Domestic violence is one of the most widely spread problems. Domestic violence has a hidden and long-lasting nature, as it is perpetrated by one family member (s) against other(s) family member(s) and it does not always come to light. Domestic violence is not only a conflict between a wife and a husband but any physical, psychological, economic, sexual abuse, compulsion, neglect of the child’s basic rights by the parent is considered to be domestic violence. Physical abuse can be manifested by beating, torture, wounding, throwing subjects, etc. Psychological violence is: screaming, threatening, humiliating, etc. Economic abuse includes acts such as denial of food and primary and basic needs, prohibiting decision making concerning property in the co-ownership, including financial matters, etc. Sexual abuse is a coerced sex through threats, intimidation or physical force, etc. Domestic violence is a punishable act under the Criminal Code of Georgia.

According to the “Law of Georgia on Elimination of Domestic Violence, Protection and Support of the Victims of Domestic Violence”,   mother, father, grandmother, grandfather, spouse, child (stepchild), adopted child, adoptive parent, spouse of adoptive parent, foster family (foster mother, foster father), grandchild, sister, brother, parents of a spouse, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, former spouse, persons who are in a non-registered marriage and members of their families, guardians are considered to be a family member.

For consultations on domestic violence, protection and support of victims of domestic violence you can call the hotline - 116 006 and get information you need. In case of domestic violence, when there is   a threat to human life and health, you should call 112.

Law enforcement authority(ties) (Patrol Police, Criminal Police) arrives promptly at the scene of accident   and issues a restraining order (for a period of up to one month)   to restrict certain actions of the perpetrator (approaching to victims, using common property, carrying guns, etc.) and / or initiates investigation of a case of domestic crime.

In order to ensure prompt response to domestic violence cases, ensure protection of the victim and to restrain certain actions of the abuser, you may apply to a court to issue a protective order (protective order is issued for a period of up to 6 months).

If an alleged victim of domestic violence does not want to cooperate with law enforcements, it may appeal to a group determining the status of victim of domestic violence, which makes a decision on granting the status of victim of domestic violence. The state provides victims of domestic violence with shelter psychological and social rehabilitation, organizing/ receiving medical services, legal assistance, interpreter services, if necessary.

The victims of domestic violence may be placed in the shelter for up to 3 months depending on the validity of status of victim / affected. If required, the term of the agreement for shelter use may be extended for a period of 3 months.  The shelter provides a victim of domestic violence a safe accommodation suitable for normal living, four meals a day, means of hygiene, clothes, legal, psychological and medical services, social reintegration assistance, and interpreter services.

Human trafficking is a modern form of slavery, a gross violation of human rights. This is the second largest criminal business in the world.  It involves recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring or receipt of persons, by means of the threat or use of force or other forms of coercion, of abduction, of fraud, of deception, of the abuse of power or of a position of vulnerability or of the giving or receiving of payments or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having control over another person, for the purpose of exploitation.

Under the Criminal Code of Georgia, human trafficking is punishable by imprisonment up to twenty (20) years.

A person who is transferred from one country to another or within the country for the purpose of selling or exploiting him/her, which involves commercial and sexual as well as labor coercion, considered to be a victim of human trafficking.

According to the Georgian legislation a victim of human trafficking – is a person who has suffered moral, physical, or property damage as a result of the crime of human trafficking, and who, as determined by the legislation of Georgia, has been recognised as a victim of human trafficking by law enforcement authorities or the Standing Task Group established under the auspices of the Interagency Coordination Council for implementing measures against human trafficking.

Human trafficking is an organized crime.  Criminal groups involved in it are trying to recruit people by ads placed at communication media (Internet, magazines and newspapers) for work or study abroad.  There are frequent cases when people are being recruited through acquaintances and relatives.  Potential victims are offered to work as maids, nannies, dancers, models, waitresses, in agriculture or construction. The trafficker promises an easy and well-paid job, travelling to foreign countries and interesting life to potential victims. In most cases, victims are not required to have a document evidencing qualification, working experience or knowledge of foreign languages.

