Exhibition-Sale of Women Prisoners’ Works

Rati Kharatishvili

On November 24, International Day for the Elimination Violence against Women, exhibition-sale of the works of former and present women prisoners and probationers “Art for Dignity” was organized.

The event was organized by the Association Woman and Business, Penal Reform International’s South Caucasus Regional Office, Ministry of Corrections and Legal Aid, Crime Prevention Center, Georgian Association of Professional Psychologists, UN and EU missions in Georgia.

UN Ambassador to Georgia Niels Scott attended the exhibition. He said the UN actively monitors elimination of violence against women. “Similar exhibitions, like Art for Dignity besides financial assistance help the women prisoners to reintegrate into the society, raise their self-esteem and feel themselves plenipotentiary members of the society.”

“For the Ministry of Corrections and Legal Aid it is significant that prisoners, particularly women prisoners, used their term in penitentiary establishments for significant and good activities,” deputy minister Tamar Khulordava said.

Former prisoners from different regions of Georgia also participated in the exhibition. The revenue from the exhibition-sale will be spent on material welfare of the prisoner women. There is innovation in this year event; the former and present probationer women, who have launched business, were allowed to present their products.