Women's Law in Tbilisi, Georgia

The Georgian Parliament in Tbilisi passed the Gender Equality Law on March 27, 2010, to aid women's rights. The law provides a long-awaited legal structure and mechanism to help women achieve equality in the workplace and safety in the home.

Domestic Violence

• Domestic violence is the biggest problem for Georgian women. Deki, a private organization, reports that of women questioned in a study, 22 percent said they experience weekly violence and 36 percent face it several times a month. Forty-three percent said their husbands had beaten them when they found out that they were pregnant, and 10 percent had a miscarriage as a result.

Effects

• In 2010, women held street demonstrations against gender inequality. Although Countries and Their Culture states that Georgian "national culture strongly values respect for women," women remain underrepresented in senior positions and on average earn half as much as men.

Theories/Speculation

• The law is seen as progress but mainly as of symbolic importance. In practice, it offers refuge and short-term counseling for victims, and it defines domestic violence as a crime. Domestic violence lawyers welcome the law, but prevailing social attitudes prevent any real change because women are often too ashamed to report abuse.