At the initiative of the UN Women Georgia Country Office and with the support of Tbilisi City Hall, the TV Tower of the capital city was lit up in orange.

In front of 27 000 fans at the Mikheil Meskhi stadium the national rugby teams of Georgia and Samoa expressed their support to the United Nations Secretary General’s UNiTE to End Violence against Women Campaign.

Ergeta village, home to some 1,200 inhabitants, is located in Georgia’s Samegrelo region. On 6 July 2016, some fifty locals of all ages, including boys and girls in their teens, gathered at the municipality building to meet with UN Women and sportsmen from the Georgia Rugby Union to discuss the problem of violence against women and girls.

“Any violence, especially violence against women and girls, is unacceptable. For us, the rugby players, fighting violence is an inherent duty and we hope that you too will join us.” With these words, the veteran rugby player and UN Women Georgia’s Consultant on Sport and Youth Issues, Nodar Andguladze, addressed the students and academic personnel of Avele College in Samoa.