On October 21, 2014, a protest titled “Women’s Voice” was organized by a citizens’ initiative group after another woman was murdered by her former husband. Over the past year, increasing cases of violence against women — including 23 femicides — prompted people to gather in front of the Government Chancellery, protesting with taped mouths, blindfolded eyes, and the clatter of kitchen utensils. The main message of the protest-performance was: “Let’s make our voices heard — by the government, the media, and society! Let’s stand together, support, and protect women! Intervention is essential!”

“We made noise with the only tools left to us in this society — kitchen utensils — because that’s the only place we’re allowed to exist. We left them here today, to say that women living in Georgia must step out of that space and that condition,” said protester Sopho Kolasonia. Participants argued that the government was failing to respond adequately to the growing number of cases of violence against women.

At the end of the protest, participants removed the tape from their mouths and the blindfolds from their eyes, placing kitchenware at the entrance of the Government Chancellery.

That same day, the Public Defender of Georgia, Ucha Nanuashvili, held a special press conference addressing the alarming trend of violence against women and called on the government to take immediate action:

“We demand that the Parliament of Georgia treat the growing trend of violence against women as a matter of urgent concern, exercise its democratic oversight function, and summon members of the government to present concrete plans to address this problem.”

Following the protest, it was announced that, by the Prime Minister’s decision, an interagency group would be created under his direct supervision to address the issue of gender-based and domestic violence.