The EU Monitoring Mission in Georgia (EUMM) is proud to join the global 16 Days of Activism campaign to support the fight against violence against women and girls and all forms of Gender -Based Violence (GBV). The 16 Days Campaign begins today, 25 November, on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and ends on International Human Rights Day on 10 December.
Gender-Based Violence, including physical, emotional and sexual violence, is a serious human rights violation mainly affecting women and girls. Around 1 in 3 women worldwide experience physical or sexual violence in their lifetime.
In Georgia , according to a UN Women-supported national study on GBV , recent years have seen an increase in the percentage of women reporting domestic violence to law enforcement agencies – up from only 1.5 percent in 2009 to 18 percent in 2017.
“The 16 Days of Activism campaign provides an opportunity to renew our commitment, and to galvanise action to end Gender-Based Violence in our communities, at home, at the workplace, everywhere,” stated EUMM Head of Mission Erik Høeg. Addressing the Mission’s staff, he added: “All of us can and should play a role in ending this human rights violation to ensure an equal, peaceful and secure society.”
During the 16 Days of Activism, EUMM will conduct outreach and awareness-raising activities in the communities where we are most engaged – those along the Administrative Boundary Lines (ABL) with South Ossetia and Abkhazia.
Planned joint activities with local non-governmental organisations (NGOs) include a roundtable with women’s rights activists in Gori, school presentations, and forum theater performances on GBV themes for young people near Zugdidi.
Additionally, EUMM will hold information sharing meetings with NGOs, and EUMM monitors will meet daily with men and women to discuss issues related to GBV and provide information about existing services.
Mission members will also support the global #OrangetheWorld campaign by wearing and sharing orange ribbons, worn as a personal pledge to never commit, condone or remain silent about any form of gender-based violence.
