21st يوليو 2025

Georgia – Submission to the Human Rights Council at the 51st Session of the Universal Periodic Review, July 2025 

Equality Now, jointly  with Sapari address challenges in securing access to justice for survivors of sexual violence, child and forced marriage, and other recent pressing issues affecting women’s and girls’ rights, gender equality, the work of civil society organizations and human rights defenders in Georgia.

What’s included in the submission?

  • Recent regressive laws and policies that threaten women’s rights and gender equality and restrictions targeting women’s rights and civil society organizations, including those focused specifically on gender-related issues
  •  Ongoing barriers to justice for sexual violence, including  the outdated definition of rape and challenges in criminal proceedings 
  • Intersecting discrimination against women and girls with disabilities who are survivors of sexual violence
  • Challenges in addressing child and forced marriage.

Who’s it for?

  • Human Rights Council 
  • Law and policymakers 
  • Legal professionals
  • Government institutions
  • Media

Key recommendations

  • Repeal of repressive laws targeting civil society and restore of gender equality safeguards
  • Introduce a consent-based definition of rape and ensure access to justice
  • Implement comprehensive measures to combat child and forced marriage

Explore more resources

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Sexual violence laws in Eurasia: Towards a consent-based definition

This report examines legal provisions relating to sexual violence in five Eurasian countries- Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan.

Breaking barriers: Addressing child, early and forced marriage in Eurasia

This report exposes the ongoing issue of child marriage in seven Eurasian countries, calling for urgent legal reforms, stronger enforcement, and greater public awareness.

Georgia – Information on Georgia for consideration by the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women at its 84th Session, January 2023

This joint submission highlights Georgia’s failure to ensure equal legal protection and safeguard women from sexual violence, in violation of Articles 2(c) and 2(e) of CEDAW.

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