Unfortunately, due to the existing reality, the way you choose can not be considered as a guarantee for your safety. Please keep our recommendations in mind:

• Verify the reliability of the firm (or the agency) you intend to cooperate. Namely, whether it is registered in Georgia or who are its founders, how many years has it been functioning. This information is public and available
• Request a contract and consult the lawyer before signing. Remember that everything should be written in the language you understand.
• Ask about your workplace and payment abroad. Get the information about the employer and his/her employment activities.
• Be particularly cautious about personal documents. Do not trust your passport to anyone.
• Remember that Georgia has its embassies and consulates in most countries. Before traveling, get information about Georgia’s Representative Office in a specific country. Upon arrival, visit the Office, register your arrival and leave copies of you personal documents.
• Do not agree to go abroad without a valid permit - a visa. Remember that if you do not have valid documents, you will more easily fall into the hands of criminals.

If you are a victim of human trafficking, have information about the human trafficking or you are about to go abroad and have some questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at the following contact details:

2 100 229 - Hotline for the Victims of Human Trafficking of State Fund for Protection and assistance  of ( Statutory) Victims of Human Trafficking

112 - Emergency and Operative Response Center of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

2 411 714 - Hotline of Division of Combating Trafficking and Illegal Migration of the Department of Central Criminal Police of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

The State shall provide victims of human trafficking with shelter services (for a period of up to 3 months), psychological and social rehabilitation, medical services, legal assistance, and a one time compensation and if necessary, with the services of an interpreter.   Protection of personal security and measures for medical and psychological rehabilitation shall be implemented with your consent and with full secrecy of their personal data. The identity, addresses and other personal data of victims of human trafficking shall be confidential information that may not be disclosed. A victim of human trafficking shall have the right to use the time for reflection of at least 30 days to decide whether he/she is willing to cooperate with law enforcement bodies.  A victim of human trafficking should be discharged from liability for refusal to provide a testimony during the time for reflection.  Affected persons and witnesses, as well as persons providing legal protection and assistance to them, at any time should have the right to request, a guarantee of their personal protection and personal protection of their family members, as determined under the legislation of Georgia.

Citizen of Georgia, a male after reaching 65 years and after 60 years, and a disabled person after 60 years, except for a disabled person with a mental disorder, may be enrolled in the boarding-houses for older persons.

For enrollment in a boarding house a person should apply to the Social Service Agency, fill in the application for non-cash services (the desired administrative-territorial unit(s) must be indicated in the application) and present the following documentation:

• A copy of the document confirming the status of a person with disabilities (if any);
• Health certificate (medical form №IV-100 / a).

 If the legal representative of the citizen applies to the Agency, he/she must submit the identification document (ID card or passport) ant its copy, as well as the certificate of legal representation.

• Identification document (legal person’s identity card or passport) of a legal representative and its copy;
• A document evidencing the authority to represent an applicant (a person eligible for the boarding house).

The Regional Council (Social Services Agency, as the Advisory Body of Guardianship and Care Authority), makes decision on the enrollment.

Following persons are not eligible for enrollment in the boarding house. Namely persons with:

• Acute infectious disease;
• Active form of tuberculosis;
• Active syphilis;
• Contagious skin disease;
• Open form of brain and spinal hernia;
• Acute diseases of central nervous system.

• Presently two boarding houses for older persons (in Kutaisi and Tbilisi) are functioning under the state fund. According to the Order of the Minister of Labor, Health and Social Affairs of Georgia “On Determining the Marginal Amount of the Beneficiaries residing in the Territorial Bodies (branches) of Legal Entity of Public Law State Fund for Protection and Assistance of ( statutory) Victims of Human Trafficking”, no enrollment of beneficiaries is being implemented in “Tbilisi Boarding House currently.
• The boarding house provides conditions similar to the family environment, care and supervision of the beneficiaries, meals, first medical aid and treatment and rehabilitation measures within the framework of the daily services.

