In November and December, police detained and physically assaulted not only male but also female participants in protest rallies. Since November 28, Georgian non-governmental organizations have received reports through hotlines concerning the detention of 10 women. Unfortunately, due to the lack of official information, the exact number of detained or affected women during these protests remains unknown.

Alarming reports have surfaced of women publicly disclosing instances of physical violence, inhumane and degrading treatment, sexual harassment, and threats of rape by police officers during and after their detention.

• According to the detained women, special forces physically assaulted them during the detention process and threatened them with rape and death.
• To make the threats of rape more explicit, special forces allegedly described acts of sexual violence using vulgar language and threatened to take them to specific locations, intensifying the victims' sense of danger.
• One detainee stated that during transport in a police vehicle, she was forced to kneel throughout the journey and was subjected to sexual harassment.
• Another detainee reported that at the police station, officers filmed her and subjected her to degrading comments of a sexual nature.
• A female protester, bearing visible facial injuries, publicly stated that police took her aside under the pretense of removing her from the scene for her safety, only to physically assault her.

It is unacceptable for state representatives to engage in or order actions that are degrading, violate human dignity, or aim to sexually or otherwise harass individuals. Torture, inhumane, or degrading treatment is strictly prohibited under the Constitution of Georgia and international human rights law and is punishable under criminal law.

If you have experienced any of the aforementioned incidents, we urge you to inform your lawyer, who can contact the relevant authorities. If you do not have legal representation, you may reach out to Georgian non-governmental organizations. We will assist you confidentially in presenting your case to both local and international legal mechanisms and help you access all necessary rehabilitation services.

Important Guidelines for Women in Detention

If you are detained and transferred to a temporary detention facility, please note the following:

• Body Searches:
  • Must be conducted by a person of the same gender.
  • Must not be carried out in view of others; only individuals of the same gender may be present.
  • You must be informed beforehand if video surveillance is in use.
  • Full nudity is not permitted during searches.
  • If specific areas of the body need to be examined (e.g., to check for injuries), it must occur outside the view of surveillance cameras.
• Detention Facility Conditions:
  • Women must be housed separately from men.
  • Pregnant women must be housed separately from others.
  • Hygiene products must be provided to detained women.
• Rights in Temporary Detention Facilities:
  • The right to contact a lawyer.
  • The right to contact the Public Defender’s hotline (1481).
  • The right to contact the Special Investigative Service’s hotline (199).

The detention facility administration is responsible for ensuring that these calls can be made.