On October 20, 2014, the Public Defender presented a special report “About the Discrimination against Women in the Workplace”. The report was prepared by the Public Defender’s Office with support of the Georgian Representation of the UK Charity organization Oxfam based on the research carried out by expert of the International Organization “Care International in the Caucasus” Khatuna Madurashvili and independent researcher Raisa Liparteliani.

At the opening part of the event the Public Defender generally reviewed questions included in the report and noted that the research covered hidden problems that often are not discussed. That includes cases of sexual harassment that in most cases are left without response.

Head of the Georgian Representation of the UK Charity Oxfam Keti Getiashvili spoke about objectives of the study, strategies and tendencies of eradication of discrimination of women.

According to the chairman of the Gender Equality Council of the Georgian Parliament Manana Kobakhidze, the conducted research is so important and valuable that it can be used as a basis for the draft document in the work of women’s labour rights sphere.

A purpose of the special report is to reveal hidden problems of women discrimination at workplaces and to elaborate recommendations aimed at improving legal and strategic infrastructure of women labour rights.

The study consists of four main directions:

• Sexual harassment of women at workplaces;
• Difference between remuneration of men and women as one of the manifestations of discrimination in the workplace;
• Discrimination by gender in pre-contractual relations (when in accordance to the marital status, with the view of avoiding possible pregnancy, childbirth and childcare-related leave a woman is refused employment or is dismissed from work);
• Discrimination by gender in career advancement.

During the event international and national mechanisms of protection of women from discrimination were discussed. The report included recommendations drawn up for improvement of legal and strategic infrastructure of women labour rights.

Representatives of the government and non-government sector, as well as field experts that participated in the discussion remarked on necessity of improvement of legislative base and raising of the level of civic education.

Full report is available at:

PDO Special Report on Discrimination Against Women in the Workplace

See a research presentation

See a photo gallery of the event

See a video of the event