• Persons with disabilities may be enrolled in Dusheti, Martkopi and Dzevri boarding houses for people with disabilities operating under the state fund. If you wish to enroll a person with disabilities in the boarding house, you should apply to the Social Service Agency or its regional offices.
• Adult persons with disabilities shall be subject to placement / enrollment in a boarding house for persons with disabilities, namely:
• Adult persons with disabilities (mental disorders (F71.0) and physical disabilities) shall be subject to enrollment in Dusheti Boarding House for Persons with Disabilities;
• Adult persons with disabilities (mental disorders (F70.1, F70.8, F70.9, F71.0, F71.1, F71.8, F71.9, F72.0, F73.0) as well as adult persons having a status of clearly and significantly restricted capacities due to other mental disorders, shall be subject to enrollment in Martkopi Boarding House for Persons with Disabilities;
• Adult persons with disabilities (mental disorders (F70.1, F70.8, F70.9, F71.1, 71.8, 71.9, F72.0, F72.1, F72.8, F72.9, F73.0, F73.1, F73.8, F73.9) as well as adult persons having a status of clearly and significantly restricted capacities due to other mental disorders, shall be subject to enrollment in Dzevri Boarding House for Persons with Disabilities;

Boarding houses for persons with disabilities and Children's House for disabled children provide beneficiaries with daily services, primary medical care, if required, with outpatient and inpatient medical service. The daily service includes four-time meals per day, observance of personal hygiene, development of creative skills, providing psychologist services, assisting integration into society, social rehabilitation, adapting to a healthy lifestyle and development of practical household abilities and skills for independent living.

• The alleged victim of domestic violence (along with the people dependent on him/her) and victims / affected by domestic violence may use the services of the Crisis Center.
• Unlike the service institution for victims of domestic violence (shelter), the Crisis Center provides the alleged victims of domestic violence with daily services, and offers non-daily services as well.

Crisis Center provides the following services to the victims of domestic violence: psychological and social rehabilitation, medical services, legal assistance, and the services of interpreter, if required. Crisis center services can be used for a period of up to 3 months, if necessary; the term of use may be extended by at least 3 months. Crisis Center does not provide an accommodation of the victims.

• Alleged victim of domestic violence is a person who believes   himself/herself to be a victim of domestic violence and an authorized employee of the crisis center, based on a special questionnaire should determine the alleged fact of domestic violence (psychological, physical, economic, sexual abuse, coercion, negligence) against such person by a family member.  The alleged victim of domestic violence may benefit from the services of Crisis Center for up to 7 (seven) working days.  The term can be extended only if the procedures for determining the status of a victim of domestic violence are not completed.  In this case the term of use of the Crisis Center shall be extended until the completion of the procedures, namely:
• a) Prior to the decision of the court on the refusal to issue / issue a protective order;;
• b) Prior to the decision of victim identification group on granting or refusing to grant a status of the victim of domestic violence

• The Crisis Center provides the following services to the alleged victim of domestic violence (together with the people dependent on him/ her):
• a) Daily accommodation (providing a safe place suitable for normal living, four meals a day) (in the crisis center);
• b) Psychological and social rehabilitation;
• c) Organizing and receiving primary and emergency medical service;
• d) legal assistance (on issues related to the status of victim of domestic violence);
• e) If necessary, services of interpret.

A child without care is subjected to placement/ enrollment in the children’s house, namely:

• A child without care under the age of 7 is subjected to enrollment in Tbilisi Infant House.
• Disabled children without parental care from 6 to 18 years of age are subjected to enrollment in Kojori Disabled Children’s House.
• The services provided in the Children's House are fully financed by the state.
• For enrollment you should apply the Social Service Agency or its regional offices.

The Children's House provides:

1. a) Daily services for beneficiaries;
2. b) Daily four-time meal;
3. c) Promoting beneficiary’s education;
4. d) Promoting healthy lifestyle and development of practical household abilities;
5. e) Primary medical care, treatment and rehabilitation measures and if required, organization of outpatient and inpatient medical service.
6. f) Psychologist services;

• g) Any activities that promote a complete development of the beneficiary.