Georgia paves the way for better support services for women survivors of violence

Justice for all women and girls must be delivered in law, in budgets, in institutions, in real life. Justice is not built by institutions alone. This is why every effort to improve access to justice is so important. Women survivors of violence in Georgia continue to face barriers in accessing essential services, and UN Women, together with its partners, is working to expand a nationwide network of crisis centres offering legal assistance, psychological counselling, social workers’ support and vital information to help survivors break the cycle of violence. To date, nine crisis centres have been opened across the country, improving access to justice and support for survivors.

“I was experiencing panic attacks, and my doctor suggested I see a psychologist. I started looking for a specialist nearby, as travelling to Tbilisi would require additional time and money. That is how I found the Akhmeta Crisis Centre, where I have been receiving free psychological counselling for the past six months. I feel much better now; this support has been a great relief for me,” says Tamar Macharashvili*, a survivor of domestic violence.

According to the 2022 National Study on Violence against Women in Georgia, conducted by UN Women and Geostat, seven in ten women who experience intimate partner violence report at least one psychological symptom, showing the lasting mental-health impact of domestic violence.

Macharashvili, 56, lives in the village of Duisi in the Akhmeta Municipality and has two children. Although she divorced nearly 15 years ago, she continues to struggle with the trauma she suffered while married. The staff of the Akhmeta Crisis Centre have become her main supporters, as she is one of the 43 survivors assisted there so far. Launched in early 2024, the Centre was established by UN Women and Sweden and operates in partnership with the Sakartvelo Regional Empowerment Foundation (SREF).

“Along with measures to prevent violence against women and girls, improving the quality of services
and expanding access for survivors of violence remains one of the key challenges in combating
violence against women in Georgia. This is why UN Women, together with the national and local authorities, development partners, and private sectors, continues to strengthen and widen the network of shelters and crisis centres across the country,” stated Kaori Ishikawa, UN Women Country Representative in Georgia and Liaison for the South Caucasus.

Of the nine crisis centres now operating in Georgia, seven are managed by the state and two by local non-governmental organizations.

Akhmeta Crisis Centre, a space of solidarity

The Akhmeta Crisis Centre provides legal counselling, psychological services and social-worker support to women across the municipality. It also works to raise awareness about preventing and responding to violence against women and domestic violence, and it informs women about available services and empowerment opportunities. A child-friendly room allows mothers to safely leave their children while receiving support.

“More and more women are speaking out about the violence they have experienced and are asking for help. The Centre has become a space of solidarity, enabling many women to escape violence and rebuild their lives,” says Iza Bekauri, the Head of SREF, which operates the Centre.