Author: Natia Gamkhitashvili, organization “Daqali”
This blog is based on the 2025 study “Challenges of Women Human Rights Defenders and Activists in Georgia” and reviews various forms of pressure exerted on women human rights defenders from February 2023 (following the initiation of the “Draft Law on Registration of Foreign Agents”) through September 2025. The study shows that, in addition to the weakening of organizations and their exclusion from civic space, the political situation in the country has forced women human rights defenders to confront intense individual-level pressure.
Pressure, Stigmatization, and Threats
During in-depth interviews, women human rights defenders noted that they are victims of propaganda campaigns in online and media spaces. Through these campaigns, the ruling party has effectively entrenched the stigma of being an “agent” in public discourse, resulting in abusive comments directed at human rights defenders both online and in physical spaces.
In addition to stigmatizing label of “agent”, online spaces are often filled with personal, gender-based insults, where comments target women’s appearance. Such attacks are particularly aggressive toward non-binary and/or non-heteronormative human rights defenders.
During interviews, some women human rights defenders reported receiving threats of severe physical violence as well. Despite this, apart from journalists, the human rights defenders who participated in the study did not report direct experiences of physical assault. However, during certain periods, hostile acts were carried out against them: offices were damaged, and both offices and the movable and immovable property of human rights defenders and their family members were covered with hostile, hate-inciting graffiti, photos, and posters.
Journalists experienced damage to their equipment during protests, were subjected to physical violence, and were fined administratively. Outside of protests, they also faced threats of detention and experiences of being questioned in connection with criminal cases.
Respondents note that the lack of response from law enforcement agencies intensifies women human rights defenders’ sense of vulnerability, which often leads them to stop contacting the police altogether. During interviews, they cited numerous cases in which no one was held accountable after crimes were committed.
Social Pressure and Isolation
In addition to direct pressure, the ruling party actively uses measures aimed at placing human rights defenders’ relatives and family members under social pressure. Human rights defenders spoke about their family members being dismissed from public service positions and hostile environments being created for them. They also reported threats made by representatives of the State Security Service to plant drugs on family members. In this regard, the situation is particularly problematic in the regions, where the ruling party’s political and social capital and influence are even stronger.
During interviews, women human rights defenders also spoke about their experiences of social isolation. There are frequent cases in which, due to differing political views or the risks associated with proximity to human rights defenders, activists have lost family members, friends, and close contacts. One respondent revealed her fear that someone might secretly record them and use the footage for disinformation and propaganda purposes.
Continuing the Struggle for Freedom
Despite facing direct and indirect pressure in Georgia,- manifested, as described, in propaganda campaigns, public threats, damage to property, social pressure (from family, friends, and society), and the inaction of law enforcement, – women human rights defenders continue their work. Despite heightened risks, they persist in defending fundamental human rights and freedoms, which often requires additional security measures. As human rights defenders themselves note, through their work they preserve their freedom: “We have already stood before this choice [between activism and freedom], and we decided that our work is our freedom, and we must continue it”.
About the Study
This research was conducted within the framework of a joint initiative of CRRC–Georgia and UN Women, aimed at strengthening civil society research capacities. The study was carried out in August–September 2025 by Natia Gamkhitashvili, a representative of the organization Daqali. In-depth interviews were conducted with six human rights defenders engaged in different forms of human rights work.
The views expressed in this blog belong solely to the author and may not reflect the official positions of UN Women or CRRC-Georgia.
