a violent environment. We have an international obligation, according to which, the victim must be compensated and the rules for issuing this compensation must be established. However, the development of this rule has been postponed for another year and it will be developed by the end of 2022," said the Deputy Public Defender.

At the same time, according to Skhiladze, although there is an electronic surveillance mechanism, which involves the use of a bracelet, few people use it.

As for the correction of violent behavior, the Deputy Public Defender says that it should be mandatory for the perpetrators and not voluntary.