More than 30% affected by GBV

Traditional family values run deep in Georgian society. Experts cited in our study identify this as the primary underlying reason for the pervasive problem of gender-based violence (GBV).

More than 30% of women between the ages of 15-64 in Georgia report having experienced intimate partner violence and researchers belive this figure likely underestimates the true prevalence due to underreporting.

Although the legal framework related to gender equality more broadly, and GBV specifically, has improved over the past decade, prosecutions related to GBV remain rare. This may have something to do with the fact that few people properly understand the legal framework or its consequences: only 38 percent of men and 44 percent of women, for example, recognise marital rape as a criminal offense.

And the problem runs deeper than legislation in several ways; women are largely seen as subordinate to men in many households, particularly in rural areas and among minority groups.

Our study points to research showing that many Georgians hold traditional attitudes about women’s roles as caregivers and about the necessity and propriety of women obeying their husbands.

The deeply rooted patriarchal norms and values enable gender-based discrimination and violence by conferring to men both informal and formal power and dominance over women. The concept of “Patroni”, which roughly translates to ‘protector’ or ‘defender’, further reinforces unequal norms by linking a woman’s respectability to her male partner’s status.

The latest report from the World Economic Forum gives Georgia a score of 10.9% for gender parity in political empowerment, just half the global rate, and ranks Georgia 76th out of 146 countries globally in the Global Gender Gap Index.

GBV and women’s economic indepence

The prevalence of violence and subjugation is well-known, not just in Georgia but across the globe. Our study sheds light on a less understood perspective: the way experiences with GBV interact with women’s economic indepenence.

Unpaid care work significantly impacts how women engage with both informal work and the formal labour market; our study cites research carried out by UN Women which shows that women engage in care work three times more frequently than men.

Among women who are not employed, “family duties” are cited as a major reason for not working. This should be seen in conjunction with statistics that show that the female labour force participation rate stands at just over 50%, almost 20% lower than the rate for men. Households with unemployed women have significantly higher poverty rates, affecting the life prospects of children particularly hard.

The differences in labour participation rates are bad enough when seen purely from a perspective of equal opportunities. But our research shows that, in addition to this, limited economic resources constrain women’s choices in GBV cases, with over 50% of survivors entirely lacking personal income.

Household assets are mostly controlled by men and even assets legally owned by women are often in actuality controlled by men.

A World Bank study revealed that 36% of survivors of domestic violence returned to abusive partners because of financial constraints and a perceived inability to survive independently.

Contributing to this worrying trend is the fact that employed women are less inclined than unemployed women to endorse the idea that “women should tolerate violence to preserve the family”.

Violence undermines economic independence

In essence, violence undermines women’s economic independence, while gaining economic independence gives women a more powerful position and more options in relation to leaving a violent relationship.

The starkest evidence of the link between violence and economic independence emerged not just from expert commentary and analyses but from interviews and focus groups with women who have experienced violence.

These interviews highlight how GBV hinders women’s access to education and job opportunities, trapping them in cycles of economic dependence and abuse. Respondents described how domestic violence often starts with psychological pressure, grows into economic violence, which is followed by sexual harassment or abuse and finally culminates in physical violence, which often is targeted not only at women themselves but also at children in the family.

These anecdotal recountings were confirmed by experts who told us that psychological violence is the most frequent form of violence in Georgian society. This is followed by economic violence, although physical violence is oftentimes the most easily identifiable form of violence.

Psychological trauma

One of the interviewees, a woman living in Tbilisi, talked about how being subjected to domestic violence had a: “profound impact on both my mental and physical well-being.”

She recounted losing appetite and weight and added: “Looking back at our photos from that time is disheartening—drooping eyes, lack of colour, and visible weakness. The impact extended to nightmares, waking up in the middle of the night, hallucinations, and persistent physical fatigue. The lack of energy was not just physical; it had a psychological toll. After the breakup, the physical injuries healed relatively quickly, but the psychological trauma lingered.”

Other interviewees talked about the sheer impossibility of concentrating on work or focussing on studies while under the constant pressure and threat of violence. Some described challenges associated with concentration to the point that it became almost unbearable to receive new information and learn.

