Sexual harassment becomes punishable
By Tea Mariamidze
Thursday, February 21
The definition of sexual harassment was reflected on in the legislation of Georgia and from now it is considered as a form of discrimination.
The Parliament of Georgia supported the relevant amendment to the law on "Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination" with the third hearing on February 19.
The amendment reads that "sexual harassment is any unwanted verbal, non-verbal or physical behavior aimed at affecting a person's dignity or creating a terrifying, hostile, humiliating, degrading or insulting environment."
Definition of sexual harassment was recorded in the Law on Gender Equality, under which sexual harassment is prohibited at workplaces.
According to the changes, sexual harassment will be subject to a fine of GEL 300, and if repeating the offense during one year, the violator will be fined by GEL 500 or correctional works up to one month.
Moreover, sexual harassment committed towards a juvenile, pregnant woman, a disabled person or in the presence of a minor will be subjected to a fine from GEL 500 to 800.
If the offense is repeated within a year, then the fine will be GEL 800-1000, correctional works up to one month or imprisonment up to 10 days.
Until now the sexual harassment was not defined as a criminal act.
Georgian Women’s Movement registered a petition in the Parliament of Georgia in October 2017 demanding to recognize sexual harassment as a form of discrimination in law.
The Committee for the Protection of Human Rights of the Parliament of Georgia reviewed the petition and sent it to the Gender Equality Council which elaborated relevant changes this year.
