Female genital mutilation to be subject to criminal liability in Georgia

Female genital mutilation will inflict criminal liability. A package of legal amendments against domestic violence and violence against women will concern up to 20 laws. In particular, a new Article 1332 will be added to the Criminal Code of Georgia and will provide for criminalization of female genital mutilation.

Under the amendments, female genital mutilation and forceful coercion of a woman to get involved in this rite with or without the influence of religious, ceremonial, ethnic or other traditions, shall be subject to criminal liability and punishment. The same offence committed against a pregnant woman or a disabled minor should be regarded as an aggravating circumstance.

First reports on female genital mutilation in Georgia came in November last year. The Institute for War and Peace Reporting (IWPR) released its journalistic investigation findings, according to which mutilation of girls has been a common practice among the Avars, an ethnic group residing in Tivi, Saruso and Chantliskuri villages of Kvareli district, Kakheti region. Girls there have been subjected to this procedure domiciliary for over 20 years.