As one focus group participant put it: “you feel like you don’t want anything anymore. You don’t want to look for a job anymore. You don’t have a head to think anymore.” The woman was studying at university at the time but was unable to attend several of her exams because of the toll of violence:

“I remember once when I went to an exam and looked at the test – I couldn’t understand what was written. I put my pen down and left. I failed that subject and had to retake the course.”

Another interviewee’s story illustrates why it can be so difficult to leave a violent partner and the harsh consequences doing so can have: “I had no income and no savings. I had no one I could turn to for financial help or support. My husband was my only means of assistance, whether it was for medicine, transportation, or anything else, I was relying completely on him. Now I am living in a shelter and I have nothing.”

Particularly vulnerable women

Our study shows some variation in the threats against women from various places in the country.

Women who have fled either the war in Ukraine or are internally displaced from the conflicts in the north of the country report higher rates of sexual harassment and violence.

Internally displaced women often face extremely high rates of financial precarity; more than half of the women in this group lack any kind of personal income, which, as discussed, makes leaving a violent relationship all the more difficult.

These same conditions often hold true for women stemming from ethnic minority groups, such as Armenians or Azerbaijanis who, in addition, face language and cultural barriers.

Many lesbian, bisexual and trans women face multiple compounding threats and discrimination in their daily lives. Despite some recent positive developments, many LBT women grapple with substantial economic instability, a lack of legal protections, rejection from their families and support networks, and daily psychological stress.

Possible progress

While our study does paint an often bleak picture of the situation for women in Georgia, it also points to both improvements that have occurred over the past decade and opportunities for further progress.

What is clear from the conversations with survivors of violence, legal scholars, policy-makers and other experts is the pressing need for a comprehensive, intersectional and coordinated response, ranging from bolstering legal protections and support services to implementing programs that actively empower women with skills and resources for independence.

Solutions, whether focused on protection, empowerment or advocacy, should actively challenge the deeply ingrained norms that sustain gender-based violence and inequality in Georgia.

Recommendations from KVINFO

Based on our research and analysis, we offer the below recommendations, disaggregated by sectors:

The Georgian government must play a central role in strengthening women’s economic independence and combating GBV. By actively promoting economic empowerment and securing necessary investments, the government can pave the way for transformative change alongside with the private sector and civil society actors. There is a pressing need for investments in essential areas such as childcare, healthcare, financial inclusion, and expanding professional skills training. The government’s strategic economic documents lack comprehensive coverage of these critical issues. This absence of a consolidated state vision contributes to ongoing challenges in advancing women’s economic empowerment.

The private sector, for its part, should voluntarily adopt pay equity and flexible work policies to accommodate women who bear a greater burden of unpaid care work. It should also institute domestic violence leave for employees and support awareness-raising campaigns.

Media partners can play a key role in raising awareness and dismantling deeply ingrained norms and systemic barriers. These campaigns should also target men and boys explicitly and focus on healthy relationships and equal status and worth between men and women. The usefulness of such campaigns is illustrated by one of the women interviewed who said that it took her a long time to realise she was a victim of domestic violence: “There was some sort of social awareness campaign, and the buses were displaying a phone number and address for the Ministry of Health. Every time one of those buses would come and go, it felt like something was clicking in my mind.” The woman eventually left her husband and filed a case with the police.

Civil society actors, supported by international donors and partners, can contribute to women entrepreneur networks and funds, as well as strengthening financial literacy and other crucial skills. There is a need to implement gender-aware value chains empowering female producers and workers, which should be done in partnership with private sector and government actors. With the recent adoption of the so-called ‘foreign agent law’, most civil society organisations in Georgia will have to register as “organisations acting in the interest of a foreign power” with all the added risks that implies. The entire civil society is under immense pressure and both established organisations as well as movements and activists face uncertain futures. They need all the support they can get from international partners.

Given the heightened risks for displaced and marginalised women, there is a need for coordinated efforts in Georgia across human rights, social services, and transitional justice. It is particularly important to prioritise women’s economic rights, security, and involvement in decision-making for effective reconstruction and reconciliation in conflict-affected communities.

The challenges facing Georgian women are manifold and they are steep. The recent political developments in the country and the prospects of the general election in October 2024 do not make the challenges less pressing.

The fight for women’s independence and their right to lives free of violence does not take place in a vacuum; it is part of a broader struggle for Georgian democracy. We are proud to stand in solidarity with our Georgian partners and we invite everyone to contribute to their work for a more equal, just, and free Georgia.